puckered backing fabric

[wouldbequilter]

Hi ladies I'm afraid I have another query. I sandwiched my quilt ready to do quilting in the ditch as I thought that would be the easiest way to attach the quilt top to the backing. I attached my quilt top to the backing etc with safety pins every 4". Stitched in the ditch and when I turned my quilt over to look at the backing it was all puckered up resulting in the backing sheet being shorter than the actual quilt and batting. It is a king size quilt. I wasn't happy unpicking it all. I have a walking foot fitted. Anyone know what I am doing wrong please.

[auntjana]

One suggestion is that I tape the backing out taunt and tight on the floor or a table then lay the batting and top on it - then pin it together.

I also start in the center of the quilt to sew or stitch in the ditch and work my way out from the center - and check every so often that I don't have any puckers in it. Saves me less in ripping. Also use a longer stitch - 3 or a 3.5

This way I stabilize the quilt in sections so it can be more easily managed. I can then go back and add more quilting in the sections as I please.

Hope that this helps
Jana

[Susie]

Jana has good advice for you. I think the thing that saves me from the sandwiches shifting is that I use the 505 Basting Spray. It holds all the layers together. I do this instead of pinning (or sometimes just put a few pins around the outer edge.) I hope some of our advice helps. No fun picking out stitches!!!!
Susie

[lorettav]

Start in the middle and after each seam sewn you may have to relocate the pins and adjust. When sewing make sure you are making it taut but not enough to stretch the fabric out of shape. Hope this helps.

[Joannequilts]

Here's my check list:

Make sure the backing is taut and can't move when you sandwich.
I spray with 505 (the best!) AND pin....the bigger the quilt, the more important this is!

After I sandwich...I turn the quilt over and check the backing...make sure you don't have puckers to start with!

Hope this helps!

Joanne

[pjquilting]

I starch everything (all the fabric that will be in the quilt)really stiff with liquid starch. Just soak the material in the starch, ring it out, throw it in dryer then iron it. You'd be amazed how great the material handles for you while making blocks and putting it into the layers for quilting.

I also use the 505, wouldn't live without.

Pam