oh dear! What do I HEAR?
 

That's right - not see, feel, or notice in a quilt top - what do I HEAR? I was folding a quilt top when I heard a ... crackle? Yes, definitely a crackle. After feeling all over the top I found that under two spots in the applique there's a noise - I think I left the paper part of the fusible stuff still on. How on earth that is possible I have no idea, but ... what else could it be? It sounds a lot like the crackle stuff you put in baby toys to give them auditory stimulation. NOT what you want to hear in an adult quilt - not quite that loud, but that kind of sound. This is a quilt I'm being PAID to make! That I've spent hours and hours on. Poor pitiful me!!!

I'm wondering if I can go from the back and cut a slit in the background, somehow remove the paper backing and hope for the best when I quilt it. The other solution is to remove those pieces, remove the paper and then redo the stitching. We're talking a queen sized top now, not the blocks I originally sewed.

Have you EVER heard of such a thing? Any other suggestions? Recommendations?

The crackle is under the green/purple floral. http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...e-t225364.html

What kind of paper did you use? Are you planning to wash the quilt before giving it
to your customer? If so, it will probably soften in the wash and won't be noticeable.
The other day a QB member said she left all the papers in her EPP and then washed
the whole thing after it was quilted. If you are not sure, make a small sample with
that paper you used, wash and see how it turns out.

Oh, Jan, you don't have to remove the applique pieces! Just go with your first idea and put a slit into the background behind where the noise is coming from and pull out whatever is in there. Afterwards you can slip stitch the slash you made if you choose to. If this were already quilted, it would be a problem, but since it's still just a top, it's no problem at all! Many quilters routinely cut slits underneath each and every applique piece to remove freezer paper pieces (and some don't even slip stitch the slits afterwards). Also, many quilters routinely completely cut out the background fabric from behind each applique piece, only leaving a seam allowance. They do that just to reduce the bulk.

Yes cutting out the bkgrnd fab behind a needle turned or machine appliqué is normal, but she said hers was fusible appliqué---so no loose bkgrnd fabric there. If it is only one piece that is the concern...I would just unsew that piece, remove that paper and reset. I am presuming the sewing is either a blanket stitch or blind hem one.......if it is a satin stitch, carefully remove ........

Second thought....if her fusible is windowpanes she could cut and remove.....

Also if it's paper it shouldn't be stuck to the background should it???

Yes, slit the background and remove the paper. If you cannot get the edge to pull it, use a pin to score it in the middle. Since you left paper, it is not ironed to the background so that part should not be an issue.

Oh you wonderful people! I just cut a little slit and the paper is indeed on the background side so it's not fused to the background. I think I'm going to try scoring as suggested here and removing the paper from a slit. If that doesn't work I'll remove all but the seam allowance and take it out that way. Then I'll fuse it to the batting when it's time to quilt. I want to fuse it on purpose rather than risk the owner ironing it for some strange reason and having it fuse wonky. It was done with a blanket stitch, but I'm really, really hoping I don't have to unsew the applique.

I agree with Tartan, as long as you haven't quilted the top. Very easy problem to resolve. I have done what you did. We all make mistakes but I understand your concern when you are being paid!! Hang in there !!!