When Your To-Be-Quilted (TBQ) Pile Gets Too Big

I don’t know if you have this problem, but it is a really big one for me. I piece quilts a lot faster than I quilt them. Now that might not be so bad in the short term, but over time the 1 or 2 tops that didn’t get quilted by the end of the year start to add up, and eventually you end up with a stack of finished tops in the double digits that needs to be quilted. Ideally we would all send out these tops to be long-armed (business for your local long-armer and stress relief for all of us!) but unfortunately most of us don’t have the funds to send out our full backlog of quilt tops (I know I don’t). So as we start heading towards the end of the year, (and are all staring down at those piles,) I thought I would pass on some of my top tips for tackling that quilting without breaking the bank. 

1. Does worrying about what your quilting will look like hold you back? 

Then I strongly recommend using a bold non-directional print for your backing fabric - your stitches will not be visible (at all) and when basting you don’t have to pick a top or bottom. 

2. Can’t figure out how to finish the quilt? Here are some rules of thumb that make it a little easier. Treat your quilt as a painting, and ask yourself these questions: 

Does it need a mat?- Yes, add a border (or another border) 

Would a modern frame work best?- Yes, add a solid binding. This creates a defined line without drawing attention. 

Should it just be a canvas? Go for a facing rather than a traditional binding. 

3. You sometimes find yourself with time to work, but nothing is ready to go? 

Make your life a little easier when it comes to finishing by bundling together the quilt top, backing, batting and binding, so when those moments of time open up you are ready to quilt. 

4. Never remember to add a label? 

Keep a stock of pre-printed labels on hand so you can just pop them into place. Yes I realize with the preprinted ones you can only add minimal information, but it is a step in the right direction, and that is the important part. 

5. It’s going to take a lot of thread and batting to quilt everything. 

If you can afford the cost up front in the long run you will save a lot if you can buy batting on the roll, and large cones of thread. These are both substantial investments but it means you won’t have to make the purchases again for a while. Just make sure that you choose a batting that you like to work with, and a neutral thread color (I always like a medium to light gray). 

I hope these tips help you clear out some of your to-be-quilted pile before the end of the year!