Hi. I need some advice on what I am doing wrong. I am trying to quilt a lap quilt with simple straight lines across it. I have had to rip out three times because of gathers on the underside (pic of mess is attached). I am using a walking foot and I have basted thoroughly. When I start sewing, it seems like the underside of the quilt is moving faster than the top. I tried lowering the tension because the stitching on top seems too tight. However, when I am ripping out stitches, the thread on the back is so easy to pull out. I can pull out one or two inches by pulling on the thread. I really don't know what else to try.

I'd appreciate any advice on how I can fix this. Thanks so much.

Karol

the back is not stretched enough but sounds like the tension on the machine is not right------2 suggestions 1] make a practice piece and adjust tension etc 2]]basting spray has made my life so much easier--hope i have been some help --- wait for the experts to come in they'l fix it

Hello - I'm no super expert, when it comes to machine quilting, however, this is how I would proceed - unpick what you have done and put your quilt aside for a little. From what I can see, it looks like your stitch length is really small, from what you describe, your tension is in need of adjustment. Make up a "play" sandwich using similar thickness fabrics and battings to your quilt...then mess about with that and get it spot on before putting that quilt near the machine (this will save much hair tearing and unpicking). You may wish to check your walking foot is fitted/engaged properly and that your machine is lint free, threaded correctly and good to go. Walking feet are not designed for speed, so maybe that could be an issue, and let the machine do the work, don't pull the fabric through, just guide with your hands. Work from the middle out and smooth and check the underside as you go (sorry, I'm not very good with describing sometimes!).

I am sure other board members will be able to help, so persevere...and happy quilting.

I agree with using the basting spray. that will help.

Is the back fabric basted tight?

What's basting spray and how's it different from thread basting ?

Recently I made a baby quilt that I wanted to quilt on the diagonal. The first two diagonal lines I had the same problem you are having. Then I pinned the sewing lines I drew on instead of basting. When I began sewing, I simply held the three layers very taut and stitched away. Voila! No gathering on the back. Hope this helps.

It's not basted tight enough; has puckers in it already, even before the quilting. Tape your back down taut before you baste. And spray basting is a sure-fire way to keep it un-puckered. It's a spray adhesive that I, and so many people, LOVE. You can buy a brand at Joann's/Hobby Lobby/Hancock's that will do. Follow the can instructions. It's also easier on your back.

It doesn't look to me like you achored your back good enough when you basted it all together. Did you pin or tape your back down first before you added the batting and the quilt top? I haven't found a basting spray that I like yet so I pin baste. I doesen't look like you basting is close together enough. I pin my backing to the carpet with t-pins to anchor it taut before I add the batting and backing and then pin about every 4 inches. Hope this helps.

You might also try starching your back before you rebaste. I just did a lap size on my machine using a kind of stiff material that was also starched. Not a wrinkle in sight! Good luck
And I also like the basting spray.

Your backing is not layed out flat enough and the puckers are already there . Spray basting will help but there is the second hand mess of overspray ( glue going everywhere you DON"T want it to go and also the smell....) It also looks like your stitch length is too short.

Rip out....start over....go slow.....try to enjoy the learning process of quilting. Every new project brings it's own new things to learn!!

jodi

oh this is very helpful to me :thumbup:
thank you

try lengthening your stitch length...maybe 8-10 per inch would loosen that up a bit...put together a small practice piece to work on for awhile so you don't damage your quilt ripping out your stitching...wait until it is going the way you want it then move to the quilt. use the same weight fabrics and same batting (if possible) for your practice piece. personally I hate using the walking foot...i know so many people who use them all the time and will not even consider not using it...i have never had any luck with it i do much better with a regular foot for straight line stitching.
good luck :thumbup:

First of all - rip out what you have done. Then re-sandwich the quilt, paying special attention to making the backing as taut as you possibly can before laying on the batting and top. Pin every 3 or 4 inches everywhere (or baste - whichever you like). When you begin sewing, have your stitch length set to medium (probably around 8 stitches per inch), use a walking foot and start in the middle of your quilt and work towards the outer edges. My backs looked similar to yours when I first started quilting and the use of the walking foot and heavy pinning and quilting from the center outwards has worked wonders (have not tried basting spray yet).

