Does anyone have any helpful hints for keeping sewing from coming out when you are strip-piecing? I have made many trip around the world and other patterns. When you cut across the strips, there is nothing holding the stitching in, and if you stretch it at all, the stitching starts to come out, especially on the long sides of the quilt. I hope I'm making this clear. I usually press well before I cut, and try not to stretch at all, but sometimes have to re-sew the outer edges when the come apart. Any tips out there?

Try a shorter stitch length :D:D:D

I use smaller machine stitching when I sew strips. Seems to fix the problem for me. (At least they hold better, but, when I make a mistake, they're extremely difficult to rip out!

I use a very small stitch length. That makes it much more difficult to undo itself.

I will have to try that- I just drove myself crazy with a mug rug that did that on the little open turning part, and I had to practically resew the whole area. It was a little checkerboard border...grrrrrr. All finished now though.

oh yes, when you are to turn something right side out you must back stitch to lock your stitches on either side of the opening.
smaller stitches do help keep stitches in better.
good luck.

ktyree, I agree with the smaller stitches quilters, and I hope that solves your dilemma.

Please let them know it worked in your next post.

If your machine is still giving you grief, you might have your upper tension too tight or the bobbin could be. If your machine instructional book doesn't have a troubleshooting page to help you, please see your machine's manufacturer or your nearest dealer authorized to repair your type of machine.

Sometimes a tuneup on an older machine can put the smile back in your sewing.