Originally Posted by
bkay
Maybe I'm just cranky this morning, but if that specification on the packaging is incorrect, why aren't you griping to the manufacturer? You would think that these manufacturers have tested their product and know it's capabilities. If not, gripe about their misleading packaging.
This thread, indeed, comes across as another "quilt police" injunction. You know the one: "You don't know anything. You're too stupid to read the packaging and I know everything and know it better. If you don't listen to me, you'll never succeed at quilting."
No one who has posted (so far) has said they had a problem with a quilt by following the specifications on the batting package. If so, how far apart was the spacing and what was the brand of batting? I promise not to buy it.
(Can you tell I've been mauled by the "quilt police" before?)
bkay
Bkay, I disagree. My post said that the end product became a wrinkled ugly mess due to not quilting close enough and the end product was shoved into a closet to never be used. That is the last thing I want for a gifted quilty item. Maybe my standards for "a problem" are a bit more stringent, but I definitely consider that a problem with the finished product due to leaving my quilting space as far apart as the batting package recommended. The whole point of a thread like this is to hopefully help another quilter not make the same mistake. Not in the original topic nor in any of the responses was anyone stating someone was "too stupid" or will "never succeed at quilting" if the advice is not taken. It was simply offered as a possible way to improve. And quite honestly even the best show quilters who win all the time are striving to improve in some way or another.
As far as taking it to the manufacturer... The recommendation on the batting is the minimum distance needed to keep the batting from falling apart or bunching up between quilting lines, that is all. The manufacturer is making no recommendations of what actually looks good and will maintain the integrity of the piecing or keep the sections of unquilted fabric on the top or backing from becoming a wrinkled mess or skewed out of shape due to uneven shrinkage between batting and fabric. The manufacturer doesn't care if seams come apart due to the stress put on them of such a far distance. All they are suggesting is the minimum distance to keep the integrity of the batting itself, not the integrity of the piecing or the result batting shrinkage will have on large areas of unquilted space. If the OP had not put "the quilt police" in quotes with a little winky emoticon which means she meant it tongue in cheek would you be so defensive? The OP was merely attempting to offer some helpful advice that readers can take, leave, comment on with their own experience or move on.