Ok, um, this is not for me *uh huh*.. I have this OBW quilt top. Finished ready to quilt. Question is it does NOT lay flat. There are a couple spots its warped? not sure if this is the correct wording.. but I am about as done with it as I am going to be and want to quilt it and never do one again. Ok.. at least I don't want to toss it in the fire to start the kindling which of course I have never thought of before now.. I just think it wont take to regular quilting as it might buckle or whatever the correct term is on top. So how do I finish it besides in the fire? I just would love so much to get a couple words of advice here. I am lost :(

Thanks for listening to my P* and moaning. I promise to post if it finishes out with only having to hang my chin to my chest and not my toes.

Lay it out, see where the warping is, steam press that spot to get it as flat as possible, then do some creative quilting that will minimize the effect. Maybe circles or waves or something? I, of course, have NEVER had a quilt that didn't lie perfectly flat (is my nose growing yet?)!!!

In the quilting process do your think it can be eased into submission?

Agree, I have also never had this problem after 45 years making quilts! Opps, just tripped over my nose!!


You will see that we all experienced this, & there will be many suggestions offered.
I would starch & press the heck out of the area, if it still puckers, I have even used very lightweight fusible to hold it flat, than quilt the area heavy.

Good luck, hang in there, I'm sure you see it worse than it is, we are our worst critics, see everything.

Could you post a photo of the problem area? Might be more suggestions offered.

I would lay the part that is puckering/warped across the ironing board, hold a steam iron above it & steam the heck out of it. If this doesn't work I would spray it with water, give it a few minutes to absorb the water then gently iron it again. Usually steaming it will work, it's just that that block got distorted somewhere along the line or may be a tad bigger. I hope this works for you

I saw a video about just this topic. It shows how to fix it. I'll see if I can find it, again.

I, of course, have never had this problem either, (ahem) but I have kept this solution in mind---just in case, you understand, that I should actually have a wonky quilt. If it is unrepentent with "spot" steaming, You might try very carefully and very tightly pinning it down to the carpet--use your big square rulers, etc to make sure it is totally as square as you can get it--then spray it generously with water in a spray bottle--just soak it pretty good--and then let it dry completely, on its own, like for 24 hours. Then pressing it, and it will be a lot better, if not perfect. This is called "blocking" and it works. (I've been told.) :lol: :lol: :lol: good luck. Let us know how you come out!

Depending how bad it is, these will often quilt out. Blocking may help as well but I usually have better luck with blocking when I am trying to coax a block into square or squeak a 1/8" more out of a block. I know there have been posts about cupping tops before and some of the ladies used bra cup sizes to describe the level of warping. I had a lonestar quilt volcano up in the center on me and took it apart and resewed it numerous times and still ended up with about an "a" cup in the center. It quilted out just fine. I can't remember who it was on the board, one of the LAers said she had "C" cups she quilted out. So just quilt the dickens out of this baby and she'll lay flat for you.

The OBW's are all bias and easily stretched. I would try steaming the area, if it doesn't work, I would consider restitching with a tiny bit bigger seam. Wouldn't take the top apart, just baste a bit bigger seam in that block and if it helps, stitch it on the machine.

I finally found the video I was talking about. After watching it again, I'm not sure it will be of any help to you. Though you may want to check it out to see if it will. It is a Sharon Schamber technique on http://www.youtube.com. Search for Sharon Schamber's Beginning Quilter : Magical Basting p1.

It is about correcting distortions. I hope it will help. :)

I would starch the daylights out of that section as you try to block it. Then use a fuller batt or even a little extra in that area and quilt away.

Thank you for all your suggestions. I am amazed how many experts we have that have never (uh humm) had this same problem!! I will try the press the heck out of it. I haven't used steam as I know this can distort it more (I think I know). I may try the take that seam in just a tiny bit more advice. I like what I have made I just don't like that its not doing what I want. And quilting it to death probably wont hurt it as being a OBW its such an incredibly busy little design that I doubt you could even see the quilting on it. Time to go buy a dozen spools of thread. Thank you again everyone I appreciate the time that was taken to help me. Oh and its about an A cup :)

I had one that had that "bubble" in it. My LA told me to pinch the offending spot and then she pulled it tight. I just had to take a seam in 1/8" and it fixed the problem. Maybe this will help you.

Lightly starch the areas and gently steam into submission. Use a batt with a higher loft.
Brenda

Is that a sugar glidder?

Isn't it Sharon Schamber (sp?) that had the tutorial on steaming, starching, etc. to get a quilt to lay flat? There was a thread on this a while back, with some great ideas. Try doing a search of the topic area. Someone may know where it was.

What is in your hand?

I would take it out, it being the puckering part and try again.

If there is just a tiny bit, I usually find it will "quilt out". I do hand
quilt so don't know if that makes a difference. However, I have
been making quilts for about 40 years and last fall when we were basteing in, I have
this one top that I absolutely love. It is a combination of wierd
piecing and applique...blocks are not large. When I got all the
blocks made (I assume now, for some reason, I didn't square
them up.] Then the pieced border, was quite a challenge. But
when we got it all layed out, the borders were almost perfect..
but the top has many, many places where it bulges up..or does
not lay flat. There is no way that I have any choice. I will have
to take it ALL apart and square blocks and do over. So far I
haven't had the mind set for that!!

