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Originally Posted by Mamagus
My Mom always told me to put the bigger piece on the bottom. She called it "the saggy bottom" method.
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Your quilt is lovely, I really like it a lot. That saying, I have to go with the few who have said leave it and use it as a learning experience. First, I don't think the borders are that wavy. Secondly, I think the hand quilting will take care of the problem.
And lastly, your vintage-looking depression-era fabrics just beg for cotton batting and the old, wrinkly, puckered up look. JMHO Penny |
I always use the walking foot to sew the borders on, and then both top and boarder feed through at the same rate. Maybe with the walking foot you don't need to remove the extra 1/2 inch.
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I just wanted to say that I have never done a quilt with prarie points on the border but my galfriend did and she had issues with the points wanting to slip and move.
I am just wondering if in fact the prarie points and attachment are not the real issue. The points and border are a LOT of fabric to sew through and I thought perhaps the problem MAY have started there. By the way, you have done a TERRIFIC job, anyone would love to have a quilt so lovely. If I am off base....sorry. If it can be distorted I have done it.............just a thought. |
Second thoughts - what about the thread tension as it was
going trhough all those layers of fabric? How do your stitches look, are they smaller than you think they should be? The next question is fabric quality? After that the bobbin tension or tensioner setting. Stitch length: I usually sew at 2.0, most people sew at 2.5 or above with some fabrics my 2.0 stitch length can cause rippling or waving. I spray starch the pieces which usually eliminates this issue (sometimes). I just don't think the length of your border would cause rippling or waving as I always cut my borders long in case of a boo-boo as I would rather cut ends that have to recut new borders as I usually don't have the material. Hope this helps..... |
You can try starching them to make them lay flat, but if it was me I would redo them.
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Originally Posted by Rachelcb80
*sigh* I've thought and thought all morning about this and I think I've decided to just leave the darn things and get this quilt finished. Honestly I'm tired of looking at this quilt. It wasn't destined for anyone's house but my own so I'm calling it a lesson learned and going on with life. The 2" borders really should be replaced as well but I just don't have it in me to tear it all back down to that point. I had hoped it would turn out nice but such is life. You win some, you lose some. :) My next one will be better, and the one after that will be even better, and so on. (Can anyone tell I'm really just trying to make this okay in my mind? :P)
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Since I am not a very good quilter(hope to be adequate someday), I probably should stay out of this...but I am not lol. I think if you frustrate yourself taking it apart to redo, it may become a UFO. I say that finished is better than perfect. I think it is beautiful, I could live with it! I would definitely try the pressing and then move on and finish and enjoy it. :) You are correct, you learned from a mistake and the next one will be even better.
Margie |
Every quilt is a lesson learned, and with proper quilting it should lay flat, one option might be to add another layer of batting before you close the edges, so that the extra fabric is taken up by the bulk, if that is a look you can live with, it is such a pretty quilt, you should be proud of yourself for your work!
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"My ripper is my best friend. Everything I do has to be ripped at some time or other."
Is that where "As ye sew, so shall ye rip" comes from? tee hee (Hey, I resemble that remark!) |
Thank you all for your very nice comments and encouragement. I decided not to redo and began quilting it a few days ago. I'm actually glad I decided not to redo because one, I think the waves will quilt out for the most part and what doesn't quilt out will hopefully shrink up a bit in the wash. Two, I'm having issues with my new Bernina and the quilting at this point is less than perfect. I'm glad I didn't put all the extra work into redoing the borders only to end up with problem quilting. In the end it's going to be a decent quilt, but nothing spectacular. That's okay though, I accept that this was a huge learning experience and I'm glad I learned these lessons on a quilt for myself and not one that was intended as a gift. I'll get the kinks worked out of my machine with this quilt and be ready to go on my next one that is going to be a gift!
Thanks again everyone! |
what problems are you having with your Bernina, I've got a 5 year old one?
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I love your quilt..waves or no waves. I think it will be gorgeous when you finish the quilting and wash it. I've had a couple that I thought were gonna wave, but after quilting and washing, they laid perfectly flat...so...it will all work out..you'll see!
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I too have a compulsion for perfection, but I have learned quilting is soooo forgiving and more times than I can count a problem disappears after the quilt is finished. Each quilt is a learning experience and each is better than the ones before! Your quilt looks beautiful and was obviously a big effort, personally, I think the borders will be a little more wrinkled, but I'll bet it will look great! Please post a picture when it is finished. :)
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Originally Posted by Rachelcb80
I hate to admit it but I jumped into something (this time attaching a border) without researching how to best do it first. That is unlike me and I really don't know why I did it other than I guess I am anxious to finish this quilt. I did the 'ole measure one side, cut a piece, sew it on and then whack off the extra. Of course I ended up with waves in my borders. I spent quite a bit of time last night and this morning reading about the proper way to measure and attach a border. Here's my question; should I tear the borders off and redo them using better methods (I'd have to use the same material that is already there because I don't have enough to cut new borders with) or do I chalk this up to lesson learned and hope the waves "quilt out" some? The center and larger outside border will have stipple quilting done, the smaller inside border will just have 2 straight lines stiched 1/4" in from each seam.
