Question about crosshatching
I've tried crosshatching a long time ago and didn't do it very well. The fabric bunched up where the stitching crossed. Also, do you do the crosshatching first in the background or the motif quilting? Isn't there a lot of stopping and starting?
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Are you using a walking foot?
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You must be machine quilting. I only hand quilt so I can't help you there.
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If you're crosshatching the entire quilt and using a DSM, stitch entire lines, starting from the center out. I guess that means you're stitching half lines, not entire lines...And, as happyquiltmom said, a walking foot is an integral factor in success.
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I've had bunching problems where the crosshatching meets, too. You just have to make sure you baste really well. I starch my backing heavily which also seems to help. Depending on the quilt, there can be a lot of stopping and starting. Since I hate to bury threads, I try my best to create a quilting pattern that minimizes it.
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If you are not using a walking foot, by all means, do! Starching and using a walking foot should make a big difference.
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The key is to vary the directions you are sewing when doing it. i.e.
First row ---------->>>>>>>> Next row <<<<<<<------------ Next row ---------->>>>>>>>> and so on..... |
Originally Posted by Just Me...
(Post 5487508)
The key is to vary the directions you are sewing when doing it. i.e.
First row ---------->>>>>>>> Next row <<<<<<<------------ Next row ---------->>>>>>>>> and so on..... |
I did one yesterday. I used spray basting and a walking foot. No bunching at all. I think th spray basting is the key.
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you also must use your hands to "spread" the fabric away a bit from the needle area when crossing lines. Like Eleanor Burns does. maybe a bit longer stitch length too would help.
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Starching both backing and top helps a lot with this problem. I starch the backing *heavily* using a 1:1 solution of Sta-Flo and water. It's a good idea to spray starch the top too. If the quilt is already layered, it helps to mist the top with spray starch, let dry (can put a fan on it), and then mist again several times. Starch stabilizes the fabric so it is less likely to stretch while you are sewing.
A walking foot helps too. You have to be careful not to stretch the fabric. The bunching at intersections occurs when the fabric has been manipulated too much -- especially stretched with the sewing lines. It can help when sewing to lift up the quilt sandwich in front of the needle, so that you are feeding from above the needle. Never push or pull on the quilt sandwich while sewing. If you absolutely have to, then use the spreading technique with the fingers as you near a crossover line; however, this is stretching the top fabric and will result in some fullness in that area. It's preferable to a sewn-in pucker, but still not perfect. Best is to not have any excess fabric in front of the presser foot ever, and feeding from above (and especially starching both sides) helps with this. |
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