I need help!
06-20-2009, 01:10 PM
#21
Banned
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 7,286
I was taught not to prewash anything, unless you think it will really bleed. And since I have four cats, everything gets washed and dried in the machines. I wash in cold water and have never had problems with bleeding. Plus, I prefer the "old fashioned" look to quilted products, with some wrinkling.
Make sure when you iron that you are "Pressing" and not "Scrubbing". Put your iron down on the fabric, press firmly for a few seconds without moving and lift. When you move your iron back and forth as you go, you can stretch the fabric. You can give it a burst of steam if needed.
I think your wrinkles will quilt out, but it's the wrinkles that give a quilt that homey, well-loved old fashioned look. (In my never to be humble opinion. LOL)
Your quilt top is beautiful, by the way!!! Great Job. But if you are that unhappy with it, better just discard it. TO ME!!!!!!
Make sure when you iron that you are "Pressing" and not "Scrubbing". Put your iron down on the fabric, press firmly for a few seconds without moving and lift. When you move your iron back and forth as you go, you can stretch the fabric. You can give it a burst of steam if needed.
I think your wrinkles will quilt out, but it's the wrinkles that give a quilt that homey, well-loved old fashioned look. (In my never to be humble opinion. LOL)
Your quilt top is beautiful, by the way!!! Great Job. But if you are that unhappy with it, better just discard it. TO ME!!!!!!
06-20-2009, 01:19 PM
#23
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Athens Ga
Posts: 11,420
Originally Posted by gaigai
Originally Posted by callmemolly
I'm really not a quilter, but I just finished assembling the blocks for my fifth quilt. When I went to press it, many of the fabrics puckered. :( How do I get it to lay flat again? I am sooo frustrated and ready to give up.
Molly, I'm not quite sure how to break this too you. Sit down dear. Take a deep breath. OK, here's the truth. I'm afraid that you're going to have to admit that if you've made five quilts you really are, a quilter.
Sorry, Molly, but it's true you are indeed a quilter. welcome to the dark side. :lol: :lol: :lol: There is no going back and there is no cure! :D
06-20-2009, 01:26 PM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Posts: 6,884
That sure does not look bad to me! We get some pretty wrinked quilts to work on at church where we take in quilting for others. What you have shown can be quilted out! :lol:
I was taught to prewash when I stated quilting. But I seldom prewash now. When I prewash the fabrics for the top, I try to remember to prewash the fabric for the back as well! But I never prewash the batting, so everything will shrink or distort at a different rate, so it will look like the old fashioned quilts after a wash or two anyway!
My older fabrics in my stash are prewashed, but the newer ones are not. I tend to mix them and enjoy! A girls got to take a chance now and then. :?
I was taught to prewash when I stated quilting. But I seldom prewash now. When I prewash the fabrics for the top, I try to remember to prewash the fabric for the back as well! But I never prewash the batting, so everything will shrink or distort at a different rate, so it will look like the old fashioned quilts after a wash or two anyway!
My older fabrics in my stash are prewashed, but the newer ones are not. I tend to mix them and enjoy! A girls got to take a chance now and then. :?
06-25-2009, 04:34 PM
#26
Power Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 18,726
I don't know about that "not a quilter" part.....me thinks that must be a typo :roll: As for the pucker...it really does look to me like it will "quilt out"..doesn't appear that bad. It almost looks like it had starch sprayed on and hit with the iron before the starch was dry. (Don't ask me how I know that)...I think it will work out just fine. The top is beautiful and I sure hope you will show it to us again when its quilted...by the way...what color border are you gonna' use?
06-25-2009, 04:56 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 535
You did a wonderful job. Yes, Virginia, you are a quilter (sorry, just had to use that line)
The only thing that I can think of that you might want to do next time is check your stitch length. If your stitches are too tight, it can cause puckering. At least that is what I found.
The only thing that I can think of that you might want to do next time is check your stitch length. If your stitches are too tight, it can cause puckering. At least that is what I found.
06-26-2009, 04:33 AM
#28
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Michigan
Posts: 24
I checked this board just before I went to bed last night and went to sleep laughing! Ya'll made me laugh about me not being a quilter. KathyK is my SIL, neighbor and friend, and a real quilter, and knows how much handholding I need!!! My husband does 90% of the measuring, cutting, and has even been known to hang out at the fabric store with me when I am stressing out over fabric. (His name goes on the quilt label! :D ) I honestly can't work a jigsaw puzzle!!!! :cry: He won't touch the sewing machine, though. I've been sewing since I was 10 - garments, decorator things, etc. but this puzzle/quilt thing keeps me puzzled!! :lol:
Anyway, I thank you all for the information. I re-oiled my machine and messed with the stitching for a bit. I really do think that may be the problem. I lengthened my stitch, and that seemed to help. I also am pretty sure when I put the spray starch on the pieces I did iron before it was dry. (Live and Learn :cry: ).
I have to tell you a funny story before I go...during construction of this quilt, I told my husband to remind me of the agony if I would ever bring up the quilt word again. Well, yesterday I was working around the house and said to him "you know, when I make the next quilt, I would like to..." Oh brother!!!! Does this mean I have the addiction????? Sigh.
BTW, my husband has been reading these boards over my shoulder and says he is really impressed with this group of people. So am I. Thank you, everyone!! I'll post a picture of the finished project some day. Waiting for that last red border...
Anyway, I thank you all for the information. I re-oiled my machine and messed with the stitching for a bit. I really do think that may be the problem. I lengthened my stitch, and that seemed to help. I also am pretty sure when I put the spray starch on the pieces I did iron before it was dry. (Live and Learn :cry: ).
I have to tell you a funny story before I go...during construction of this quilt, I told my husband to remind me of the agony if I would ever bring up the quilt word again. Well, yesterday I was working around the house and said to him "you know, when I make the next quilt, I would like to..." Oh brother!!!! Does this mean I have the addiction????? Sigh.
BTW, my husband has been reading these boards over my shoulder and says he is really impressed with this group of people. So am I. Thank you, everyone!! I'll post a picture of the finished project some day. Waiting for that last red border...
06-26-2009, 04:40 AM
#29
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Back home in Louisiana for now....where next?? who knows....
Posts: 3,180
Well, you say you are not a quilter, looks like one to me. That is a beautiful quilt. Good luck with the puckering problem, hope it all turns out great for you. And keep on quilting non-quilter. :lol:
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