Schoolmarm

I've made nearly one hundred quilts of various sizes, quilting them all by hand. I am trying to teach myself to machine quilt. I have some charity quilts that I wanted to do and they are required to have machine quilting. My finances are too tight to consider paying someone to quilt it for me. Every time I try I get gathers on the back.
I've read on the quilting board where they suggest spray adhesive, but I cannot spray chemicals into a quilt I plan on giving to a child who already has health problems. Some hospitals where I donate quilts, request no spray adhesives.
I've tried the walking foot. I've pinned the quilt. I've rolled, I've scrunched, and I’ve nested. I've tried feed dogs up and feed dogs down.
I'm using a Necchi4825. I purchased the walking foot and the darning foot. I’ve yet to try to use the darning foot, though.
I typically lay out my backing fabric on my carpet and T-pin it down. Then add the batting and smooth it down and T-pin it on top of the backing. Then add the top and T-pin it down to the other layers and then start in the center and pin. I pin a pin in every square and the same distance apart on the border. This particular quilt is 5" Around the World" pattern made up in a 45" x 60" toddler bed size.
I tried quilting up one side of a column of squares and down the other side.
I tried to quilt around individual squares as if hand quilting. No matter what I do, I keep getting puckers on the bottom side. I’ve tried to stitch in the ditch. I have not tried the free motion quilting yet as the posts I’ve read and the tutorials I’ve watched have listed these other methods as easier. I continue to get unsightly puckers on the bottom.
I do not live where there are lessons given in machine quilting. I've watched every tutorial I can find. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
I’ve included a photo of a similar one that I hand quilted.

butterflies5518

Thank you for asking, I will be interested to know these as well. I have only done one myself, stitch in the ditch and was terrified of puckers. I just know that there is an easier way - I sent myself into a panic attack working on it. I have not done any hand quilting - way to new newbie for that.

I love the quilt!

cherylynne

Have you used safety pins to hold the layers together? You just put them all over the quilt and remove them a small section at a time as you get close to them with your quilting.

ontheriver

I guess I'm backwards because I started on FMQ and doing great, thought it was pretty easy, but still can't use that darn walking foot.

Schoolmarm

I use a safety pin in every square and on the border. Am I not laying it out properly to sandwich it?

Schoolmarm

Thank you!

GreatStarter

Just today I learned that one reason for puckers in the back, is if the foot pressure is too tight. Saw this on a website but cant remember where.

Kat

emsgranny

Love the quilt you showed!!! I cant give you any suggestions - I have a fear of puckering so I have never tried it. I will keep an eye out on this post so if I am courageous and try to do one I will know what to do!!!

nyelphaba

I found when I pin the sandwich, it is too difficult for me to quilt. The pins drag and get stuck on me, the sewing table, and on each other- this causes problems including puckering. Now I only baste the sandwich with needle and thread. It takes a little longer but it eliminates many problems for me. Plus the sandwich is much lighter and easier to move. The best is when I baste with dissolving thread- when I wash the finished quilt the basting is gone. Hope this helps.

frugalfabrics

The very first one I ever did was just diaganal stitching...and I pinned like crazy on both sides of the lines I planned to stitch...pinned thru all three layers.

It was a lot of work, but it did keep it smooth and I didn't get any puckers.