How to not have points cut off on the edge
 

Dear Quilters,
If you don't have a border on your quilt, do you have trouble with points being cut off when you take it to your long armer? Machine quilting seems to stretch the edges a little, and when I trim it up after it is quilted, I am concerned that some of my points may be cut off a little. Any suggestions?

The way I do it is put a waste border on the quilt. Then I can trim it to what size I need to put the border on it and still save points. The LA knows the border is not staying on the quilt.

I like to put a very narrow border around a design when the edges are pieced, using the background fabric. That way the points "float", which I think is more attractive, and the edges are more stable than when they have lots of seams. I do my own longarming.

Try staysttching around the outside edge. It will help keep the seams from
pulling apart.

Then tell the long armer that you will trim it yourself! A friend and I have each had a quilt trimmed too closely that messed up what we had planned for the bindings.

Bear's advice is spot on. I wish every person who asks me to longarm their quilt would sew that staystitching line. It really helps stabilize those seams on the edges.

Before you trim your quilt, decide how wide your binding will be and where you will be sewing the binding to the front of the quilt. Then you can measure that far away from your anticipated seam line and trim. It does not matter if the batting and backing are slightly larger than the top of the quilt. They will be covered by the binding.

That is such a good idea, Dunster. I'm going to try that when I quilt my next quilt. I do mine FMQ on my Juki and I think that would be helpful.

I always stay stitch around my quilts. It helps everything stay stable and easy to work with

I was watching Jordan at Jordan quilts do a floating star quilt the other day. She teaches a method to keep those tips in place. I am pretty sure it was a free pattern on her site.

Onebyone,
I actually did not see your reply before I did the same thing you suggested.
How big do you usually put your border and does your long-armer charge you for that extra part that you cut off?
Thanks.

Dunster, how big of a border do you usually put in cases like this? Thanks.

RedGarnet222, thank you.