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puckering on my quilt top
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wardfan
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2007 3:30 am
puckering on my quilt top
Hello fellow quilters. I am a novice quilter and I am learning as I go. I have started machine quilting and I am having problems with my quilt top puckering and leaving little pleats of the top. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I pin my quilts before I quilt on them but it still seems to bunch up on me. I need help from you pro out there.
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quilterbee
- Posts: 5493
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 6:06 am
Re: puckering on my quilt top
That is frustrating! I've been there 
)
1) tape the backing wrong side up on a tile or linoleum floor using blue painters tape.
2) throw the batt in the the dryer(high cotton setting) for 5 minutes.
3) lay top the backing and batt. Smooth out with your hands. Pin from the center. When you put your pins in, don't take a full bite. Just use about half of the pin itself. If you take a large bite, your backing will pucker.
4) "puddle" your quilt while FM quilting, only work with what is between your hands. I start quilting about midway down a side border, not in the center. Use the rubber topped gloves(a MUST!!), takes the pressure of your shoulders and back.
5) make sure the quilt is not stuck between your belly and the table, hanging off the back of the table, this will cause serious puckering and a sore body,lol!
6) make sure your foot pressure is at 0-2, if not, you can get puckers.
7) TIP! before you start pinning, spray baste the top to the batt and THEN pin.
HTH, Amie)
)1) tape the backing wrong side up on a tile or linoleum floor using blue painters tape.
2) throw the batt in the the dryer(high cotton setting) for 5 minutes.
3) lay top the backing and batt. Smooth out with your hands. Pin from the center. When you put your pins in, don't take a full bite. Just use about half of the pin itself. If you take a large bite, your backing will pucker.
4) "puddle" your quilt while FM quilting, only work with what is between your hands. I start quilting about midway down a side border, not in the center. Use the rubber topped gloves(a MUST!!), takes the pressure of your shoulders and back.
5) make sure the quilt is not stuck between your belly and the table, hanging off the back of the table, this will cause serious puckering and a sore body,lol!
6) make sure your foot pressure is at 0-2, if not, you can get puckers.
7) TIP! before you start pinning, spray baste the top to the batt and THEN pin.
HTH, Amie
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Leetec
- Posts: 12453
- Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:57 am
Re: puckering on my quilt top
Hi Wardfan and welcome! How lucky you are to live in Paduach! You'll have lots of visitors from this forum, I'm sure!
When you do your machine quilting, are you using a walking foot? I used to get lots of puckers, front and back, before I started using mine. They are definitly a good investment. Also, how far apart are you putting your basting pins? They shouldn't be much further apart then 4 inches. When you sew, Put your hands on either side of the presser foot and very slightly put pressure on the fabric and pull apart to give the fabric a little tension. I don't know if I'm describing that right but it helps to keep the quilt top flat while you're quilting it.
I hope we we will see you here often! Feel free to ask lots of questions.
When you do your machine quilting, are you using a walking foot? I used to get lots of puckers, front and back, before I started using mine. They are definitly a good investment. Also, how far apart are you putting your basting pins? They shouldn't be much further apart then 4 inches. When you sew, Put your hands on either side of the presser foot and very slightly put pressure on the fabric and pull apart to give the fabric a little tension. I don't know if I'm describing that right but it helps to keep the quilt top flat while you're quilting it.
I hope we we will see you here often! Feel free to ask lots of questions.
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wardfan
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2007 3:30 am
Re: puckering on my quilt top
Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, I do use a walking foot but I am not pinning 4 inches apart. My pins have been farther apart so I will try putting them closer together. Also, I have not put my batting in the dryer so I will try that. I have been starting my quilting in the very center of the quilt. Is that the right way or should I start somewhere else on the quilt top? I appreciate any and all suggestions since I am a self taught quilter and have not had any lessons I need all the help I can get. Thanks guys.