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Step 2: Quilt backing to Backing Rail
2-1: To begin, determine which will be the front and back edges of your quilt backing. (Your quilt
can’t exceed (110” wide) the maximum quilt width of your Quilting Frame. Your quilt’s length is only
limited by the size of the throat of your sewing machine.)
Step 3: Attaching Quilt Layers to
the Take-Up Rail (See Fig. FI3-4).
3-1: Put the
Take-Up Rail’s Ratchet Lever
into the
Center
Ratcheting Position
, to ensure that it always rotates the
correct direction.
3-2: Put the
Backing Rail’s
Ratchet Lever into the side
Neu-
tral Position.
Now take the end of the quilt backing and attach
it to the Take-Up Rail with the fabri-fast tubing. Be careful to
not stretch your fabric. Put the Ratchet Lever back into the
center
Ratcheting Position
, and roll the Backing Rail to apply
just enough tension to the Backing fabric to keep the fabric flat.
The fabric should be loose, but not sagging (See Fig. FI3-1).
3-3: Next, bring your
Batting
up in between the
Quilt Top Rail
and
Backing Rail
and drape it over the Backing. Lay it along
the edge of the Take-Up Rail (See Fig. FI3-2).
3-4: Put the
Quilt Top’s
Ratchet into the side
Neutral Posi-
tion
. Now, bring the edge of the
Quilt Top
up over the
Back-
ing
and
Batting
and lay it on the batting along the Take-Up
Rail. Pin your Top and Batting to the Backing, in a straight line
along the edge of the Take-up Rail. You may also baste the
edge with your sewing machine (See Fig. FI3-3). Put the
Quilt
Top’s
ratchet back into the
Ratcheting Position
. You are now
ready to sew your desired patterns onto your quilt.
Fig. FI3-1
Quilt Backing
Take-Up Rail
Backing Rail
Quilt Top Rail
Fig. FI3-2
Quilt Top Rail
Backing Rail
Take-Up Rail
Fig. FI3-3
Fig. FI3-4
Backing Rail
Quilt Top Rail
Take-Up Rail
Batting
Quilt Top
Quilt Top
Backing
NOTE:
If your backing is made up of more than one piece of
fabric, cut your selvedges off and flatten out the seams with
an iron to allow the backing the proper give it needs.
2-2: Place your quilt backing onto the table surface good
side down. Line up the center of your backing with the
center of the Backing Rail. Attach the backing with its
finished side of the fabric facing the rail. Do not stretch or
pull the fabric during this process. Let it lie as naturally as
possible.
2-3: Make sure that the Backing Rail’s Ratchet Lever is in
the
Center Ratcheting Position
and ratchets as it rolls.
This will ensure you roll the fabric in the correct direction.
Roll your backing onto the Backing Rail (See Fig FI 1-1)
completely. Watch to make sure the fabric stays lined up.
Smooth out any wrinkles as you roll by brushing the fabric
from the center out. However, be very careful not to stretch
or pull the fabric excessively.
