About Amy Parker
My Story
I've been quilting for more than forty years. Evanston Quilt company started in 2015 when my fascination with all things quilty exceeded my attraction to a long commute and a regular paycheck. I love dogs, gardening, and quilting. I especially love being back in Evanston after so many years away. Quilting in Evanston!! My passion!
What I do—and DON’T do
I do the decorative stitching that holds the layers of a quilt together. I DON’T make quilts for customers any more. I'm too busy putting beautiful stitching on other people's quilts! I take complex custom projects on a case by case basis.
Machines and Materials
I work on a Gammill Statler Stitcher, computerized for precision and beauty. I can provide a huge range of digital patterns to suit every quilt and every style preference.
How to prepare your quilt
Longarming has a few requirements:
1. Make your backing about 4 inches larger than your top on all four sides. This is so the backing can be attached to the table and held flat. Square it up if you can. Backings stay much more square when you work with fabric torn across the grain. This link may be helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgrMWLmrimc
2. Examine and press your top as flat as you can. Bulky seams should be pressed open. Look for faulty seams and repair them before you bring in your quilt. Remove loose threads from the back of your top. Remove all pins and attach any charms or novelty items AFTER longarming is completed.
3. Tops with piecing along the edge hold up better if you "stay-stitch" about 1/8th of an inch in from the edges all the way around. Seams at the edge can begin to separate during handling.
4. Prevent wavy borders!! Measure across the body of the quilt when figuring for borders. Don't measure the edge, slap on a border, and trim the excess. Your longarmer cannot always "quilt out" the resulting fullness, and might have to take tucks in order to get your borders to lie flat! Yikes!!!
This video may help:
http://www.pamsquilting.com/attaching-borders-tutorial.html
