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

Thanks, Rob, it's one of the older ones with the arm that goes over the needle (what exactly does that arm do?)

I will check all the things you mentioned and see if that helps at all.

Yes it does make sense, I will try that.

I haven't quilted anything in a long time and I think my skills need honing again. Maybe just more practice is necessary.

It sounds like the pressure foot need to be lowered, then the fabric will be tighter not to move like that. I hope this helps.

I also spray baste. But I only use 505 Basting Spray, as it doesn't gum up my needle, machine, thread, etc. I also haven't had any issues with my Lupus acting up from spraying it. I buy it at Sewforless.com, as that's the best price I've found.

I also only use 505 spray. Best on the market

You said you pinned really well. You do need a lot of pins. You should be able to put your fist down anywhere on the pinned top and touch at least 2 pins. Also, if you start quilting from the middle out, you may have better results. and last, it looks like you are using a walking foot? make sure you have attached it correctly.

As Rob said, lowering the presser foot pressure may help. It did for me and I have not had puckers since.

I know it's not always posssible, but I find that when I do cross-hatching on the diagonal I rarely get puckers. Amd as Tartan said, pulling (stretching) the fabric out with both hands as you go will smooth things out pretty well. I am definitely no expert and still need lots of practice.

[QUOTE=kjackson;7402745]Thanks, Rob, it's one of the older ones with the arm that goes over the needle (what exactly does that arm do?)

The arm that goes over the needle bar (actually over the screw that holds the needle clamp in place) causes the foot's moving parts to go up and down in time with the needle, so they act as feed dogs for the top layer of fabric. If the arm isn't placed over the needle clamp screw, then those parts don't work properly.

Rob

A few things that I have found that really help avoid puckering during the quilting stage are:
- iron the quilt top and backing well, and get the wrinkles out of the batting before spray baste, then take the time to really smooth out all 3 layers with your hands (gently)
- start quilting in the center of the quilt, working your way towards the outside
- check the back of the quilt frequently to make sure all 3 layers are smooth

Pin basting is drudge work for me. I use Elmer's school glue. That quilt top and backing aren't moving a smidgen. No puckers, wrinkles, or pleats.

I agree with his. Also I does no gum up the needle. There is no odor involved m

You mean regular white Elmer's glue? Doesn't that gum up your machine? And do you wait for it to dry completely?

What's happening is that the top layer is stretching as you sew. It doesn't become apparent until you have to cross another line of quilting; that's when the excess fabric that has accumulated in front of the presser foot turns into a tuck. Spray basting and glue basting help prevent this because, unlike pins, these provide the layers with continuous adhesion. Pins, in contrast, are connecting the three layers only at the pinned locations.

One thing that helps a lot to prevent these tucks is starch. Since your quilt is already basted, what I would recommend is laying it out on a large flat sheet and adding layers of spray starch. You can use a fan to speed drying between layers. Starch both the backing and the top. Starch stabilizes the fabric so it is much less inclined to stretch as you sew.

Next time you may want to spray starch the top before layering. It's also a good idea to heavily starch the backing before layering. I starch yardage with a 1:1 solution of Sta-Flo liquid laundry starch and water, "painting" this on with a large wall painting brush. I leave it for a few minutes to allow the fibers to absorb as much starch as they can, then toss in the dryer and iron with steam. This provides a much heavier stabilization than spray starch can offer. However, layers of spray starch can help a *lot* in a situation like this, where the quilt is already sandwiched.

Agree with Woody, but if you don't want glue try pulling a little taut as you pin and remember if fist distance apart. I use more pins than my friend as I have small hands while hers are enormous.

that was my first thought too... and I usually start quilting from the center of my project, working my way to the outsides as QuiltingVagabond suggested.

I keep my hands spread around the quilting area and apply fairly constant tension while quilting. I rarely have puckers.

It seems that the problem could be that the quilt sandwich is not properly done. The backing needs to be taught, but not stretched, the batting smoothed out well. When I use batting that is natural fiber (not polyester) I press it so that it is smooth. Then, the top needs to be smoothed carefully. I like to use Elmer's school glue for making my sandwich. I work in sections on a 3 X 8 foot table. I use clips on the edges of the table to hold it snugly. If you have to use your hands to push away potential puckers you are pushing that fabric somewhere else that is unnatural and probably want to form another pucker. Also, others have also suggested things to check on your machine to be sure it is set up correctly. I also sew around the parameter of the quilt 1/8 inch from the squared up edge before beginning the quilting process. This adds a measure of stability and disappears into the binding seam at the end. Hopefully, there are some helpful hints here.

. No
. No
. If I'm in a hurry I press it dry.

Search the board for glue basting with Elmer's.

Check the presser on the foot. I have had that happen when I am quilting with a walking foot and I reduced the presser foot a little and that helped.

I use painters tape to hold my backing fabric in place on my table and then I place the batting and then the quilt top.....I also DO NOT use pins but instead I use basting spray to hold in place the layers.....happy holidays

I too use Elmer's SCHOOL GLUE and haven't had a pucker since (however now that I've mentioned it I probably will)

If it's a large quilt, I even cut the batting in half and sew it together when I get one part done. I use a domestic sewing machine and an old style walking foot.

This is what I try to do. When I'm getting close to crossing that seam, I try to push it flat with my hands.

Have you tried this using polyester batting?

as above posters said Elmer's WASHABLE school glue and no it does NOT gum up the needle if you let it dry. You can speed up the process by ironing. I've used this many times with zero problems.

Hi Karen,
When you get areas of fullness when quilting with the walking foot, "feed" it toward the foot. Smooth it with your fingers toward the walking foot. Next time you're basting your quilt make sure that your quilt top lays flat and smooth. You might need to pin more too, depending on if you're using a poly batting. I like cotton batting because it creeps less.
Sharon in Texas

I stopped having that problem when I learned to baste the layers together using Elmer's school glue. When you glue baste, you will have ugly lines of dried glue showing through, don't worry about them, they wash right out, and you can sew right through it no problem.

One thing I have not seen anyone mention... By the look of the picture you are on the very edge of the quilt out in your border area. Did you measure your quilt through the center and then cut your border to that measurement? Or did you have a long strip of prepared border (even pieced) that you sewed to the edge of your quilt then cut off once you reached the edge?
If the latter, this method often results in wavy borders with excess fabric. The excess has no place to go and often results in pleats like you pictured. Your pleat almost looks like that is what may be contributing to your problem.

cindi gave you good advice.