Piecing frustration - how can I avoid it?
 

Hi everyone,
I wondered if anyone else experiences this -

I have been working on a new quilt top that has a lot of seams and I tried to double- up on some of the process.

I cut long strips, sewed them together, then cut the length that I needed of the pairs.

The problem is that once I cut the two-piece sections, the seam is open at the cut - so there's no backstitching on the pieces.

Then, when I go to sew them to the next piece, the open seam then is really open and I have to re-sew it.
frustrating!

I'm sorry if that is confusing -


I can't figure out how to post a photo yet....

Perhaps your stitch is too long and loose. I do stripping like this a lot, but I use a smaller stitch length to avoid this problem. Good luck.

Yes, you need to shorten your stitch length. I keep mine at 1.6 to avoid this. I don't know what everyone else keeps theirs at

Shorten the stitch lenght but you may also have a tension issue( too loose) . Use 2.0 or shorter ... but do check your tension.

Oh yeh, been there, done that!! Is is very frustrating!!

I'm glad you asked this question as I have had similar problems! Thanks for the good answers, which I'll remember!

I agree with everyone else about shortening your stitch and I wanted to ask you about the dog in your avatar. Is that a chocolate lab? My wonderful chocolate lab, Hershey, passed away a few years back at the age of 14 yrs. Whenever I see a picture of a chocolate lab it makes me smile.

I also use the smaller stitch length. So far I haven't had any problem with my quilt tops falling apart.

Thanks, everyone, for your tips/comments/suggestions.
I've been going over every open seam and, well, I think I'm learning a lesson!

I will most definitely shorten my stitch length!

Yes! I do have a chocolate lab in my avatar.
Her name is Stella (and loves when we scream it like A Streetcar Named Desire - we're hoping to never lose her in the rain!)
She hates sewing days - she'll stand at the doorway of the studio and whine. Poor thing! She'd rather go hiking!

Thanks again, everyone, for the support and commiseration!
Lesson learned!

i agree with shorten stitch length