GayleM

I am working on my first quilt and just finished hand quilting the center medallion held in a hoop. On the back, little bits of Warm & Natural batting is poking thru where I pulled my needle to the back. Do I need to wax the thread or purchase a special type of thread or needle to hand quilt? I am currently using Gutterman 40, which I also use in my sewing machine. Any help would be appreciated as I so VERY MUCH want this to come out right. Thanks in advance!!

feline fanatic

Oops duplicated see post below.

feline fanatic

I have never had this happen, espeically not with a cotton bat. However, I have never HQ using W&N. I machine quilt with it all the time. I usually like to use a poly for handquilting it is easier to needle but I have also used 80/20 blends. I have had bearding issues with polys in the past. You should be using a quilting between needle. It is finer and smaller. But I would think if this is only happening on the back and not the front your needle isn't the problem. What are you using for backing? It could be the fabric is too loosely woven?

Your thread is fine, with thread just use what you like to work with. I do run my thread through bees wax but that is to keep it from tangling and knotting on me.

I guess I am not much help. This problem strikes me as very unusual but maybe one of the other hand quilters will have a good suggestion.

GayleM

I am using cotton broadcloth for the backing and it is hunter green so the little dots of white really show up!

feline fanatic

Is the batting pulling through with every single stitch?

GayleM

Not with every stitch, no, but frequently enough to be unsightly. Could it be the angle at which I am pulling the needle through? I am planning to stop at JoAnn's tonight to see if there are other needles, maybe longer and skinnier, to use. I purchased a small pack of hand quilting needles that contained various sizes and chose the one in the middle (cannot recall the number and I am currently at work). I could stop at a quilt shop to show them the problem but it's quite a drive from where I live. I'll take any suggestions and promise to give them each a try !!

feline fanatic

I just don't think it is a needle issue but I could be wrong. I do know there is a top and bottom to W&N here is what their web site says
Is there a top and bottom side to Warm & Natural?
Yes. The side with "flecks" (plant and leaf particles) is the top side. The whiter side is the bottom side. If you iron a quilt or wearable made with Warm & Natural, press with the top side toward the iron and make sure your iron is on a low setting. If you make a white quilt consider quilting with Warm & Natural bottom side up.

So based on this answer this is not what is causing your problem. Broadcloth usually has a fairly tight weave to it, is that how your back looks? Is it pretty tightly woven? Maybe your needle is dull or one of the needles in the pack is defective. Try pulling a different needle out of the package and see if that helps alliviate the problem.

GayleM

Good suggestion. I'll give definitely give that a shot. Meanwhile, do you have any suggstions for coaxing the batting back into the sandwich?

Hinterland

You've got me stumped - warm and natural is the batting a lot of quilters use because it doesn't beard.

The only thing I can think of is that the eye of your needle is big and pulling the batting through the hole the needle is making. When you quilt, insert the needle straight down, which might help. Or maybe the broadcloth is letting you make a bigger than usual hole that isn't healing up?

Janet

TootieAnn

You could try gently pulling the backing fabric away from the batting. Be very careful. You don't want to pull out your stitches!