I'm machine quilting a 50x50 quilt on my Viking; this is only the third one I've done and I've never had this problem before.
The quilt top is black, green, lime, pink, purple and orange. The back is dark mottled purple. I'm using varigated thread on top and dark purple in the bottom. There's no white anywhere. I used a thin Hobb's batting.
Problem: I quilted a grid pattern and when I look at the back of the quilt it seems like the batting is coming through with the stitches. The tension is correct, my stitches are even on top and bottom. There's no batting on the top of the quilt. It happens randomly-fine for 12-20 inches of stitching then 2-4inches where there's white (batting) showing.
Can someone tell me what's going wrong and how to prevent this please. I'm 90% done and don't want to rip it out. I can cover the white with purple marker but I want to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Thanks everyone-
Peace-Jan

I wonder if you needle has a burr on it and it is catching the batting and pulling it up through. I doesn't take much of a mark to grab on to batting

I was going to say change your needle.

I would try changing the needle too... let us know if that helped :D:D:D

Definitely change that needle. Use a quilting or a topstitch needle. And be thankful that the problem is on the back - no one need look at it!

I agree, sounds like a needle problem. At least it's not on the front so you don't need to see it. If it's for you go ahead and cover the batting with the marker.

I had that happen with poly batting but not with cotton. Must be your needle.

Thank you!! I changed the needle and finished up the quilting except for the borders. No more batting pulling through. You guys are the greatest-thanks again.

I agree with the needle being the culprit.

I had batting come through once, I changed my needle as I had just started the quilting I took it out and turned the batting over. Don't know which worked turning over the batting or changeing the needle.

That is really odd, when using hobbs.

This is called bearding. The most common problem of bearding is the batting is upside down. If your batting has a scrim the scrim goes on top. To tell if you have a scrim, one side of the batting is very smooth to the touch and the other side will feel like batting. Also, you can look very close at the edge or corner of the batting and you can see a very thin fabric like fiber that you can separate from the batting.

Glad to see changing the needle took care of your problem.

Once you wash it, you should be OK.

WOW! I learn something on here everyday. I never knew batting had a right and wrong side.

It can also be a chemical reaction between your fabric and your batting. Nothing is wrong with either, it's just that combination. It will go away with time, use, and washing.

crashinquilt ( or anyone who knows) I have a question: I didn't know batting had a right and wrong side either. I have never had a problem with it coming thru the top or bottom of my quilts. But so I can be sure I am putting it in right, which side goes next to the top and which side goes on top of the backing? thanks.

I only know warm and natural, the side with the cotton nubs, (dirty looking side) is the top. For a long time I thought the clean side was the top, not so.
Warm and white, the right side up against the top is the textured side. (I always have to check my sample I have written on)

Thanks brushandthimble, I am going to copy that and keep it handy!!

Which side of the batting is the scrim, the smooth side or the one with the rough feeling? I have never heard about this before. Thank you for sharing.