How do you keep strip quit piecing straight - suggestions?
 

A friend just pieced a strip quilt and it is crooked in the middle. We talked through her process all seems okay with how she pieced it but it still has a slight hour-glass shape in the middle. Over 1/2 inch difference in width at the middle when compared to the top and bottom. An suggestions as to why this happened and how to prevent it? Thanks.

Carla

When I've had this problem, I've usually either not pressed seams correctly or not been as careful as I should have with keeping my 1/4" seams consistent. Usually the later is the biggest problem.

The first thought that came to mind is stretching while sewing, then possibly the pressing (ironed instead of pressing).

I can't believe I'm writing this -

but 1/2 inch variation in the middle is not all that dreadful!

On a Missouri Quilt Co video they said to sew each strip from opposite ends to help keep the lines straight.

I have found by cutting the strips in half aka there is less bowing of the strips. I posted this tidbit awhile back

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...y-t153631.html

Good luck!

When I sew stripes together, I dont start every strip at the same end, I sew 2 together, then when I add the third one, I start sewing it on on the opposite end, of where I sewed the first 2. I switch back and forth till Im done. Hope this helps.

Yes, agree with you, 1/2 inch in not horrible normally but the problem is you can actually see it. We took some stripes off and turned them the other direction and sewed back on the strip set. That helped a little bit. Then we tried squaring up the strip set some and that helped too. We are just going with it now. Concerned if it is really going to show once the binding is on.

My friend did say she held the strip at the long end and 'ironed' down the middle. Maybe this was the cause. Thanks for your response.

Some fabrics have more "give" to them than others. Starch might help next time. Alternating the ends sewn from will help. If all strips are cut the same length prior to sewing, mark the half and quarter points, pin those and the ends and ease any extra while sewing should also help.

Thank you all for your posts, very helpful. My friend is a newbie to quilting so perhaps between the 'ironing' vs. 'pressing' and maybe her 1/4 " seams not so accurate the problem may have been created. I did tell her about sewing the strips from opposite directions too.

This board is so helpful - my first time to ask a question. I'll surely be back with more fun questions as I'm sort of new to this too.

I sew in batches of 2, then join those into batches of 4, etc. Aside from accuracy, I can chain piece in this way, so I only need one leader/ender. If the strips are really long, then I alternate the direction of the seams. I just made a stacked coins quilt with 9" strips and this worked really well, when I was trimming the edges after quilting, the top was square.

Pressing with the iron using up and down motion instead of ironing, which pulls and pushes the fabric out of shape, works to prevent distortion.

I gave up on my 1/4" patchwork foot and started marking the bed of my machine with tape. I read somewhere to use Scotch brand reusable mounting strips and a Dritz seam gauge to accurately position it at 1/4". Love them both.

I've found that it's not so much in the sewing of long strips as it is in the pressing. I now use a pressing stick to keep mine straight. I saw one in use at a quilt show. The lady had over 30 three quarters of an inch strips sewn together starting from the same end and it was as straight as could be because she pressed the seams on a pressing stick. It's basically a half round covered with a very thin layer of batting and a muslin cover. My long one disappeared when I moved but I still have the short one.

I usually cut my strips on the lengthwise grain, instead of the width of fabric.

There is usually less stretch in the lengthwise grain, so less chance of distortion while being sewn.

Simple tools and using them correctly makes all the difference. That's why designer clothing cost so much. It's all in the details. I have learned I have to give every seam, every cut, every press, the same attention and care as I do the finest of applique. I use a Tailor's press on all my seams. And I press on a Steady Betty. The Steady Betty makes a big difference. The fabric does not move at all when pressing. It can't distort unless you force it. The right tools make my work look so much better. It took a long time for me to understand how important the smallest details matter in quilting.

How about a simple pencil line in the middle....I made a string quilt for my son and the center of each square was a 2" black strip, finished gave me a great design. So I figured an inch on each side of the diagonal point, and drew a line, also a little spray starch helped.....but if you keep that first line straight then the whole thing is straight....a good ruler can be a quilters best friend....

How about start your pressing in the middle and then go to either end.

My first thought was to check her cutting. Sometimes if the fabric isn't folded on the grain right, the strip is wonky near the fold when it's cut. if you have two cut poorly, there can be a big problem near the fold line when you sew them together.

use your walking foot, only sure way to perfection on strips piecing.

That dog leg can give some 'interesting' results -

That is a good thought. In this case however, she was using a jelly roll (which I failed to mention).

We've all had a few wonky strips when using jelly rolls. Some are worse than others. I've used a lot of jelly rolls and like another poster mentioned, I like to cut my strips in half (at the fold). Much easier to handle, starch, etc. and I can avoid that "v".

That's how I do it & I find that it really helps. Also... make sure the strips were cut straight to begin with. When cutting thru multiple layers, it's easy to get a bend.

I agree that the problem was most likely in the pressing, and I'm working on that issue myself. It's easy to press "more" in the middle than at the ends.

I'm interested in learning more about the Steady Betty. Also, BellaBoo, do you press your seams open?

Try sewing the strips with a walking foot and also from variable ends. Another thing I do is to pin the strip sets from the middle out to the ends and that stops any twisting.

YAY...this is the answer...AND that you really need a pressing BAR to press the seams open!

If you will sew every other strip from the opposite end and be very careful with pressing. Also, if you will sew in pairs all from the same end, press carefully, then sew the pairs together from the opposite ends. Works for me.

I agree with the other posts about reversing your strips every other strip, and also be careful when pressing, I don't use steam because it could also stretch your strips out of shape.

what is a pressing Bar? that sounds interesting

Just what everybody else said!

The pattern I had told me to measure frequently to prevent this from happening. I did and it turned out good. It was a "QUILT AS YOU GO" pattern.

Well I haven't done a strip quilt but I think I just found some of my problem for a few of my quilts that come out unsquared! I am ironing instead of pressing!

Good thing I read this!

I press 95% of my seams open. Using the Steady Betty board and the wooden clapper my seams are flat and as straight as I'll ever get them.

I got the Steady Betty at Joann's online with a 50% coupon. The June Tailor clapper is not made anymore. A block of wood will work if you can't find a wooden clapper.
http://www.apqs.com/quiltboard/viewt...213&pid=344397
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http://www.buycheapr.com/us/img/transparent.gif

When sewing strips together, if you sew them all with the stitch starting at the same end, it can cause a crooked area in the middle. If you sew two strip starting at the first end and then add the third row sewing from the other end, it will not curve this way. It could be pressing also.

That's what I was thinking!

I have heard that strips should be sewn in alternating directions. That is first row from the top down, second row bottom first, third row-top down. It prevents the strips from "bowing". In other words keeps them going straight. This is especially true with batiks. Hopes this helps.

If I have a "bowed" strip caused by cutting, I cut that part out and am able to use the rest of the strip. Also, if I use say a 2 1/2" strip of Kona for my first strip I will fold it in half and finger press so it lines up exactly at each corner. Then when you trim your blocks and sew them together it will come out the same width where the kona strips come together.

found that when I am prepressing fabric before cutting , make sure the selvage edges are kept straight and together. this solved my dog leg shaped strips. good luck