stiff quilts
 

Okay, have been a member for a while, but don't post much. Need answers to something that is puzzling me. Why are my quilts turning out too stiff? This has happened whether I use high loft or low loft batting. I want my quilts to be cuddly and not so stiff. I quilt them on my tin lizzie 18. I was told when it was set up, to not leave any space unquilted larger than the palm of my hand. Have used that as my guideline on how close to quilt. I know I'm not the only one who has experienced this.

A couple things could be happening. If your quilt is heavily pieced, there are lots of seams which could contribute to a bit of stiffness. You also mention hi & lo loft batting. Are you using polyester or a natural fiber such as cotton, wool, bamboo or silk? I've only tried poly on a couple of quilts and thought that they were much stiffer than the natural fibers, but it may have been the brand I used. And finally, regarding the distance left unquilted. This is totally dependent on the batting you use. Read the label. Some batts require quilting closer together, like 3 or 4 inches, some batts you can quilt as far as 10" apart.

The quilting spacing is determined by the batting ... some give as large of a space as ten inches.
Meanwhile there are some batts that require 3" spacings.

So what size is your hand? ... most adults would be larger than three, but definitely smaller than ten!

When quilting ... are you doing just one line of stitching? or multiple stitchings which would create more stiffness to your quilt.

Another factor would be the piecing ... the smaller the pieces, the more seams which generally is going to create more bulk and may create more stiffness once quilted.

you should follow the recommendations on the batting packaging for the distance-- some battings need to be quilted every 2" some allow up to 10" between quilting lines- and everything in between. are your quilts stiff after they are laundered? or is this straight off the quilt frame? what kind of fabrics are you using? what batting are you using? I've had some quilts with really dense, intricate quilting on them still be wonderfully soft & fluffy when they come out of the dryer. there are a lot of variables that determine how a quilt will drape, fluffiness/loft, warmth;

I have never heard of this problem before so I just will list of items popping into my mind. What type of batting are you using?? When you stated high loft, I had always been taught decades ago that those types of quilts should be tied. If you said heavy, I would assume that you have used Warm & Natural. I use Hobbs 80/20 and have always used the palm as a rule for quilting. I do all my machine quilting on my Bernina. What type of thread are you using?? I use silk wrapped Mettler. I don't know if you use a lot of starch. Have you try to gently wash the quilt and in very low heat tumble dry?? These are the only suggestions I could think of. I have been quilting for over 25 years and I have never had a stiff quilt. I do HOPE that you are able to resolve this situation. Best Wishes and Hugs !!

I wonder if you are using poly batting? I've used poly batting on only one quilt and I also quilted it quite densely and it is the stiffest one I've made. I used the poly batting for a particular reason, not related to quilting in general. It is a star block of the month from my guild and I had lots of ideas for the FMQ that I did. I use it on my bed and even though it is warm, it is not "snuggly" and I'm OK with that for this quilt. For the other quilts I make, I use Quilters Dream cotton batting which has a much nicer drape and snuggle factor even with some heavier quilting.

I do believe that cotton batting is "cuddlier"... but from what I have seen the more quilting the less "cuddly" a quilt is. Many show quilts are often not the most "cuddly" but they are gorgeous because of the quilting Read the batting and quilt as far apart as you can???

Having read the above posts I did not hear from anyone that it might be the backing fabric. So I will toss that suggestion in. As a professional longarm quilter I quilt many quilts in a year's time and only occasionally run into one that seems stiff after quilting. I use Hobbs batting, either poly or 80/20 and sometimes do dense quilting on a top. Even the dense quilted ones are soft and cuddly unless a stiff fabric has been used, usually as the backing. I have ran in to some wide backings that even after being washed they are still stiff.

I agree it could be the backing. I'm hand quilting one now with a wide backing that was still stiff even after pre-washing. I was afraid it would be hard to needle, but it hasn't been. I don't know if the backing will ever soften.

I'm so glad you asked this question. I have the same problem and will be following to see the suggestions.

I you washed and dried it?The more mine are washed and dried the softer they feel. Though they really are never stiff...but always feels nicer once washed.

I switched from W&N to Quilter's Dream cotton and have been much happier with the softness. From your description, I don't think very dense quilting is an issue. As others have said, the backing might be an issue, or very small pieces making up your blocks.

I have a stiff quilt but it is getting softer. It has nothing to do with batting. I used spray basting and I think I used too much. It is washing out slowly. Did you do the same, the elmers glue if you use too much has the same effect.
Give the quilt a wash and try to line dry with a good blow.

