Today I was sewing sashing on to a row of blocks I put together.
When I finished sewing a few rows I noticed that the sashing looked horrible. The rows and and the sashing do not lay flat once sewn together. I know I haven't explained this well, but my camera is down and I can't take a picture.

How so I prevent this from happening? Would starching the sashing first help? I don't want sew the other rows on until I fix and figure out why this happens.

Thanks for you help.

I find that starch really helps my sashing, borders and piecing. :D:D:D

cut your sashing on the lengthwise grain and starch helps too!

This may help, when sewing long pieces sew each piece in opposite directions. When you sew everthing in the same direction it will wave and cup. It's sorta like mowing a lawn, you go up, then back down.

Are you meaning that you're getting "ruffled" or puckered seams? I get that too sometimes....especially with my 201-2. I've adjusted tension, (Both top and bobbin), I've changed needles, I've rethreaded...doesn't help. Seems that the finer the fabric, the more it happens...

I'll be interested in the answer!

I also pin the ends, the center and in between too.

It definitely helps to pin in the middle and several places along toward ends. If you just start sewing from the top, it will stretch and pucker. The same goes for binding.

Do you mean that the blocks in the rows do not line up? If so, here's a method I posted in the tutorial section:

It is very easy to keep your blocks aligned when using sashing strips, even if you don't use cornerstones.

Create your rows as usual, with a sashing strip between each block. Add sashing to the bottom of your first row of blocks. Turn this row to the wrong side and using a pencil and ruler, mark every block seam on the wrong side of the bottom sashing strip.

When you add your next row of sashed blocks, pin first so that each new block seam aligns with a mark on the sashing strip. If you have a little excess fabric in a block, ease that block to fit the sashing. If the sashing has a little excess fabric in it, ease the sashing to the block.

The pencil marks take the place of cornerstones so that when you are finished, all of your blocks are lined up from row to row.

Thank you for the replies. Lining up is not the problem. It is the stretching and puckering look. I've never been big on pinning but I guess I need to do that. I will incorporate all of your suggestions and let you know how it goes.

Thanks again..

Try using your walking foot when you are sewing long seams, and pinning is also good. I use my walking foot for almost all of my sewing. It eliminates stretching of the fabric.

You might also try using your walking foot. It helps both top and bottom fabric travel at the same speed. It should minimize this stretching when sewing long lengths together. Your walking foot isn't just for sewing sandwiched quilts.

Great minds think alike! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Are your blocks all (approximately) the same size?

As usual, lots of great info!! Thanks so much :D

We were typing at the same moment :!: Love your winking kitty ;)

Sashing is a mini border so you have to measure the block like it was a quilt top. Measure down the center of the block and across the middle. That is the size to cut the sashing. What I do is sew 1/2" at the start, skip down to the middle, sew another 1/2" and then skip to the bottom and sew the last 1/2". then I go back to the beginning and ease in the unsewn seam.

Would pinning in that order do the same thing?

I always make the sashing a 1/4 inch longer and then trim so that the line of blocks and sashing are straight. Also make sure you're using the correct gauge of thread for the fabric.

Lining up the rows is not a problem. It is the puckering ruffling look that is the issues. The sashing fabric seems to be stretchy. Wish my camera worked.. hard to describe! It just looks terrible and lays horribly. I wonder if on the blocks I sewed a 1/8 seem to keep the rows from stretching at the seams if it would help keep it from puckering up.

Mamabird, it sounds like it just may be that your sashing fabric is hard to work with. I've had a couple of those fabrics that would pucker no matter how much I pinned and adjusted the tension. Wouldn't have known it ahead of time from the look and feel of the fabric... but there was really nothing I could do but scrap it and choose a different one. It's a last resort, but if nothing else helps that'd be better than having a quilt that won't lay.

great thread, we all learn from others

Pin, pin, pin, starch, press (not iron back and forth as this may distort the fabric), sew rows in opposite directions, do not pull or stretch when sewing.

And of course if all else fails, be sure to measure twice and cut once.

Another tip, if there is not too lg a difference in the length of 2 sashes, after pinning both ends, place the larger on the bottom & sew. The feed dogs will absorb the slack. Remember tight top, baggy bottom. Of course, if to much difference it will not work a miracle.

The row of blocks I am sewing the sashing to have quite a few seams. What do you think about sewing a 1/8" line down the row to make sure that the seams aren't stretching out to much when sewing it ot the shashing?

I know! We were thinking the same thing at the same time!:-D

Thank you thank you thank you all!!!
I starched, pinned and walking footed my quilt and it turned out great!!! I really appreciate the advice. Look for the pic in the Pictures forum!!!

P.S I have a new/used sewing machine to do it on!! (Memory Craft 6500 :D

If you have trouble consistently with puckering, try glue basting the sashings and borders. It takes a tad longer than pinning, but the glue really does help stabilize the fabric. I use this on my borders and I rarely get a pucker.
Here is a tute I made on glue basting.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-29275-1.htm