Help needed: backing fabric puckering
 

I'm fairly new to quilting and have run into a problem with my latest project. Every time I quilt the backing it ends up wrinkling. I've tried various solutions -
I've changed the backing fabric
I've pinned with smaller gaps
I've increased stitch length to 3
I've slowed the stitching right down
I'm using a new needle

None of it has worked.

I don't think it's the original sandwich because I've been so careful; securing the fabric to my conservatory floor with tape and then smoothing from the centre out.
But after 6 attempts I'm still getting the problem you can see in the photo

About to unpick yet again and am thinking that it might be easier to do some echo quilting of each block starting from the centre rather than straight lines. (I'm not up to anything more sophisticated than that at the moment)

Thoughts???

Hmm that is a dilemma! I know others will come in and offer good suggestions. My first thought is that maybe when you are taping the backing to the floor you are pulling it too taut? And then when it releases it bounces back?

Are you using a walking foot when quilting? You might want to lengthen the stitch length and if possible reduce the foot pressure.

Thanks Lena, yes I'm using a walking foot. When I started I was using 2.5 stitch length but have now increased that to 3 and it's still an issue. Should I go up to 3.5?
When I look a the stitching closely, I can see that sometimes the stitches are smaller than they should be

I don't have the ability on my machine to change the foot pressure though

I'm not conscious that I'm pulling it but will watch out for that when I try next. I'm having to take the whole thing apart and start again

I used to use safety pins to secure layers for quilting. Some quilt backs ended up like your picture. Then I discovered spray baste spray. Puckers still happened. I was stretching the backside fabric slightly when clipping it onto the table with clips. I figured out that it was "relaxing" too much when released from clips. So, now I'm careful to smooth without pulling, and it worked much better!

Are you alternating the direction of your stitching lines?

Try quilting in only one direction.

if some of your stitches are smaller than others it makes me wonder if the bulk of your quilt is being supported. If the weight of the quilt is dragging it will affect the stitch length. This doesn’t address the puckering on the back. I agree with others who have suggested you may have stretched the backing when you secured it to the floor.

Is your fabric a poly/cotton? How about the type of batting you are using? Is some of the quilt tied before your machine quilting? I have been fortunate with my pin basting, but I also make sure to quilt slow enough to let the walking foot do its’ job to feed the whole sandwich through evenly. It seems we all find what works best for us, have you cleaned the feed dog area on your machine recently? Just some thoughts as I read your post.

I pin basted when I first started quilting and I had wrinkles and puckers every where. I kept trying but gave up the pinning. And it was tedious way to baste. I glue my backing to the batting then press it until dry. Then I glue the quilt top on, press until smooth and dry. . I use a paint roller bottle to roll a thin layer of glue on the batting. I never have to check the back for wrinkles or puckers when I'm machine quilting. I use Elmer's School glue and it washes out.

I also was going to suggest you use a walking foot with straight line quilting. When I free motion, I pin baste and then I start quilting in the center. When I have a portion of it done, I will lay out the quilt and redo the pins and straighten the fabric once again. It is an extra step but seems to work for me. Stay positive and don't give up. Eventually it will work better for you. I learned much along my quilting journey.

It's 100% cotton with a polyester batting. I know that's not the best kind to use but this is what Ive been supplied with by the charity for whom I'm making the quilt.

I've turned the speed down as low as it will go and on a test piece this worked fine.

Haven't cleaned the feed dogs though - good suggestion

I'm not surprised it stays in place with two layers of glue. I don't know what that school glue is sorry (I live in the UK)

I'm using a walking foot and haven't had any problems with it previously but I've not attempted anything at this size before.

I know this is really frustrating but I have learned to really take my time when sandwiching. Prior to sandwiching I spray layers with spray baste. I like that much better than quilting around a lot of pins. I tape each diagonal corner first. I tape it taut, but not to the point where it is distorted. This has really helped with ripples on the back.

Does that mean you spray to attach the batting to the backing and also the quilt top to the batting?

May I suggest that you go to one of your elementary (6, 7, 8 year olds) school teachers or the teacher that does art with the children and ask them about the glue that they use that will wash out 100%. Also ask if it is safe for fabrics. Good luck on finding it in the UK

Elmer's school glue is washable glue. In the quilt shops it is called basting glue. You can make your own too. I use the recipe and it works fine. I have a gallon of Elmers so need to use it up. Turn of CC to see the text to write down the recipe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVRr...atterboxQuilts I like my quilt to be flat as paper when I'm quilting. Absolutely quilts up flat and rolls up better too.

I hesitated to offer that I only baste with Elmers Washable school glue. I gave up pin basting and thread basting. I don't like spray basting. I use cotton batting and don't dilute the glue, just drizzle from the bottle in a grid. I don't paint it on. It doesn't have to cover every inch of the quilt. I don't iron, because I am never in a hurry and can leave it overnight to dry. It does not gum up the needle and always washes out. I'm about 30 quilts in, biggest is queen sized on a Brother PQ1500. I have never had a pucker with this method, regardless of which quilting method I use.

Do you have the option on your sewing machine to lessen the presser foot pressure?

If the stitches were okay when you first started but got smaller as you went along it is most likely due to drag. Keep the fabric up on the table or over your shoulder so it allows the machine to feed it through without the drag. I also agree with sewing in one direction only to prevent puckering. Trying on a sample will let you know if the machine is stitching correctly but it will not help to determine if drag is the problem. Keep trying until you find the solution but maybe on a larger piece of fabric you don't mind losing?

Turn of CC to see the text to write down the recipe.


Oops should be turn ON CC

remember to relax and take it easy you do not have to have it down to the fastest speed.

Here's another vote for using Elmer's Washable School Glue or something similar that will wash out -- perhaps something you mix up yourself, as others have suggested. There likely are recipes for that online, or perhaps even in the search function on this forum. Find some YouTube videos on glue basting, and study those. Since I've been doing glue basting I have no puckers in my quilting. I think you would be very happy with this method. Of course you must get the washable kind of glue, and yes, it really does all wash out.

Wonder how things are going with your project? Recently I made a smallish quilt with poly batt (also for a charity) and found if I placed my open hands flat on the sandwich as I stitched, that it kind of deflated the “poof” so that no wrinkles happened. Over the years I have tried many basting methods, but always come back to my pinning, it is kind of contemplative as I work my way through the quilt. Sure hope you were able to find something that worked for you! You could set your ironing board up next to your machine to help take the drag off the sandwich.

I use 505 spray baste, but I absolutely love your idea!

I've gotten puckers on the back when the fabric is too soft and pliable. Starching the backing works to hold it in place for me, and I use pins to baste with cotton batting.

my opinion is not that the basting is the problem, but with your sewing process. My first thought was to use a walking foot, but you already are. My other thoughts have already been mentioned as well. lessen your pressure of the foot on the fabric. make sure the quilt is supported on a table as you go. stitch slowly. reposition your hands and the quilt bulk frequently.
My other thought, if you are a new quilter, could this be an old machine? I had this problem in the beginning (though it didn't bother me like it is you!). When I bought a new machine, it was sooo much better. My first machine was given to me as a hand me down, and even though I had it serviced, it just didn't do well. I didn't know it wasn't good since I didn't know anything about sewing. My new machine was nothing fancy or expensive, but i found it so much smoother and cleaner to sew with.

I had that problem with a quilt I sandwiched using spray glue. Figured out that I had stretched and clamped the backing too tight. Released all that and it was ok.