Do I really have to undo it all?
 

"Newbie-ness" alert here folks....I'm desperate for advice.

How do you tell if your backing isn't "smooth" enough after quilting? I'm halfway through quilting my chevron quilt with straight line stitching approximately 1.5 inches apart, filling in the chevrons, 6 rows of quilting per chevron row (blocks are 8") and am concerned that the backing seems a bit sort of bunched or "foofed" between the rows of stitching. Is it acceptable that the back isn't completely smooth/flat? If I put a bit of pull on the quilt it all flattens out a bit between the rows. Crikey, do I, should I, pull it all out and rebaste etc? I tremble at the mere thought of it. I was checking the backing every so often but it didn't really become obvious until I was about halfway done....oh dear.....what am I to do...I'm too embarassed to take it to the local Quilt Shop to ask advice...bit of a private sook! How do these pictures of my backing and stitching rows look? I'm using a 60/40 wool/poly batting.

The cotton backing will shrink a little when it is washed and if it were cotton batting, I would say you would be ok. I have not used the wool poly combo for batting, so I don't know. See what the others have to say. Looking at the pictures though, it does not look bad and I would just continue.

Being a "newbie" means its a learning experience, the batting is probably adding some of the poofy- ness, it still looks pretty good & there aren't any real wrinkles, tucks, areas that I would feel need to be fixed. I would not take it out. Years and numerous quilts from now you will be able or look at this one and see how far you have come, improved. If you can live with it, do so... It looks good! Don't be hard on yourself. When it's finished and laundered I bet you won't even notice chose areas.

I would not take it out. It looks good in the picture! Smooth out the remaining backing, making sure it is basted well and continue quilting. Look forward to seeing the front of the quilt.

First of all you would do yourself a great big favor by going to the local quilt store (not the big box store) and ask for an opinion. We all need to do that from time to time!. One question I have is this: did you sew all of your rows from the same direction? If so, you will get sort of puffiness in the batting. It is important to start the quilting process in the middle of the quilt to help distribute fullness. Perhaps you will not be faced with taking out what you have done but you might need to rethink taking out some of the basting and realigning it. Please be open to suggestion. If you keep going as you are doing you will intensify the developing problem. I wish you the best as you begin your quilting journey.

I agree with others that your photos look fine. You don't appear to have puckers/folds and probably the poly in the batting is giving you the extra 'puffiness'. No, I would not remove the quilting at this point. But yes, you MAY want to re-do the balance of your basting - at least maybe a row or two of that in your next area to be quilted to see if that has an impact. If so, then continue removing the basting; rebaste that portion of the quilt and soldier on. You will get some shrinkage with washing and I'm sure everything will look stunning when done.

There will be some poofiness caused by the stitching compressing the batting. It is just part of the nature of the beast.

I also don't see any wrinkles or pleats. I would leave it.

I have a a machine with a built-in walking foot, and I stitch all my rows in the same direction. My reasoning for that is that if it is going to "pull" - it will all go the same way. So far, I've only done straight-lline and stitch in the ditch quilting, but that quilting looks respectable on both sides.

Looks just fine to me, no tucks, pleats or puckers, and it all looks consistent.
When you make your quilt sandwich you want to put a small amount of tension on the backing, which helps keep it flat.

Being in the "better finished than perfect" crowd, I wouldn't unsew it. As others have said, it really does depend on the type of batting. I've never used a 60/40 wool poly batt, but the puffiness of polyester is definitely more difficult to quilt on a large quilt.

For the future, make sure you tape down the quilt backing to the floor (or other large flat space) & smooth out all the wrinkles. You don't want to stretch the fabric or it will relax & wrinkle once you remove the tape. Likewise, you need it a tiny bit tight to remove all the wrinkles. Start pinning in the middle & pin in quadrants. Quilt in the same manner. Yes, that means starting in the middle of your chevron row, but it really does help push those waves out to the edges as you quilt. And maybe try switching to either a 100% wool or 100% cotton batting & see if that helps. On top of that, polyester isn't breathable so it gets really sweaty to sleep under.

All that said, there's no reason to fear the vast majority of quilt shops. They are typically really nice people who are eager to help quilters of all levels. I know what it's like to be so nervous & protective of early attempts at quilting, but honestly I found the quilt shop people to be very supportive of me & I've truly learned a lot from them.

I dislike poly because it will tend to shift on you if possible when quilting. Cotton batting loves to stick to cotton fabrics. DO go to your local quilts and DO NOT FEEL embarrassed. We were ALL newbies at one point. We must learn from our mistakes. I would not take the stitching out. But it is always a good idea when quilting on your sewing machine to check the back every two or three rows to make sure everything looks OK.

I would not un sew it! It isn't bunched to a point that it would cause me despair. I have quilts that I have done when I was starting out that look a lot worse than that and nobody I have given them to has noticed. Be easy on yourself, you are a beginner and nobody is perfect. Beautiful color, enjoy your hard work on it so far. Are you using a walking foot?

