donnajean

I don't know that I could do a good pinning job on a carpet. I use a table or my kitchen floor. When using kitchen floor, I tape the backing to the floor in several places on each side making it a bit taut; add the batting smoothing it from center out with my hands; add the quilt top; & then start pinning. When using a table top of my sewing maching cabinet top, I use the binder clips & pin in sections.

When machine quilting with walking foot, I start in the center & work out.

patchsamkim

Not sure if it would help or not, but rather than pinning to your carpet, is there a flat place you could tape your backing to? I either use a floor for a smaller piece, or push several tables together to baste a larger quilt. I tape my back to the tables, starting in the center on each side, and then working my way to the corners, alternating sides a few pieces of tape at a time until all is taped down. You don't want to stretch the back too tightly when you tape-you just want a back that is nice and flat. Then I add the batting and smooth out with my hands, and next the top-which is well pressed. I start pinning in the center, smoothing out the quilt with my fingers, and pinning out about every 5" working out in each direction . If you don't want to pin baste, you could thread baste, but also working center out. Hope this helps.

Fabaddict

my suggestion would be to start at the center of the quilt, and using a "stretch and sew" method, pull quilt away and toward you at the same time. I used to work for me before I got my quilter

Painiacs

I have the same problem. Maybe I tape the bottom too taunt??

Challys

This is my method as well. Then once it is all pinned, I smooth outward with every seam I sew. Good Luck!

lynn_z

I always start in the middle, making sure next row is smooth and take it slow. You may also want to make your stitch a little longer.

amma

Lots of pins!! I pin atleast every 4 square inches.

Start sewing in the center of your quilt, and sew outwards to the edges.

Lengthen your stitch length to atleast 3.5 if not 4.0 Shorter stitches can cause drag.

Good suggestion about releasing some of the pressure off of your pressure foot too.

Bless your heart for making these quilts for kids :D:D:D

wvhill22

exactly what she said. and go slow. i have found the slower I go the nicer my stitches are

grammy17

[quote=Fabaddict]my suggestion would be to start at the center of the quilt, and using a "stretch and sew" method, pull quilt away and toward you at the same time. I used to work for me before I got my quilter[/quot

I have used a large embroidery hoop - oval - on the machine. You have to go slow and move it often. It keep everything tight. And I think a looser pressure on the foot.

Shelbie

I use much the same method as Patchsamkim taping my backing to the large tables in the church or community hall. I pin with safety pins but also pin with straight pins down the seams. I use Stich in the Ditch down the seams to anchor everything and then go ahead with the rest of the quilting. I run one machine quilting line right through the quilt both vertically and horizontally to start and then quilt in sections using a walking foot smoothing and stretching with my hands (moving pins if I have to ) as I go. I rarely get puckers using this method. Although as my daughter has frequently reminded me "Mom, the baby won't care about a few puckers!"