I need a push!
 

I wrote this message once, pouring my heart out, then lost it. So here I go again.
I love piecing tops either by machine or applique. I even love to do binding. I hate the sandwich part. I ruined two quilts when I first started by trying to do them on my domestic machine. After wrestling with all that material I realized I had huge puckers in the back. I just stopped, it still sits in a drawer and I never did anything with it. I have since sent anything I do out to the LAQer. I now have two small pieces to finish up. About 36"x36" one is the Lemoyne Star and the other is the Strata Star table topper. I know what to do but I can't bring myself to work on either one. I think they are both very nice, one will be birthed and the other will have a binding but I just can't seem to sit down at my machine and work on them. I know the problem is that I'm afraid I will ruin them but they are no good to me if I can't use them. Give me a good swift kick!

I think maybe you should practice on large scraps first, before quilting these precious quilt-babies.

I agree, ive made over 300 quilts,all but4, ive hand quilted. Maybe, you should try hand quilting one of you smaller tops

I can't even tell you...really! how long it took me to cut my first fabrics for a quilt, bc of fear of ruining it,...and I had been sewing things since I was ten!!! :o
I didn't read all the replies, but I finally realized that when trying something new, small is where it's at for me.
We don't grow all at once,
So we can't sew all at once, eeder.
(a little cheese spread for ya...c/o 'the mousie' :rolleyes: )

Sounds like you need a can of 505. If you spray on the backing to the batting and press, and then repeat with the top of the quilt, you will find you have a nice smooth surface to quilt. I love 505 because it is so user friendly. After you put in some stabilizing stitches with your walking foot, you should be good to go with whatever type of quilting you want to do. May I recommend the Ann Petersen class on Craftsy called "Beyond Machine Quilting"? She also has one called something like Big Projects on a small machine. Good luck.

I hate the sandwiching part, too! However, here's what works for me - Elmer's School Glue!!! Someone on the QB suggested using it for basting; I tried it and may never go back to thread! I've only used this method, with Warm & White, so don't know whether or not it'd work with poly batting.

First, lay out your batting, then cover with backing. Smooth but don't stretch anything. Now fold back half of the backing and drizzle fine lines of glue over the exposed batting. Try to not "glop" it on but use lots of skinny lines, swirls, whatever. Carefully fold the fabric back over the batting and smooth. Pat it down, gently.
Now, if you're in a hurry, heat your iron and gently press the glued section, all over. Don't drag the iron, just touch to fabric for a few seconds, then lift. If you are not in a hurry, then you can just go on to the other side and let the whole thing air-dry.
Fold back the other half and do the same.
Once the bottom has dried/set, flip the entire thing over and do the same with the top.

The needle has no trouble going through the glue and nothing slips! I also use a dual-feed foot, to do the quilting, which also helps to keep it smooth.

The gals in the quilt guild borrow the tables at the local park centers and push them together. You lay out the backing with the wrong side up and tape or clamp the backing down. Then smooth out the batting and lastly the top. Clamp all together making sure you don't wrinkle the layers. Then either baste or pin the top from the center out about a hands width between the stitch or pin. Release the quilt and then it is ready to quilt. Quilt from the inside out and smooth as you go to avoid wrinkles. The quilt nees good support on the left side to help it sew/move easier.

There are whole books written on the quilting process. There is more than one way to do everything and what works for some people doesn't for others. You just need to find which way is best for you.

There was a suggestion for smaller quilts to hang them up on your design board and pin the layers that way. I have tried it and it works pretty dang good if you start from the top down being careful that the layers stay alligned.

I've never had a pucker. I started by taping the backing to the floor, gave that up in favor of church tables, gave that up in favor the Sharon Schamber method with white 1X4s (except I use pins). I personally would not try to FMQ a sandwiched quilt. That's where I might get a pucker, but what do I know? I haven't been quilting very long. I am going to FMQ some sandwiched casserole carriers, so I'll let you know how it went.

There has to be a way. Are you dropping the feed dogs on your machine? I don't, but I do set the stitch length to 0. Keep trying until you find the way that works for you. Tape is the key, IMO. I'll check back here tomorrow to see how you're doing. Go for it!

Make a 12 x 12 or 18 x 18 block and practice. Just bite the bullet and go for it. I haven't tried the spray basting or glue methods yet but I will soon. Drop the feed dogs or I put a darning plate over mine since they don't drop. Support the left side of the quilt or wall hanging. YOU CAN DO THIS! Just take a deep breath and go for it.

Sounds like a good time for a sip of wine - piece of chocolate and some of your favorite music and just do it!!!! Enjoy!!

I haven't had a single pucker since I discovered basting spray. Used to spend hours on my hardwood floor pinning and then basting like a madwoman. Now I'm FMQ-ing all of my own quilts and not sending them out anymore. It's a whole new world for me and worth every penny.

The question was great and the ideas tremendous. I needed to hear them too. Thank you all for always being willing to share with us newbees.Teresa

Well, you all have some great suggestions. I have used iron on batting before and that worked pretty good. I think I will look into spray basting and also the Elmer's Glue method. When I was at a quilt show a vendor was trying to sell me a LA and I told him I didn't like that part of the process. He said something smart like "oh, you quilt by credit card." Maybe that made me mad because he is right.