I remember seeing something about this posted here before, but can't locate it. I have a mid-arm machine and frame. When I have "special" quilts, off they go to the LA. She always sews around the edges of the quilt, I assume it is to hold it together for when I bind it.
Today I finished a small wallhanging on my domestic machine and decided I should probably sew the edges. However, when I did, I ended up with several puckers and ripped it out. This was not from a pattern and was pieced together as I thought about it.
I am not sure if there is a trick to it, or if my WH was a little wonky.

I sew around mine with a serpentine stitch, centering it on the edge of the fabric so some catches the fabric and some just the batting. When I trim it, it holds the fabric down just right. I find it easier to do the binding because it holds down the edge of the fabric that way. I prefer it to a straight stitch at the edge.

natalie, do you not baste the edges down when you quilt on your frame? i do and i think most LA's do, it does make it better for applying the binding but most of mine usually gets cut off when i'm squaring up after quilting

I am doing everything self-taught, so I don't do that. Not sure how I would do it. Any help is appreciated.

natalieg

you might want to watch these video's, its for a gammill but the setup of a quilt on the frame is pretty much the same for all of us.

it clearly shows how to stitch the edges of the quilt on the frame while you are working.


http://www.gammill.net/index.php?m=videos

I agree. it helps to keep your quilt squared up So you would based the edges so that you aren't stretching your quilt as you quilt it. I do it on all of my quilts now no matter what machine I'm using.

You only sew the edges when quilting on a rack. LA and MA quilters who "float" the top usually baste top and the edges to hold the top in place. Many LAers do it just because. I do it because I float the top and find the whole thing behaves better when I do and I it helps when I put the side tension clamps on.

If you are quilting on your DSM you do not want to baste the edges first. To much shifting can happen on a basted sandwich no matter how you baste (pin, needle and thread, or spray baste) and, as you learned, you will get pleats and puckers and end up having to take it out. Always quilt from the center out when not using a rack of any kind, that rule goes for handquilting as well as machine quilting. Once you have completed quilting you can baste around the edge if you find it is easier to attach binding. I never do.

Great video! :thumbup:

she said she has a mid arm
i do it even when i don't float, if i'm doing a panto, often the edge will get flipped over when i go off and back on, because i do pantos all the way off the edge