Need opinion on squaring up/quilting a table runner
 

Yesterday I made the table runner from Quiltbug, http://quiltbug.com/free/table-topper.htm. At the end of the directions it has you square/even up everything then they have you sandwich, quilt and bind it. Here is my question. I have always quilted my item first and then squared it up before I add the binding that way if there is any shifting in the quilting process I can even everything out when it is done. I plan on using my embroidery machine to do a design in the center square as part of my quilting. I think that I should wait until after the quilting to square it all up, what do you all think.

Thanks!!

Mindy

yes ,square up and bind last

I generally square after quilting too.

For me ... whether it's a tablre runner or a full size quilt ....
Square first before quilting ... then square again after quilting.

If you leave it all til after, you run too much of a risk to having to cut some of your quilting off as you square up.

Plus if there's any serious problems, (eg. border not laying totally flat, and needing to restitch a seam to get it to flat and square, etc.) you can get that sorted out before quilting ... when it's possible to correct. After quilting ... it's way to late!

With that French Braid design you have all those ends sticking out kind of like jagged steps that's why they want you to square it, it's not really for "squaring up" the table runner. You might be okay to leave them until later but with the quilt I found it hard enough to trim them all evenly with just the fabric and no batting layer. I have never used machine embroidery though.

Perhaps you could square up the top a little larger then have the batting and backing bigger for the quilting then square up before putting on the binding. That way if you do allot of quilting you still have 'shrink room' with your top

I always square up, just before binding.

i always quilt it, then square, then bind.

I generally square my quilts after quilting, but this one is a little different. Actually, all they're asking you to do (as thimblebug6000 said) is get rid of the excess fabric ends that are sticking out. I'd trim it as directed in the pattern and then quilt it. I would hope that something this size would require very little squaring after it's quilted, but hopefully you could dampen it and pull it into shape if that's needed.