I am trying to machine quilting some place mats. After my first attempt, I ripped all the seams out, and did it again, but they are so puckered and I'm so disgusted. I have lessened the pressure foot pressure to 3 (as indicated in the directions on the dual foot), left the thread tension as is... The place mat looks puffy and puckered. Please help.

Did you use a low or high loft batting? You might try using a longer stitch length.

try making the length longer .. that will help, it looks like you need to flatten more and pin it down.

KandiKane

when you say dual foot do you mean the one built into the machine. Looks like it may not have been basted well.
Also as previous post. The batting looks thick. When batting is thicker I use pins before the feeds to help keep it flat.

I have never spray basted, but it might be a help to you.

thicker batting will look like that

I'm using a low loft thin cotton backing, stitch length is 3.

I have tried both spray basting, and pinning. It is nice and flat until I start stitching, then puffs up and looks puckered :(

It looks to me as if it was never pin or thread basted. just let the top lay over the batting and backing and then stitched over.

Stitch length is 3, and using a thin, cotton batting.

how far apart are you pinning. Something doesnt make sense.

If you starch the top and bottom heavily before sandwiching, that would do a world of good. If you can't take the quilt sandwich apart, even just spray starching both sides several times should help.

I also recommend lengthening your stitch (try 4). Sorry, I may have missed this, but are you using a walking foot?

A thin cotton batting is easier to machine quilt than a polyester batting.

Also, looking at your photo, it appears that you are quilting along the bias. Fabric that is not starched will distort more when you are quilting on the bias, so this may be contributing to the problem. Honestly, I think starch would solve a lot of your problem.

spray adhessive will help a great deal. I know your frustration. once you've used this stuff you will never pin your quilts again. It sticks well and you can move that quilt all over and it won't move.

If this is low loft batting, then either your stitch is too short or the tension too tight.

Are you using a walking foot? And BTW, your puckers are nothing compared to some I've gotten--mine are more like pleats! That's when I pull out the walking foot. Try that, the even feeding of fabrics makes it smoother. Also you may be using too think a batting.

Problem solved: I used the walking foot, a heavy sizing (didn't have starch) on the backing and the top, used spray adhesive, and increased the stitch size to 4... Alas, -- it is good! Thanks to all for your suggestions.

:thumbup:

happy you got it figured out

I think you are right about the batting , the thicker the puffiness will show, I have hand quilted and that is what I got, I liked that .. but if you want it to lay flat , you would need the right thickness, the thiner the flatter .. just my past exp with that.. I have made small blocks with all types of fillers as to go back on.. then I can not make that mishap ...also you can go to the fabric store they can tell you what filler to use when you buy the fabric just tell them what you are making.. most do know..
Hope it turns out right for you good luck..

KandKane

Just as I thought , but you can still make note of that and make note of the batting use..
Its great you got it, great work..

KandiKane

spray baste and a walkingfoot.

HI,
Without really seeing how the piecing was done I offer this suggestion which I just learned from a long arm quilter working on one of my quilt tops. She told me that the binding on the side could make the quilt pucker or in your case place mats. She told me to measure the sides top to bottom and then measure top to bottom in the center. Then average and use that length for your border of your quilt. I could be all wet here but thought I would throw that out. To square up my quilt we took off the side that was too long, cut to the correct size and put back on. The sides of the place mat should be open when you machine quilt then you can finish those off at the end. Hope this helps you with this project or another one in the future. Best wishes to you.