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trolleystation 03-24-2013 10:22 AM

HELP.....Unhappy with long arm quilting results
 
I tried a new LAQ recently for my raffle quilt for the church bazaar. When I picked it up the quilter mentioned that she had trouble with her Statler Stitcher and had to take out some stitches and redo a row. She only charged me $50. Now I have a quilt with machine stitch marks where she had to tear out a row of stitches. I have tried running my fingernails over them to make them less obvious. Didn't seem to help. If I put this in the dryer would that help to make the stitches less noticeable???

QuiltingGrannie 03-24-2013 10:26 AM

Running your fingernails over the needle holes should have helped some. I'm not sure if just the dryer will help, but washing it and drying it should help more. Hopefully when she picked out that row she was gentle and not tearing the threads out.

Phyllis
QuiltingGrannie

irishrose 03-24-2013 10:26 AM

Spray it with white vinegar, then use your fingernail. I hope she didn't use too large a needle.

soccertxi 03-24-2013 10:27 AM

try spritzing it with water and then do the fingernail trick.

Peckish 03-24-2013 10:27 AM

Are you not planning on washing it? Washing will definitely help. Steam will help a little bit, but in my experience only washing will make the holes disappear completely.

QuiltE 03-24-2013 10:44 AM

Did you ASK your LAQ what she suggested?

Suzette316 03-24-2013 11:27 AM

I too would give it a gentle wash then tumble dry on low heat. Washing/drying cures a lot of ailments with our quilts. Good luck!

nativetexan 03-24-2013 12:32 PM

good luck with suggestions. water helps a lot to make fabric threads swell a bit. I had two quilts done and both times the quilter didn't like her meandering and clipped 1/3 of the stitches. left all them in for me to pick out though!!

feline fanatic 03-24-2013 01:10 PM

Cotton has "memory". When quilting the needle pushes the woven threads out of the way. After she removed the stitches the cotton fibers held the same position they were in when the quilting thread filled that "hole" which isn't really a hole at all but the space made in the weave of the fabric from the needle going in. Drying it probably won't make a difference. You need to wet the quilt in order for the cotton to give up it's memory. You can try spritzing with a water bottle but washing and drying should make those areas close up entirely and the weave of the fabric will return to its original look.

Candace 03-24-2013 02:31 PM

Wash it and dry it, they'll be gone.

Bobbielinks 03-24-2013 05:44 PM


Originally Posted by nativetexan (Post 5950908)
good luck with suggestions. water helps a lot to make fabric threads swell a bit. I had two quilts done and both times the quilter didn't like her meandering and clipped 1/3 of the stitches. left all them in for me to pick out though!!

Oh my gosh!

nellie 03-24-2013 06:18 PM

i saw somewhere that if you use color pens to match the quilt top where holes are it helps hide the ripped out stitches with just filling it in with small dots of ink

Gladys 03-24-2013 06:30 PM

Wow, I've learned quite a bit in this thread and I didn't ask the question. Thanks everyone.

pumpkinpatchquilter 03-24-2013 08:32 PM

Even just a little spritz with water will get rid of those marks...if you don't want to wash it ;)

Merivale 03-25-2013 01:54 AM

Washing it gently will remove the needle wholes. Cotton has a memory and this will erase that problem.

topstitch 03-25-2013 03:09 AM

spritzing with a wrinkle release product does the trick most of the time. I buy mine from Dollar General or Family Dollar for about $1.50.

WTxRed 03-25-2013 03:19 AM

Spritz of water and a soft toothbrush have worked for me. good luck.

Latrinka 03-25-2013 04:30 AM

Either wash it, or spray water on the holes, then dry it.

mighty 03-25-2013 07:44 AM

Washing and drying should do it.

AZ Jane 03-25-2013 07:49 AM

Even though you are unhappy about the needle holes, be glad she took out the offending rows. Think how much angrier you would be if she had left it?????? Wash and dry the quilt, it fixes a multitude of sins.

trolleystation 03-25-2013 09:21 AM

Thanks so much for your great information. I don't ususally wash and dry my quilts before we raffle them but maybe I will have to rethink this. I will 'spritz and steam' and hope that works. You members are the 'best'.

nativetexan 03-25-2013 09:33 AM

you don't need to agitate your quilt. soak and spin out. I do that a lot. I usually fill again, soak and spin out if i'm removing any wash out markings.

grandmaquilter 03-25-2013 01:17 PM

Before you wash the quilt, you may want to wash a couple of bath towels and put them in the dryer with the quilt, there just might be enough moisture in the towels to let the fibers go back to a natural state. Just an idea. Hate it when I have to rip out some of my LA quilting.

bigredharley 03-25-2013 01:20 PM

you can put it in the dryer with a wet washcloth - the moisture should help without having to wash the quilt.

caspharm 03-25-2013 02:37 PM

If it's not a large area, spritz and "scratch" should work. I just did that on the quilt I have on my LA where I restitched an area after removing the original stitching.

twinkie 03-26-2013 03:06 AM

I feel that gently washing it with a cup of vinegar added and then drying it on low heat should help. At least she did give you a break on the price, however, I know you are frustrated and I hope it turns out well for you.

NJQuilter55 03-26-2013 10:45 AM

Washing it or at least spraying the section with clean water and then tumbling gently in the dryer should remove the holes where the stitches were removed. This has worked for me numerous times.

glenda5253 03-26-2013 12:25 PM

Great information in this thread...thanks!

patdesign 03-26-2013 02:32 PM


Originally Posted by soccertxi (Post 5950607)
try spritzing it with water and then do the fingernail trick.

Good Advice, this usually works for me.
Pat

Nammie to 7 03-26-2013 02:38 PM

Such good suggestions! In heirloom sewing I know you always want to use natural fiber fabric with wing tip needles -- doing that will ensure the holes remain open in your decorative stitches. Nice to know that cotton also heals itself!

w7sue 03-26-2013 07:43 PM

I would wash/dry it before giving it to the group anyway - I have a dog and even if my quilt doesn't hit the floor during the process of making it, I am sure it has some residual doggie odor, etc. so I always wash quilts before giving them away.


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