alimaui

For basting, I have heard many people suggest starching the backing before basting, and I have heard people suggest spray basting. Should these two things be done together?

If not, which would be more effective to reduce puckering? Any other techniques you have found successful?

My first attempt at actual machine quilting was not very pretty, and there was alot of puckering. (Previous quilts I have tied.) I think this might have also been related to my choice of batting. I won't use this batting again, but I am determined to hone my skills. Thanks for any advice?

alimaui.blogspot.com

Prism99

I starch my backings heavily (do a search on starch to find my method described in other threads) and also spray baste. That combination has always worked well for me. I do use 100% cotton batting (Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon) and that may be a factor. Starched backings and spray basting seems to become more problematic with polyester battings; some people don't have a problem, but others do. I suspect that problem may be with 100% polyester battings; in the past I used 80/20 batting (80% cotton/20% polyester) with spray basting and did not have any problems with a heavily starched backing.

A heavily starched backing will definitely help prevent unwanted tucks and puckers when machine quilting.

justwannaquilt

are you using a walking foot to do your quilting?
I know my first quilt I THOUGHT I knew what I was doing. I basted my quilt and there were NO wrinkles or puckers in the back then I used my regular sewing foot to quilt! Yea I should have taken advice from others to get a walking foot it makes quilting look 100% better from the back. My next quilt(I bought a walking foot) had NO puckers in it!!

Jim's Gem

I spray baste and do not starch my quilt or backs. I use the walking foot for straight, in the ditch or diagonal seams but not when free motion quilting.

ania755

Look at this video

http://sharonschambernetwork.com/fre...ing/index.html
I love this woman....
Good luck :lol: