How to quilt this.
 

I have machine pieced a log cabin quilt. I would like to try to machine quilt it but when I started stitching in the ditch it puckered on me when I got to the end of the stitch. (meeting another stitch ) I had to pick it out and guess I will need to hand piece. Can someone tell me how you start to quilt a log cabin? I sure hate to hand piece this thing. Thank you so much.

Did you baste your quilt really well? If it's not basted tightly, it will pucker. Watch Sharon Schamber's youtube video on basting a quilt. She is very good. Hope this helps you. Gina

I use safety pins about a fist length apart to baste my stitch in ditch quilts. What type of basting did you do?

I did SITD on log cabin quilts on my DSM. I basted with safety pins. You might try a new needle, or a smaller needle. Poly monofilament thread helps keep the stitches invisible.

Good walking foot?

Yep, I use the walking foot and lengthen my stitches just a little.

Is the quilt moving smoothly? Maybe something is draging?

I only basted with the 505 basting spray. I did not use a walking foot. Seems like I need to go back to school. I knew you all would know what I was doing wrong. I will baste with pins, attach my walking foot and lenghten my stitch. I have a Babyloc, would 4 be long enough or is that just a personal decision. Thanks to you all for your help. I should have known better I guess. Short cuts just do not work.

Not everyone bastes with pins, some sew baste, some use glue, some spray. There is not a wrong or right way, just different ways that may work for you. I've never used spray, and have a Pfaff with IDT, so no walking foot. The stitch length, thread and needle type also enter into it. Good luck.

Start in the middle and quilt your way out.

I usually use a "3" stitch length for straight lines & I also go quite slowly. Try & stitch slow enough for all 3 layers of the sandwich to feed through at the same time & there shouldn't be any puckers on the back. That's not to say you have to plod along.... just do an even slow to mid speed.

STITCHING IN the ditch you could use a walking foot which might help normally you start in the middle the entire length of quilt then turn quilt and stich in the ditch going in opposite direction. keep doing this until you have the length done. now do the width the same way.

Thanks you all for you help. I am having wonderful results now since I pinned my quilt and using my walking foot. No puckers at least not yet. :)