Did someone mention walking foot? If not use a walking foot as well and go slow. Walking feet are not for speed.:)

When I prepare backings, I press and starch them. Then I lay them out on three tables shoved together (for a large quilt) and use masking tape to stick the backing securely to the table. Then I set my batting on top, smoothing and patting down and finally add my top, pinning with safety pins all over. I also use straight pins placed horizonatally to the seam, lengthwise down my main seams both horizontally and vertically. I stitch these main seams first, to anchor the quilt before tackling any of the interior parts. I use my hands to smooth and feel for wrinkles as I go along. Stitching these main pinned seams first has really helped to eliminate puckers. I occassionaly get a few but this method has practically eliminated them.

Rethread both upper and lower too. Mine stitches loose on the back when the bobbin thread is not going up and over like it is supposed to. I don't know what makes it slip off but it happens mostly after I put in a new bobbin.

I'm certainly no expert but I have had this happen to me - try increasing your stitch length.

baste the quilt again either with pins or spray and i would also release the pressure of the walking foot.

the pressure is still set for piecing and not quilting.

you have to release the pressure on the foot when putting thru so many layers.

You definately have not basted enough. You need to keep it from shifting from all sides.

I agree with all of the previous posts.

1. Your backing wasn't stretched taut to begin with and starching it will help control puckers and slide through the machine easier.
2. Spray baste or use pins to tack more closely than you did.
3. Loosen the pressure on your presser foot.
4. Increase your stitch length. Quilting is quite a bit bigger stitches than sewing
5. Practice on a scrap before loading the real deal but preferably a scrap made of the same stuff as the real deal.

Like CKCOWL said, the walking foot is not a magic cure-all. It can only work like it is designed to, on a properly prepared base.
I have one, but am not impressed with it. I can do just as well with regular foot.
You might find your foot pressure is too heavy for the thickness of a quilt sandwich.
Longer stitches tend to look neater, too.
Check your bobbin, again. Sounds like the bobbin tension is not correct.

I agree, starching heavy on the back would help

I agree...Please re do your quilt sandwich and use any brand of quilt basting spray..Remember to do a sample first...Also use a walking foot...

Along with the other issues mentioned here, I notice that your quilting stitches are running the same direction as your basting stitches.

Be sure to baste thoroughly and in both directions, side-to-side, and use a walking foot to avoid having your quilting stitch "push" the layer of fabric forward.

Jan in VA

I appreciate all the advice. I will definitely rebaste and try again. I used two boards when I basted it so it would be tight. I'll try to tape it down this time and also use the basting spray.
I have a couple of questions. How can I set the pressure on the walking foot? Is the "tension" the same as the "pressure" on the foot? I have the tension set at "1". I have a dial that controls tension, but I don't see any other setting for pressure. Also, how would I control the bobbin tension? My machine is a Brother with a Disney emblem. It has a drop in bobbin with a case that doesn't normally come out. I take the bobbin case out when I clean the lint out. Does the little screw on the bobbin case affect the bobbin tension?
I hope these questions don't sound too dumb. I have gotten some great advice and I appreciate it so much.

When I took a quilting class, we took a sample sandwich and drew lines across it at 1" intervals marking each with a number starting with 1. Then we set the tension to 1 and sewed from the first line across to the second line. There, we changed the tension to 2 and sewed from line 2 to line 3. And so on. At the end, we took the sample out and looked at the front and the back to see which tension worked best.

As for your problem: I think too that the backing is not taut enough and therefore, the sandwich is too loose. You may want to use the walking foot and make the stitch length longer. At least 3 or 3.5mm.

