Long-armers Please Help
 

I have been long-arming for over 1 1/2 years and this is the first time I have had this problem. I have batting showing (pokies) on the back of my quilt. The quilts is 100% cotton as well as the thread. Fabric and batting has not been washed.

1) What causes these pokies?

2) Short of tearing out all the stitching and doing it again, is there any way I can fix this?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

We need more info what kind of color and kind of batting , color of backing and did you know that there is a right and back side of batting (according to the quilt police) Not sure of the "right way to place the batting" But it has to do with the rough side or the side with the scrim. Also some times white batting will poke through and show on dark backs. You can get black batting if that is the problem

The batting is Warm and White - backing is maroon, thread is black. Yes, I am aware of the "right and wrong "side of the batting. I generally try to pay attention to that detail and make sure I put it on correctly. This is the first time I have had a problem with the batting showing on the back.

That happens to me occasionally. I always wash my quilts before gifting them. When I wash the quilt, the pokies disappear, at least so far they have.

A burr on the needle can cause this, so you may want to change the needle.

And I was wondering if maybe the needle was dull...

these were my first thoughts as well.

Uh. . .what kind of batting has a right and wrong side? Hopefully something I have not used, as I had never heard of this before. I do have a Hobbs 80/20 I haven't used yet; is this one I need to be aware of?

I would also change the needle. Depending on the weight of the thread, I would also try the next smaller size, but that might not be possible.

here is a great thread that talks about batting http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...e-t247835.html

If you have already finished the quilting, take a sticky tape lint roller and brush over it. Make sure to use some pressure. It will take away most of the "pokies" from my experience.

Thank you so much for this link!

The only time I have had it happen to me was with W&N and I did have it wrong side up which I discovered later. I was really upset because W&N doesn't have any information on that on the packaging. I only found out about it by accident after my mishap, was talking to someone and she mentioned that she had heard that W&N has a wrong & right side.

I had a table runner "pucker up" and did not know why. Not the usual washing-aftereffect, but a dimpled, unattractive surface. I've only been quilting about 18 years. . .how did I not know this for so long? Oh yes, never belonged to a quilt group or blog spot until lately. So happy to learn so much from all of you out there!

I think it's only Warm and Natural that has a right side and wrong side. Hobbs 80/20 does not!

Thanks for the suggestions. I did use a new needle, but I think the batting was wrong side up.

Warm and Natural products have a "right side" and a "wrong side": the smooth side of the batting goes on top of the backing; the bumpy side goes to the wrong side of the top...and I would also change your needle...it may be burred or dull.

In the 14 years that I have been quilting for customers my batting of choice is Hobbs 80/20 in natural, black or bleached. When I began quilting I was told to place the rough or dots on the batting up against the back of the quilt top. To remember this I like to think of fried eggs and the term "sunny side up" (rough side up). I have never had pokies so I believe I must have been told correctly. I also believe the combination of cotton fabric, cotton thread and cotton batting will cause static and may cause pokies, but they should disappear upon washing the finished quilt. That being said I try to use a black batting with dark quilts and/or dark backings and light colored batting with light quilt and/or light backings. I only change my needle size up or down to work with the thread size, not the fabric or batting.

What is the correct way to put the batting?

aborning, the bumpy side of the batting goes "up", against the underside of the quilt top. If the batting has a scrim layer, it always goes against the quilt back, because one purpose of the scrim is to prevent batting from bearding through to the outside.

On cotton batting I have always told myself " eyes up".... Those itty bitty nubbies facing me.....never had beadring, but I also change needle frequently....and have found a few new needles with a burr....use a narrow strip of crocus cloth and gently smooth needle tip.......has worked for 20+yrs of L/A for self and clients.