judy_68

I made a very simple quilt. I just sewed 8" squares together. I was going to quilt around each square. Well, no matter what I did the back would wrinkle when I tried to quilt it. I finally gave up and tied it at each corner. I pinned it. I used lots and lots of pins too. Not sure what I did wrong. I was very disappointed. I've read all the help already given on here about putting the quilt together. I don't know what I did wrong unless its my sewing machine. I use an old singer.
Any suggestions would be great.
Thank you
Judy in Ohio

Pam S

Judy, were you using a walking foot? It really helps keep the layers from shifting (even when they're pinned, they will shift with your regular presser foot). If you don't have a walking foot, next time loosen the pressure on your foot some and try not to push the quilt through the machine, just let it go through easily at a slower speed and that should help. Good luck and keep practicing. It will come eventually.

judy_68

Yes, I have a walking foot but, like I said, I use an old singer. I love the machine. But, who knows if the walking foot is even the right one for this machine. LOL Can you tell that I am a "self-taught quilter"??? LOL
I will keep practicing but you can only tear thread out so many times in the same place. lol

Judy in Ohio

Ms Grace

Have you tried the quilt basting spray? I really love this stuff. Works best with a cotton batting.

judy_68

I haven't tried that yet. I have wanted to but just try to spend as little money on this hobby as possible. I need to take some classes I think. I took a class at JoAnn Fabrics and it was awful. I taught myself and you have all taught me more than she did in all the classes I went to.
Judy

Pam S

Another thought, was it a large quilt? I've had trouble with wrinkles on very large quilts when it was hard to roll them to fit into my machine even though I'd pinned the heck out of them. I don't have an anwer for that. I finally bought a Grace frame to use when I want to quilt double/queen size.

sewnsewer2

When I sandwich my quilts together, I tape the backing to the floor (not carpeting) and pull it taught. Then I spray my batting and smooth it out and tape it. I spray the batting on the top side and smooth out my top and tape that too. Then I pin.

This may be the hard way, but it works!

Chele

Great advice! Tape that backing to something solid. I adore spray basting. Kind of messy, but spray it outside. And a few pins help too. Once your sandwich is secure, the walking foot shoud ease right through it. I've been starting in the center and branching out to the edges. And I alternate directions with each pass. I think it all takes practice. Try it again, you'll get it.

ScubaK

I use a walking foot. I do not do fancy machine quilting like feathers, hearts, waves or whatnot. Mine is simple in the ditch and maybe, just maybe an echo or two..
I have found that if I start in the center with a seam across, then go the opposite direction ( kinda like North to South, then East to west) If i take the time to re-pin the quilt...I get excellent results.
I only pin the area I am sewing on, then re-pin...smooth, then baste (re-pin)
works for me... and if I am doing a large quilt, well, I cut it all down into managable squares...starting from the middle..
Hope this helps
K

Barb M

The first time i tried quilting by machine, it would all pucker and gather a bit. So what i did was i switched from a regular stitch length to a basting stitch length, and it makes the stitches look a bit more like hand sewing too, and that seemed to work better. The other thing i do now is this. When im quilting i put both hands down on the quilt, with my figers spread eagle lol, and my hands on either side of the pressure foot. I let the quilt move at it's own pace, but i put pressure on the fabric, like how an embroidery hoop will help stretch and hold the fabric taught, and this works really good for me.