There is a part of me that thinks with as much time as I've put into this quilt so far, I should go the little extra mile to take it apart and do it all right, but then there's that other part of me that wants to cry at the idea of being set back a few more days. That part of me has a little voice saying, "It'll be okay, once you get it all quilted the waviness will not show." I'm just not sure if that voice is lying. :) If you take a GOOD look at the picture that you have on the board you will see that both boarders are wavy. Personally I would take it down to the top and redo both boarders. When you have it quilted it will look awful. Steaming it will only hide it. once it is washed bingo it will be a mess. Trust me you will be alot happier knowing that you did it right. |
That little voice is lying to you!! It will not 'quilt out' and you will be unhappy with it and yourself for not doing it right. It is much to pretty not to do it well.
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Once you wash and dry this quilt, you will be amazed at how good it will look.......much of the wavy will be taken up with the quilting..........and after the washing and drying, you will have a nice, comfortable, old-fashioned quilt that you will really enjoy!! I like your pinwheels!
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Personally, I like the look, and if you can handle it, I wouldn't touch it. Tell everyone that this was the way you wanted it. To be honest, though, I would personally have trouble deciding as there was alot of work done on that quilt.
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It is absolutely beautiful. I would just finish it, not tear it apart.
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I'm amazed (and, if I'm honest, amused) by the number of "take it out and re-do" and "leave it in" responses.
I never measure my borders beyond making sure that they won't be too short. They are never wavy (none yet, anyway); I wonder why. |
Originally Posted by weezie
I'm amazed (and, if I'm honest, amused) by the number of "take it out and re-do" and "leave it in" responses.
I never measure my borders beyond making sure that they won't be too short. They are never wavy (none yet, anyway); I wonder why. |
New to quilting, but just thought (if it's even possible). What about running a basting stitch along each border piece to create a very slight ruffle effect. It would then look like the waves belonged and would take up the excess fabric. Then the border wouldn't even need quilting since it would need to look a little puffy. Then bind as usual. Your quilt is beautiful. I love your colors, pinwheels, and prairie points. Is this an original design or a pattern? Good luck!
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I would redo it simply because if you don't, it will bug you every time you see it. (Ask me how I know.) :roll:
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Originally Posted by Judi in Ohio
Bonnie at Quiltville says to always measure with the fabric down the middle, never a ruler. Since I have done that my borders have been fine. I, also love the crinkly look so my fabrics are never washed and I LOVE the Shout color catchers - no problems here and I've used dark reds a lot!! I use about 5 or 6 when I first wash. I've also heard that plain muslin will do the same.
I think it is a lovely quilt and bet you will love it, wrinkles & all. But then I love crinkly wrinkles. Judi |
I'm glad you are going on to finish. You are not planning on entering it in a show and it will be fine. You won't make that mistake again. March on!
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Re-do.... the waves will be there always. Here's how I do my borders.... I lay the quilt out on the floor or table..whereever is long enough and lay my quilt border and PIN it EXACTLY to the top in the center of the quilt. Then I smooth the border over the center of the quilt until I get to the other end...and slide a mat under and rotary cut the border. After I sew both borders on...then I do the same on the sides by measuring with the border over the center of the quilt. My quilts do not wave..your's won't either. This method makes is so that you don't have measure two pieces of long fabric and get them exactly within an 8th of an inch of each other.
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I was looking to see if you were anywhere near me because I would have helped you take those borders out. Your piecing is beautiful and I hope your borders work out as they are. Please update us after you've quilted. I would hate to have to show you my first quilt and all the mistakes I made on it.
PS - Your avatar is a lovely picture! |
What a beautiful quilt , please show us the finished product after it's washed, with that sweet baby sitting on top of it...
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Originally Posted by katsewnsew
I would redo them because you have a beautiful quilt top and I would think it would be worth it. I am working on an Amish quilt that is really getting a lot of "seam ripper" usage, but I will not give up. I know it will look good when done -
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Please take the borders out and redo them the right way.
It would be a good idea to really starch the borders before reapplying. You have to tame the bias. |
love your pinwheels. you did such a good job on them!!
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I think it is beautiful
Margie |
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