momto5

Amen! That's the only person who can tell you!

caspharm

Definitely ask, because both should be washed, not just one layer, otherwise shrinkage may be uneven. In fact, I was just looking at some Pellon cotton batting in JoAnn's and they suggest washing it in hot water before use due to shrinkage.

marymay

Never heard of this. Hard to understand.I will be watching this one.

Lori S

That's a new one by me! I have used many Long Arm pro's over the years and none have ever asked for the backing to be prewashed.
Do let us know what your L/A has to say as to why this is required.

Mkotch

I would do whatever she asks. I'm just glad she's there!

#1piecemaker

I bet that is the reason. she figured you had already prewashed your top. I imagine (andI've never longarmed before) that when they stretch the backing to quilt and it hasn't been washed, then it might shrink and draw up real bad, making the quilt look puckered. A longarmer's reputation is often by word of mouth and if the work looked bad agtter washing, it might fall back on her. That is just what I think. (That and a buck will get you a cup of coffee)

quiltnutt

I am a longarmer and the only thing that I request for the backing is..make it 6 inches wider and longer than the top.
I don't do sheets because they are woven tighter than batiks and the needle has a hard time piercing the fabric..this results in skipped stitches and the LAR is very short tempered...lol.
If flannel is used...I don't like it pre washed...After the quilt is quilted and bound,you wash the entire quilt and it does not shrink like you think it does.

Also..please remove all selvages from the seams when a back is pieced..actually remove all selvages from all pieced fabric. The reason is because the selvage is so tightly woven after washing and drying the fabric the salvege dries in a very hard line,distorts the quilt and makes a puckered look down the seam

Elaine433

It doesn't make any sense to me. I would ask and if I didn't agree with the answer, I would go somewhere else. I don't prewash my fabrics before I quilt. I like the crinkle look of the quilt after it is quilted and washed.