Bowing Quilt--How can I fix it??
#1
I just finished up the top of my third bargello and when I hung it on the desiign wall, I noticed that it's a little bowed. I was overly cautious with the individual strips and I've never had this on the other two bargellos I've made but this one is bowed. I've tried stretching it and it stretches to the right position. I think it's because it's a smaller bargello (sort of like a postage stamp quilt). How can I fix it? I've thought of steam ironing it but not sure.
#2
When I finish a wallhanging I lay it on the carpet and straighten it so it is square and I pin it to the carpet with T pins. I spray it with water so it is damp all over and then I let it dry. If it is small enough to fit on one of my foam core design board I use that instead of the floor.
Ricky Timm puts his in the washer and spins the water out and puts the quilt on the floor in the same way till it is dry. I found that my way works just as well for me and I don't have to get it quite so wet (and heavy). If you have an iron that puts out a lot of steam that sometimes works just as well.
Ricky Timm puts his in the washer and spins the water out and puts the quilt on the floor in the same way till it is dry. I found that my way works just as well for me and I don't have to get it quite so wet (and heavy). If you have an iron that puts out a lot of steam that sometimes works just as well.
#3
Originally Posted by Ps 150
I just finished up the top of my third bargello and when I hung it on the desiign wall, I noticed that it's a little bowed. I was overly cautious with the individual strips and I've never had this on the other two bargellos I've made but this one is bowed. I've tried stretching it and it stretches to the right position. I think it's because it's a smaller bargello (sort of like a postage stamp quilt). How can I fix it? I've thought of steam ironing it but not sure.
#6
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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Sharon Schamber has videos on how to block blocks; you can also block an entire quilt top. Basically it means wetting it (Sharon uses a lot of spray starch), pinning it in place (you would need to stretch yours and then fasten with pins), and then ironing until the starch is dry. Starch will make sure the fabric retains its shape.
If you can steam iron the areas into shape, you can use spray starch at the ironing board. Spray starch can be tricky to work with. Sharon Schamber uses a pressing cloth with it; this helps make sure you don't scorch the starch with a too-hot iron.
If you don't quilt it enough, the fabric has an opportunity to spring back to its original bow. Sufficient quilting will keep the fabric stretched to where it needs to be to lie flat.
If you can steam iron the areas into shape, you can use spray starch at the ironing board. Spray starch can be tricky to work with. Sharon Schamber uses a pressing cloth with it; this helps make sure you don't scorch the starch with a too-hot iron.
If you don't quilt it enough, the fabric has an opportunity to spring back to its original bow. Sufficient quilting will keep the fabric stretched to where it needs to be to lie flat.
#7
Great! Thanks!! I've done blocking before with my knitting but I've never had to do it with a quilt before. I'll try the steam iron version first since it's faster, lol, and if that doesn't work I'll rinse it out and then pin it in place. I'm going to go take my camera upstairs to the sewing room and take a few pics. I'll post when I emerge from the room, lol.
#8
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
what causes the bowing is always starting at the same end when sewing the strips together, it is important to alternate which end you start at with each new strip. when i messed up mine i wound up having to take it apart and resew the strips alternating the start end.
#9
Originally Posted by ckcowl
what causes the bowing is always starting at the same end when sewing the strips together, it is important to alternate which end you start at with each new strip. when i messed up mine i wound up having to take it apart and resew the strips alternating the start end.
#10
OK, here's some pics. I used the steam iron method and it worked amazingly. Then I added some mitered borders. Thanks for all the help. I'm off to sandwich the layers before DH gets home. :D
Before the borders.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]115070[/ATTACH]
With the borders.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]115071[/ATTACH]
The mitered corners. There's a 1" inner border, a half inch folded border and a 3" outer border.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]115072[/ATTACH]
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AngelinaMaria
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09-11-2012 04:16 PM