I agree with everything here. Wondering if you taped your backing down when you sandwiched everything so that the backing was tight before you started. It looks like you have too much fabric. If you don't want to take it apart, you might be able to just tie it and check it up to experience. It's difficult to tell by just looking at the picture.

I have to make the backing tight, not taunt, TIGHT! when I machine quilt. I have it almost like a drum when I baste it and I never have puckers or wrinkles. My big quilts, I have a LA baste them for me and I get too much fullness because the backing isn't basted tight enough. I have to smooth the backing out as I machine quilt it. I have never gotten it too tight to distort, it's all I can do to get it tight enough.

The dial with numbers on it is your thread tension and should probably be set at 3 or 4 but it varies with the type of thread you're using.

Presser foot pressure is a knob on top of your machine--usually above the presser foot & takeup lever area. Not all machines have a knob to adjust the pressure. Those that don't have to be adjusted manually which is more than you want to try.

Bobbin thread tension is set with the tiny screw on the bobbin case. Tiny little turns make big differences so you may want to mark what it is factory set it now with a marker or fingernail polish before you change it.

My advice for now is to make a small practice sandwich, preferably with the same materials as the real quilt. Change your upper thread tension to 3 and lengthen your stitch length. Spray, pin and/or thread baste your practice sandwich--don't forget to starch the backing first & tape it down taut--and then just play with the upper thread tension & stitch length until you're happy with it. You might also want to try without the walking foot. It's possible that your walking foot is applying too much pressure to the sandwich especially if you don't have an adjustment knob.

basting spray is the best invention. Goes on like spray starch holds your quilt top firmly to the batting and nothing moves.

I agree with all previous suggestions, so won't repeat them here. Here is a good review of various basting methods & links to video tutorials: http://thecuriousquilter.wordpress.c...g-away-again/.
I also like Sharon Schambers' video on basting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA.
Another product many people swear by to prevent thread nests on the back of quilts is to use: "Magic Genie" bobbin washers. These are just a flat silicone washer (think like a 1/2" diameter round disc) of flexible but stiff material with a hole in the center. It goes into your bobbin case before you put in the removeable bobbin full of thread. It helps stop the bobbin from over spinning & leaving too much thread unwound in the bobbin case. They can be found online @ quilt shops and even ebay. You would want the regular for a home machine, not the "Long-arm" ones.
Best wishes, Cathy

I tape the back to a flat surface, then pin. The first few rows (I quilt diagonally) I pin in the seam with the head of the pin so I can remove them as I go. No basting, no walking foot, and go slow.

Before I start, I practice with a small sandwich till the tension and stitch length are just right.

Don't forget to check the tension on your bobbin case. Sometimes the bobbin is the culprit.

Make sure your quilt is supported. Do not let it fall over the edge of your sewing table. That causes the back to move faster than the front, thus the puckering. In quilting, gravity is not your friend!

When the back can move directionally as your has it is an indication that your basting is not taut enough.If you are basting with thread, try to make it even in each direction. I prefer spray basting very lightly and on some quilts, do anchor stitching in the ditch to keep the quilt square.If these are done with dissolvable thread, they are easily removed.
As for the tension, try adjusting on a practice sandwich before you get going on the quilt and you may have more success. All the best with the adjustments.
(Also make sure you have your quilt supported on a flat surface, and not dragging against you or hanging down from the machine).

I always had this same problem until I bought a walking foot for my machine....like magic!!...no more puckers on the back.

A lot of good advice! I will use them as well.

This happens to me when my bobbin is not loaded properly. You might reload it.

I was machine quilting not with a walking foot, but with a free motion foot and forgot to lower the pressure foot. When I looked at the back it appeared the stitches were just sitting on top of the fabric and when I pulled on them, they pulled out very easily. When I restitched and made sure the pressure foot was lowered, it all stitched fine.

Yellow Rose

I agree with her spray baste and hold very tight all 3 layers I used to have the same problem then holding it very tight solved my problem also..