Quilting across the grain on backing fabric
 

Ages ago I came across an interesting article which I bookmarked.....and then my computer had a hissy fit and had to be repaired....and now I've lost all my bookmarks :(.
I remember reading an article by a quilter about how she found her walking foot channel quilting was always nicer on her backing if she quilted in one particular way...either with the grain of the backing, or across the grain. She said the fabric had a tendancy to pull or shift in the columns if she quilted the "wrong" way. I can't remember which it was. Has anyone any opinion or experience on this?

Fabric will stretch across the grain ( selvedge to selvedge) but not along the length. That said, a good walking foot, set to a longish stitch length ,and a slightly lighter downward pressure on foot ( if your machine will do so) will take care of not only that...but also bias!

I don't know the article you mentioned but I do know that the most stretch in fabric is, of course, along the bias. The least stretch is with the grain( called warp or parallel to the selvage. Across the fabric (the weft or from selvage to selvage) has more stretch than the warp.

I've never been super successful at quilting with no tucks using my domestic machine. I don't know if it's because my pressure on the walking foot isn't set correctly or maybe it's because my sandwich shifts some. I do pin the layers together about every 3" but I always have to quilt in more than one direction. If I don't want tucks I either have to hand quilt a quilt on my antique frame or do it on my LA where the rollers and clamps keep the quilt straight and firm. I'm not much help, sorry.

Thankyou both for your replies......appreciated.

If I'm crossing a stitch line, I tug ever so much on the intersection when passing over it
and that usually takes care of any tucks.

Thanks illinois.