Hand quilting produces a much softer quilt than machine quilting does. It's because sewing machines use more thread than by hand. The denser the quilting, the stiffer the quilt...because more thread is used.

sometimes washing helps a lot. i make my quilts to be used and washed, and have learned not to worry about them falling apart. i just finished a heavily quilted twin sized project made of linen, with a large backing piece of vintage poly bark cloth and that thing could have stood up on its own when i finished binding it.

i put it in the washing machine and laid it out to dry, and it's a lot softer and more supple that it was. because of the materials it will never be a cozy broken down cotton pile, but the person i made it for chose the fabrics based on design instead of cozy factors.

after years of looking at and studying quilts, i decided not to use poly bats thanks to bearding fears. experiment a bit and don't be afraid to wash your work. after all that thread work your quilts are unlikely to ravel!

good luck!

aileen

I had a favorite quilt seemed soooo stiff but I just used it and washed it at some point and put in the dryer and well, duh all the tumbling made it wonderfully soft. I did a moderately close meander and was so pleased with the look. Now, I am pleased with the whole thing. I often just thought about just tossing the finished quilt in the dryer with towels or other large items and let them tumble with out washing it. It seems it would help the quilt .... relax.

I have found a batting at Joann's calle Cream Rose, that is so nice and soft. But, my guess as to this problem, if the stitching is not too close, is the batting was too heavy. Some are just more stiff than others. I think Warm and Natural is stiff, even though it is cotton and very popular with quilters.

Everything mentioned here is right on and I really can not think of another thing that could be causing this. Good luck

[QUOTE=ManiacQuilter2;6397790] When you stated high loft, I had always been taught decades ago that those types of quilts should be tied.

The softest cudliest quilts have wool batts and are tied. A softer fabric top and back helps, too.

My quilts are always real stiff from starching heavily when piecing, which makes it less problem to machine quilt on my home machine, and when I am finished, I always launder them to soften, and remove all of the starch. Also, if I have any spots that are not well done, I know before I gift it, so I can give them with confidence. I washed a table runner for a swap on this board and did not realize that the whole first bobbin (which was not labeled) was filled with wash away thread! I was so glad I learned that before the giftee did! : D

Is it too much starching?

I quilted a quilt with "modern", heavy, close quilting and used a "Frankenstein" batting where I pieced cotton and Dream Green batting together with a zigzag stitch..washed the quilt to get rid of my markings and it is so very soft and cuddly! Washed all the fabrics prior to piecing...don't think it is your quilting...batting shouldn't be a problem...the ladies may be right, it might be the backing fabric. Frustrating!

For the first time I just quilted a quilt using Quilter's Dream Orient batting. It seems to be the best I've used yet. It isn't stiff. I tried to not to over quilt it as that's what I seem to do most of the time. I will definitely be using this batting again.

How "stiff" is your backing? I just finished a quilt...and didn't realize how stiff the backing is (actual quilt backing fabric...) with luck...it will soften up when washed!

These are all good things to think about. I noticed the same thing when I used antique embroidered squares to make the centers for modern log cabins. The quilting was a rather large meander and the batting was poly. The dang thing was as stiff as a board. I couldn't wash it because it was a gift for a dying friend and there was no time to try and experiment with softening it. I've not forgotten that experience and been fearful of having it happen again. I do think a small cool wash might have made a difference but, as I say...no time and if the embroidered blocks had bled or whatever, it would have been a catastrophe.

Years ago, I used unbleached muslin backing on every quilt. Those quilts were never stiff. It is only since I switched to the newer backing fabrics that my quilts sometimes seem stiff. I am not sure of the answer either, but do think that stitching so close adds to the stiffness.

Quilting to tight .....

i read an account of an interview with Harriet Hargrave, which quoted her as saying that W&N was originally window shade insulation. I can believe that, based on how it feels. I bought a small size at Joann's with a coupon, quilted it pretty far apart, and it felt like a potholder, at least to me.

Charlotte

I also agree with this statement.I have hand quilted and machine quilted quilts and use 80/20 ,cotton, poly, warm and natural, hobbs and even batting from wal-mart and only one time had a quilt a little stiff, and I know the backing fabric was stiff when I started and stiffer when I finished.That is a lesson I learned the hard way.Never again will I use a stiff fabric!

I think you have been given a lot of good things to think about and pay attention to. I never thought about how the backing would affect the quilt. I'll file that into the back of my brain for my next project. I'm currently working on my first quilt w/ the Dream Cotton after using W&N and I do like it alot!

Thanks to all of you for your replies! I appreciate the tips. I have used 80/20 batting, polyester also. I have some cotton, but have not used yet. I will try your suggestions. I am really a hasty person, and have never even read the batting packaging. Might help if I read instructions. As far as backing, I usually use muslin, or other cotton backing. I try to buy 108" so that I dont have the seam in the backing. It seems to be difficult in my longarm. I guess I always thought I needed to quilt the size of my hand (which is very small, by the way).

My girlfriend who has almost everything she has ever made LAQ'd, was looking at my last two quilts that I had LAQ'd by a person she had never used. Her observation was she liked that the "LAQer didn't pull the top so tight while working on it". She felt that the finished quilt was softer and draped nicer than ones she had done by other people. It does have a lovely feel about it, but whether or not it contributed the quilt's softest, who knows.

also the thread can make a big difference use a lighter thread