How to stop "folding" while quilting
 

Hello,

I am working on a crib quilt for my grandson. Even though I pinned it real well, and am using a walking foot, I still get this:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]537967[/ATTACH]

Any advice on how to avoid this? Besides going very slowly and using a stilletto?

Thanks,

Try sewing with the blocks that have the least number of seams on TOP. If I'm sewing a two blocks together and one has 2 seams and one has four, the block with two pieces goes on top. You get better feed on the bottom than the top, IMHO.

Only thing I can think of is maybe pin lengthwise instead of crosswise?

I see what you mean but this was actually during the quilting process (top, batting, backing).

Maybe try spray basting. I have quilted up to a queen size bargello with my walking foot and didn't get a single pucker (fold).

That's the word I was looking for, pucker!

Thanks, I assume you can get spray basting at Joann's in the quilting section?

I should have added this is being quilted on a regular machine, not a long arm or short arm (I guess that's obvious by the picture). :o

Maybe if you start in the center of the quilt and stitch toward the outside edges? It would mean more starts (and thread tails) but might help with the crossing puckers.

Is your walking foot a traditional walking foot with the arm that clamps over the needle bar or is it one of those new fangled ones that Bernina, Brother, etc. are now calling dual feed?

It looks like your walking foot is pushing the top layer of fabric ahead of the bottom layer and batting.

If it's a plain old fashioned walking foot I can think of several things that might cause the problem, either the walking foot is not properly installed, your feed dogs are not up, or it's possible that your presser foot pressure is too high. You might ask how I know these things LOL!

First, make sure your feed dogs are up, then double check that the arm of your walking foot is over the needle bar so it is properly synchronized with the feed dogs. If those things are not the problem, then if your machine has a presser foot pressure adjustment try lowering the presser foot pressure.

Rob

I find if I spread my hands out and push out that pucker I can avoid most of them. I watch to see if they're coming and try to ease the fabric back under the foot.

I put my hands on the sides and put tension away from the needle. Also stop needle down every so often and lightly pull fabric in front of the needle toward me to release that pucker. Hope that makes sense and helps you