king top - cut batting in thirds for FMQ - easiest way to add batting back in
 

Okay, so I decided that for my almost king size top (110 x 110) - I was going to cut the batting into thirds since I am FMQ on my domestic sewing machine. I have never attempted to quilt one this large and was worried about being able to manage the bulk.

I have the middle third quilted. I used my Singer 15-91 to FMQ (love that machine!!!). While it was nice having less bulk, it was NOT nice adding back the batting to the sides. I had a heck of a time getting everything to lie flat, smoothed out. I did try to leave 6 inches un-quilted on the edges. On a few small sections, I got closer to the edge than 6 inches. I used the heat-bond tape to attached the batting together (cut it in a large s wavy line). Only have one side of the batting reattached, that is all my patience would allow last night. I am worried that I am going to have problems with batting puckering on the back of my quilt as I FMQ.

I have never had problems with puckering on my backing. And, I have already decided I would rather learn to manage the bulk of the quilt that mess with cutting the batting in thirds again. I think my 15-91 turned out to feel much roomier than the size would dictate. As I spent a couple of frustrating hours trying to get just one side of the batting situated right (am using 505 adhesive for spray basting) - am thinking there has to be an easier way to reattach the batting on the remaining side when the time comes.

Any tips to help this along? I found that my batting did not lie smoothly against the wavy lines I had cut (I made sure to mark the top right and left side of my top and batting so I knew which side went where). Correction - it did match for about half of the length. I had to do some trimming on the other half to help it fit along the cut. I am absolutely dreading having to add back in that last third of batting.

I think it just takes patience and care to get the batting back together smoothly. I am in the process of putting together an almost-queen size Log Cabin that I quilted in 7 different sections. I did not want to wrangle the entire top even if the batting was divided, so I broke the top into those 7 sections and quilted each one, leaving the last round of logs unquilted. I'm using the same method you are (the fusible tape) to join the batting except that I have two layers of batting (what was I thinking?) and pinned the top rather than using the spray basting. I have a little bit of rippling but the final quilting should take care of that.

I struggled to get the first two sections together but the next two went together MUCH easier. So maybe your second joining will go easier for you too. Perhaps the length of the join is the issue...seems that a longer length would be harder to manage.

Hang in there!

AnitaSt

Hmmm - you might be right AnitaSt - that the length of the join probably isn't helping matters. Also, I am wishing I had done a straight cut. I did wavy as that was what I saw recommended (and it made sense - the reason why - having to do with the integrity of the quilt). But as I was putting it back together, I was wishing it was a straight seam.

Well, first things first - and that is I am going to FMQ the one side that I already have put back together. By then I should be rejuvenated enough to tackle putting the last side back together.

I think I will do a couple of things differently for the second side. I am pondering starching the back before I add the batting. Then I will tape the backing to the floor (don't know why I didn't do that for the first side - might have solved some of my problem). And cross my fingers that it will go better the second time around.

Could you post a picture so the people that have no imagination (yes I am talking about me) can see what you are trying to do.
Good luck

Maybe you could try to whip stitch the batting together?
Do you have a big table? You could use bulldog clips to hold the layers together.
Start where it's already quilted then move in opposite directions. North-South,
East-West, etc. Do one layer at a time and move one/two clips at a time to get
all three layers together. Keep everything taught but not over-stretched.
Hope this makes sense.

JuneC - below are a couple of pictures to show what I have done. The first picture I have the backing pulled back so you can see where the batting ends. I think part of my problem was I cut an extreme wavy line. Don't know why I was so extreme. The second picture is of the back side of the quilt - opposite side - where I've added the batting back in. Many wrinkles - which I try to keep smoothing out. I just have this sinking feeling I will have all kinds of problems with this once I start FMQ. I have decided I will do a very small amount at a time and then check - so if I have to rip anything out, it will be in small areas. :(

EasyPeezy - trying to picture (I am very visual) - what are bulldog clips? I agree though - I think the key will be to work on very small sections at a time - checking A LOT and continuously smoothing.

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I recently quilted a 120 x 122 inch quilt on my old Bernina. I know everyone says to cut waves; but I cut straight. I used the heat bond tape, as you did. I used lots of pins and checked that the backing was smooth before I started. I added the batting on the side as I was ready to quilt it. In other words, after I had quilted one side, I then added the batting to the other side. This worked well for me. I will probably do this again on the queen size quilt I am making.

This is what I call bulldog clips. You probably can find them at any office supply store.
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Thanks EasyPeezy - I see now.

I think if I had cut the batting straight, it wouldn't be a problem. Live and learn. Definitely going to quilt the one side, then I'll add the batting back to the second side.

I'll have to post how it comes out. Going to go work a little bit on it now.

I have done this several times and cut the batting in a wavy line, but just enough wave to be able to fit it together easily. I had no problem laying it out on a large table, using strips of fusible interfacing to put it together, then spraying to get it all together ready to FMQ. I think cutting not so 'curvy' would help.