It looks fine to me too!! I sure would not take it out. The loftier the batting the more compressed the stitching will be to cause the pouffiness in between the rows. Also I think spray basting tends to keep the quilt sandwich flatter than pin basting while quilting. Did you pin baste? Anyway, after it is washed and the natural crinkling occurs it will look perfect. Keep going and enjoy it!!

the back will look fine after washing. or soaking your quilt. I wouldn't worry. Looks good.

If my first quilt looked this good, I'd be happy dancing all over the place. Heck, if my 4th or 5th looked that good, I'd still be pleased. This has proved to be the hardest part of quilting for me. And I don't remember if anyone else has said it, but we do tend to be our harshest judges. I quilt for fun. Do the best you can (next time will probably be better, but more important is to enjoy the journey.

Like most others, I would just move on. If you're looking for perfection look up. I think it looks great. You must post after completed. Love the colors.

Thanks everyone, will redo the remaining pin basting today. Yes, I am using a walking foot, no 505, just pins (500 of them!) and I did start quilting from the middle outwards. Yep, have been quilting in the one direction to reduce the bulk under the harp each time. I wondered whether it was the "pattern" of stitching that was lending it to doing this. Thanks all.

post script: just rang the local quilting shop to ask if I could have someone look at it for me and got a rather lukewarm bemused response so that idea is off my options list for sure. Will muddle on...thanks all for your responses.

I would not take out the quilting. The backing looks ok to me and like others have said, smooth out the rest of the quilt and baste well. Congratulations on quilting your quilt. I have 3 that I've got to get sandwiched and quilted and I just keep putting it off.

Hang in there - you're doing a great job.

Susan

I would continue as is. I bet it will look just fine after washing and drying.

Wash it and it will never be a problem.....be sure to wash it in cold water......I'd probably use a color catcher too, since you are using a red.

It looks a little torqued to me, as in not entirely straight -- the fabric has become somewhat angled or twisted. That may have happened with your first line of quilting if the sandwich was not tight, and then got worse as you quilted more lines. It will probably look fine when washed. Unless it looks worse than the photos show, I wouldn't take it all out.


I got a back on crooked and didn't realize until it was fully quilted. I didn't take it out, just chalked it up to experience. Now I check the back carefully before I begin and stop periodically and check it again.

It looks good from here: no pleats or folds. Use some of the suggestions offered here and move on. I have an old-fashioned quilting frame that I can use for basting just so I can keep the back straight. I am a proponent of basting the daylights out of a quilt. Hope you find something that pleases you, short of taking your basting out.

As a "newbie, I think you are being too hard on yourself. Yes, there may be some puffiness, however, washing will probably take that away and it will not be noticed. I'd say leave it alone, just straighten out the remainder and you will have a beautiful quilt.

Once you wash it, some of the problems will flatten themselves out. I wouldn't take it out and esp. since this is your first quilt, I'd rejoice--not be too hard on myself. I'm also in the "finished is better" crowd. Keep going but keep checking your work. Doing chevrons is hard, I'm sure because of the angles at which you are having to quilt.

It'll never be noticed on a galloping horse and that's the only kind I ride. It looks fine. Ripping out doesn't help you learn to machine quilt better. Spend your time on quilting!

I agree 100% !!! My favorite quilt to this day is my first..I made GLARING mistakes on that..but I love it! With every quilt I make, I still learn something.
The backing on this is nowhere near a HUGE issue..no one but you will ever see anything wrong with it. Keep it..enjoy it..and make many, many more ! LOL

Doing straight rows you should go in opposite directions not all the same direction. It may be the later that caused the puffiness.

But Dottymo if I was going in opposite directions doesn't that mean that I would be getting more and more bulk in the harp space every second run?

When I do straight rows (with a walking foot) I always go in the same direction. I figure if it's going to "move" - I want it all to move in the same direction, instead of creating zigzag moves.

I think it looks great! Like some have said it also will shrink some in the wash

When I started my first, I had wrinkles in mine too. I would just wash it and it should work itself out. Mine did. Just my opinion.

It looks okay to me. We are always our own worst critics. I think you will be just fine after it has been washed.

Are you doing the quilting with a walking foot? Can you adjust the pressure or height of the pressure foot on your machine?

I mostly quilt with high loft poly batting. I love the the poofiness. For charity quilts I am using warm and white, it is very thin. I wish it came thicker.

Yes Playswithcolor, I am using a walking foot and yes, I lightened the presser foot pressure a bit. Thanks everyone; I've decided I've gone to far to consider re-doing it so am going to soldier on and hope it looks okay when the quilting is completed all over. Maybe with all the quilting and the binding on things will look better. I doubt the recipient is going to notice it......at 3 years of age there are more important things to do with your time!!!!!

It's beautiful and I'd not unsew a stitch. Keep calm and quilt on!