AAACCCKKK! I quilted a pleat in the backing!
 

Actually several pleats. I don't know how it happened - first time I've had this happen on the longarm - and it's not even my quilt - I'm quilting it for a friend!

Near the edge, on the side of the quilt, there was an area of about 5" square where the backing somehow didn't get tightened when I rolled the quilt, and I quilted several pleats into the backing. I didn't notice until I took the quilt off the frame and looked at the back. (Yes, I know, I usually check everything when I roll the quilt, and I will be more conscientious about doing that in the future. But I don't understand how I managed to have only one side loose, when the other side was fine. When I loaded the backing everything was even. Gremlins?)

I got out the seam ripper and removed the stitches from an area maybe 10" square, and was astonished at how much excess fabric was in that area. I was afraid I would have to remove stitches from a far larger area, but I took it to the ironing board, smoothed it out, sprayed with water, and somehow the extra fabric just evened out as I patted it down with my hands. I pressed it with the iron, let it cool, then put in some pins to hold it until I could get it back to the longarm. I didn't want to load the whole quilt again, so I just attached some of the small red snapper clips to the front edge and draped the rest of the quilt around the back poles, then replaced the stitching in the affected area. And it worked!

I wish I had taken before and after pictures, because the change was dramatic. I just wanted to post this here on the board, because I'm sure there must be others who have had this happen.

Oh yes, while this was going on I found the needle I lost earlier today. It got stuck in my foot! I hope tomorrow is less eventful. I'm going to a big sale at a LQS.

Oh my goodness, I'm so glad you were able to get those stitches out and the fabric all flat again. And the needle in your foot!! ouch. Hope you have had a tetanus shot! Whew, now that's over. :)

Oh, my! I read that title and wondered how in the world you would get around that situation. I am so glad it was a fairly easy fix. I have had a few "crinkles" happen and they can really test my good nature. Sometimes I end up saying words that a lady should not say.

Glad it all worked out so well!!

Good job getting it fixed!!

All I can think is that was a lot of work for you to fix, and I hope your friend appreciates the quilt properly!

I have had that happen on my grace frame when I was in a rush and had forgotten to put the side tension clips on one side. Thankfully it was only that one roll I had missed and was easily fixed !

Good save! I have had a lot of opportunity to remove quilting.

Nice! Glad it all worked out!

Phew, very pleased to read all looks good in the end. I've struggled with removing stitches because of pleats on the back, I'm sure it's happened to most of us.

Ugh, I hate it when that happens. I quilted a pleat in the back of my Karyukai quilt but it was my quilt so I just left it. But since then I have gotten into the habit of checking well and giving my backing fabric a good strong tug on both sides with every advance before attaching the side clamps. Then I look again to make sure I have no ripples. Amazing how a situation like this makes you form new habits!

So happy everything worked out for you. As far as the needle goes, I found a big blue magnet with a handle that picks things up pretty good from the tightest spaces. Have had trouble with my back so little painful depending on how I bend, so I just clamped it to the end of a yardstick. It's great for those objects hard to get to.

Great save and thanks for sharing! Now hoping I will remember it when it happens to me!!!