Trimming quilt sandwich
 

Probably a stupid question but I just had one of my quilts long armed for the first time and I was wondering about how to square it up. When I square it up is it ok if I cut through some of the quilting lines or will that make them eventually come out since they won't be tied off? Thank you.

If you need to square up the quilt and that means that you cut the quilting threads, I have done so. The binding will be sewed over the cut edge so it prevents the ends from unraveling. You can also draw a chalk line all around your quilt on the square up cutting line. Go in about 1/8 and straight stitch the whole edge before cutting the edge. The 1/8 stitching line will go under the 1/4 binding seam allowance.

I think that in every quilt that I have made, I have cut through some quilting lines when I squared it up. So far none of my quilting has come out and I know that some of my quilt have been machine washed numerous times. I think that the binding has held the threads down well.

Agreed, the binding holds the stitches in place.

Thank you, I think I just needed some reassurance.

Grambi, are those donkeys in your avatar picture?

Wish I had this group when I first started quilting!! I learn so much from everyone. Thanks for that!

I had to cut into the quilting as well and it scared me to death. Fortunately, one of the wise quilters here had posted a top about maching stitching around the quilt before trimming. Between that and the binding, the quilting will hold up fine.

I am so lucky to have the internet as a beginner/semi-beginner. Probably would have given up.

On my first first that I brought back from the LA, I squared it up, sewed on the binding. THEN, I noticed that not all of her stitches were the quilting stitches, she bastes the sides of the quilt. Trying to remove the basting stitches AFTER the binding is on is a pain in the a$$! Many quilts later I know to check for the basting stitches.

How do I know if they are basting stitches? She did stitch all they way around the perimeter, do I need to take those out?