Sandwiching a quilt
 

Should a completed quilt top be squared up first prior to sandwiching the batting/ backing or waiting until all three pieces are basted together.

sometimes I use my largest ruler to check the corners but for the most part, I don't usually need to square up. not more than 1/8 of an inch.

It is my understanding that it should be layered, quilted and then squared. The quilting sometimes distorts the edges, pulls or pushes it out of square. The last thing before binding is squaring.

I agree - any cutting for the purpose of squaring up should be done after quilting is finished. However, when you sandwich your quilt, be very careful to keep the corners square and the lines straight. That will eliminate much of the squaring up problem after quilting.

I trim the batting and backing same size as the top when quilting is finished. My top doesn't need to be squared.

I square up the quilt top only ... the backing and batting are larger.
Then quilt.
Then square all three layers up once the quilting is done.:



P.S. .... and I square it at every step of the way as blocks are made.
If you do so, any wonky-ness can get sorted out sooner, rather than later.
Leaving it to the very end ..................... next thing to hopeless.
And a nightmare for the quilter!

I don't square until the quilt is quilted - just before I put the binding on.