beginner quilting help needed...
12-06-2011, 11:39 AM
#33
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: home again, after 27 yrs!
Posts: 19,388
and did you put your walking foot on correctly? it has a little arm that must either lay on or connect to the screw that holds the needle in. that makes it work better as the shaft goes up and down. just a thought.
sewing slowly or fast your stitch length should be the same. it is what ever you set you machine at. sounds like something isn't right. good luck.
sewing slowly or fast your stitch length should be the same. it is what ever you set you machine at. sounds like something isn't right. good luck.
12-06-2011, 11:48 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CA and MN
Posts: 378
What type of machine do you have. I have a built-in walking foot and I know if you don't let the fabric feed by itself it will cause problems. So do not tug the fabric from behind the presser foot. Can also throw off your timing.
12-07-2011, 04:15 AM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Pekin, IL
Posts: 439
I am sort of new to quilting myself. I recently completed a baby quilt for my newest grandson. I was using my newly purchased walking foot to stitch in the ditch and had the same problem. After many trials and errors, I figured out that my walking foot was not attached exactly right. It made all the difference for me. Don't give up. Keep moving forward with your quilting. We are in the learning phase and I am finding that I improve with each project because I learn something new and hone my skills with each one. I couldn't give it up if I had to now! I am too addicted!
12-07-2011, 06:08 AM
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,176
Thanks for posting this problem. I had the same difficulty last night and felt just as disheartened. After reading through the thread I feel I an try again and look for an acceptable result. If not there is always my faithful friend ready to unpick.
12-07-2011, 08:18 AM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Upstate NY, north of Syracuse Area
Posts: 6,003
I am new to using my walking foot also, and one thing I have already learned is that for my machine, it doesn't like to go at full speed. Also, I've learned that I have to take care to only lightly guide the fabric and not to pull or push it. When I leave it alone and let it do it's own thing at about 75 - 80% of full speed, it works great and makes a nice even stitch.
Welcome to the board huggggggs and smilessss, we are happy to have you with us!!
Welcome to the board huggggggs and smilessss, we are happy to have you with us!!
12-07-2011, 08:56 AM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yakima, WA
Posts: 383
Originally Posted by ckcowl
put together a practice (sandwich-some people use 12" blocks) and do some practicing- you have to coordinate your (foot speed) with the speed of the fabric/stitch- it takes some practice- it is always a good idea to practice on something (just 2 pieces of fabric with some batting in the middle works) before 'attacking' your actual project- but you can not expect perfection---it will not be perfect- people who have been doing it for years still have on occassion- some uneven stitches---
if the stitches are very tiny- you are stitching faster than moving the fabric- if the stitches are big you are moving the fabric faster than the machine is going- it takes time to find a (rhythm)
don't be so hard on yourself- when you go back to class you will find everyone will have some areas that are not perfect-
i've seen some with stitch regulators- that still on occassion have the same problem-
it certainly does not mean you are not meant to do this- it just takes time/practice and patience.
if you use a thread that blends in to the fabrics- the little areas that are slightly bigger/smaller---are not going to be noticable- and no one is going to be there with a ruler measuring your stitches
if you find the tiny stitches are the biggest problem you could try increasing your stitch length on the machine- but it really just takes some practicing ... and not expecting it to look as if it came from jc penneys- all hand work has variations---the difference between doing something yourself-and buying something manufactured---don't be so hard on yourself- or expect perfection---we strive for perfection- we never really achieve perfection
if the stitches are very tiny- you are stitching faster than moving the fabric- if the stitches are big you are moving the fabric faster than the machine is going- it takes time to find a (rhythm)
don't be so hard on yourself- when you go back to class you will find everyone will have some areas that are not perfect-
i've seen some with stitch regulators- that still on occassion have the same problem-
it certainly does not mean you are not meant to do this- it just takes time/practice and patience.
if you use a thread that blends in to the fabrics- the little areas that are slightly bigger/smaller---are not going to be noticable- and no one is going to be there with a ruler measuring your stitches
if you find the tiny stitches are the biggest problem you could try increasing your stitch length on the machine- but it really just takes some practicing ... and not expecting it to look as if it came from jc penneys- all hand work has variations---the difference between doing something yourself-and buying something manufactured---don't be so hard on yourself- or expect perfection---we strive for perfection- we never really achieve perfection
12-07-2011, 12:12 PM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Any place I can sew
Posts: 434
My machine sits onto of a table - if yours does too your stich will drag. I was able to help my quilts two different way - each has worked for me, but I needed two different things because I sew in two different houses. 1st is I set up my ironing board lever with my machine (not the table), this way I didn't have the quilt draging on the floor and everything was much more even (stitches). 2nd machine on table top over to right - then I used phone books (you know ALL of the extra ones they deliver ALL the time), they come in different sizes so it might take a little working out, but it was a NO cost fix.
Good luch and happy sewing
Snooks
Good luch and happy sewing
Snooks
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