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How do you fix a "bubble"?

How do you fix a "bubble"?

Old 07-12-2010, 05:39 AM
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I sewed the main part of a quilt together...(Not the borders yet), and I am seeing a "bubble" (I am sure there is a better term, but that is what it looks like)...Any suggestions on how to get rid of a bubble?

LOL, does anyone know what i am talking about???
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Old 07-12-2010, 05:42 AM
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Sounds like some fabric got stretched. Have you tried to steam it so it will lay flat? Are you able to post a picture of it? That will give everyone a better idea of what you mean by a bubble.
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Old 07-12-2010, 05:45 AM
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if it has 'formed' before adding borders i would unstitch the guilty area and re-sew. it is alot easier to fix before you continue past the area
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Old 07-12-2010, 05:46 AM
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Sometimes you can very carefully sew the seam a little deeper if you have a little "bra cup" effect in one of your blocks but this doesn't work on all blocks.
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Old 07-12-2010, 05:55 AM
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If you could take a picture it might help us understand your problem. Are you saying that it is in a block or two?

Sometime pressing with steam will help remove it. OR it could be that the bubble area is larger piece than the fabric next to it. That might mean un-sewing and resewing. OR you might be able to finish the top and when you pin and quilt it (or take to the quilter) the 'bubbles' might stretched out and quilted out . . . but that is a guess and golly at this point (and cross your fingers). It all comes down to how 'perfect' you want the quilt or how much it troubles you.
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Old 07-12-2010, 07:28 AM
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is it where you can split it and sew it down
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Old 07-13-2010, 04:57 AM
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Ok, sorry for not getting back to everyone, i just walked away to try to think about it...last night i ripped up where they are and resewed....bubbles came back worse....here is a pic.

The big triangles on the side i think are the problem areas...I didn't do them as set in seams, but i just sewed it in diagonal strips if that makes sense...Would that cause it??? I am not good at set-in seams.

Thoughts and help would be majorly appreciated.
Attached Thumbnails attachment-77865.jpe  
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Old 07-13-2010, 05:10 AM
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since i can't see it in person, it's hard to say with absolute certaintly.

it looks as though the triangle around the outside edges were not big enough to fit the blocks and got stretched. the triangles are fighting the blocks for control of the quilt. the triangles appear to be winning.

take off all the triangles. if the top lays flat, then you will only need to make new ones to fix the problem.

if you still have bubbles, the next most likely cause is that your blocks came out in slightly different sizes. so the "argument" over control is between the blocks. if that's the case, the solution will be to take apart your rows and trim all the blocks so that they are the same size.

trying to do that and still make sure all the seams that are supposed to connect will line up might be a rather large pain where you sit. you might want to put narrow sashing strips between the blocks instead of joining them to each other. you will probably achieve the illusion of perfect alignment but not have to worry about it being anywhere near perfect.

if you do take your rows apart, remember to measure carefully in case you also need to cut new triangles.

would i go to all that trouble? maybe not.

first thing i would try is some extra high loft batting. cut it to the size of the square blocks and baste it to them. now, add your layer of regular batting to see what happens. it might fill in those bubbles and make them look as though they were supposed to be that way. ;-)
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Old 07-13-2010, 05:10 AM
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Since the sides of the triangles are on the bias, it looks like you have stretched then when sewing then to the blocks. I would take out the seams on the second row and resew the triangle on...have the triangle on the bottom so the feed dog will ease the fabric instead of pushing.

Either that or, the triangles aren't large enough.
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Old 07-13-2010, 05:40 AM
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Ok, well i already ripped it up once, I have no problems ripping again LOL,, I will try different size triangles.... How can you tell they are on the bias??? What does that mean?
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