Don't iron, as in rubbing the iron all over. PRESS, using starch or holding it slightly above and giving it a bunch of steam, then set the iron down. Do that repeatedly but don't rub the iron around or it will "iron" the wrinkles right back out.

Ask me how I know...... :)

I had one do this and I stay stitched the #@##thing all the way around then put it in a rinse cycle -dried it and POOF the offending puff was gone -finished quilting -wrapped it and gave it to my Aunt-in law 30 minutes later[[ I had to comb my hair over the new bald spot]] I haven"t done a triangle since Christmas

Please give us a look at it to see how we can suggest a 'repair'.A little creative easing or fabric origami never hurts anyone, but would like to see how much needs to be eased.

Have you ever heard the expression- It will quilt out? Well anything is worth a try. I made one so bad that I called it my tent quilt. Took the parts apart that were the worst and I had not made my seams right. I finally got it done and the first one that came along that liked it, well I gave it to them. Was that mean of me.?

Hey there I love that expression. Must tell the girls at quilting.

Good luck...:)

If it's a OBW, you have several seams you could easily adjust by just sewing them a bit wider, without removing anything. Kinda' like making a dart in sewing. If the steam/press method doesn't work.

I agree that you need to block the top. Pin to the carpet with T pins, making sure that it is square by using a carpenter's square, and then spray it until lightly damp all over. Let dry naturally and you should not have to press it. That should do it. If not, try to quilt it out.

Is it really wonky? Are you sure it won't quilt out? to be flat? It can't fix a wrong dimension...you have to trim slivers (or more) off to do that.
Are you going to send it off to be machine quilted? THAT will fix minor faults.

It needs to be at least heavily basted to do this. Sometimes this is done to finished quilts to straighten them.

Have you got a big enough flat place you can get wet?
You might have to go outdoors to fix a large quilt.

Have you tried wet blocking the quilt?
Have you heard of this?

Lay the quilt top on something that will hold water, like a big piece of plastic or a shower curtain with the edges turned up a little, about an inch.

Carefully begin to wet the quilt soaking it, but no more water than that. Using a long straight edge, like a long ruler, lay it along the edge, pushing a bit toward the center until the edge is straight. Press it down with your fingers to sort of "squish" the threads in the fabric down flat. Wiggle them just a little bit to move the fibers!
If you have a hump work it flat.

Take a towel and lay it over the quilt soaking up as much of the water as you can, without disturbing the "flattened" parts. Take off the wet towel. Repeat with a dry towel as many times as you want. Not too dry, though Wet, not drippy is what you want.
Leave it to dry undisturbed. Do not touch it until it is completely dry..It will dry faster outdoors, Cover it with a sheet to keep debris off. It will dry OK with the sheet on.
You can use a fan indoors, moving it occasionally.
It will dry flat and square.
It will stay that way!
Just carefully don't stretch it again.
Jeannie

I can't believe this topic has been discussed all day and no one has posted the link to this hilarious video!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzoL7ddTEnA

You've even been using the term "you can quilt it out"...

Haaaaaaaaaa! Watch this cute video and you'll realize you are not alone, and you'll feel better!

I think most quilters have experienced this problem. I agree, try and steam it into submission and then quilt heavily in that area :lol:

Sewbizgirl - thanks for sharing - that song and the video was a riot!

It's hard to tell without seeing it, but, it sounds like something that can be worked out on a longarm machine. I have had quilts brought to me in much worse shape and they lay flat after being quilted. You might want to consider an overall pattern that is done from the front of the machine so particular attention can be paid to the troubled spots. Good luck.

Hi
I would really like to know what little creature you are holding in your Avatar, it looks tiny and at peace !!

Nosy Mad Gertie from Kent, England

Hi
I would really like to know what little creature you are holding in your Avatar, it looks tiny and at peace !!

Nosy Mad Gertie from Kent, England

She hasn't said, but my guess is that it's a baby red squirell.

watch the Utube mosic video-"YOU CAN QUILT THAT OUT", then send it to LAQ'r! not ever helpful, but the video is funny! They wouldn't have made a song & video if it didn't happen regularly! LOL!! GOOD LUCK, it will turn out fine.

Give it to a warped friend... we all have at least one!
Seriously... we are our worst critics. Try steaming and pressing... and if you have to take in a seam or two... that's ok too. But don't give up!

Sometimes if the borders are put on unevenly it will cause the ripples. I always measure each side and then the middle, add all three together then divide by 3. This will be your average. Now cut both sides the same side and use the measurment that you got when divided by 3.

OMG this made me giggle till I almost wet myself. Yes we have all been there at one point or another. You worded it just perfectly. Will pass this along to all my quilting friends. It makes me think of a fellow quilter who was quilting her queen size quilt, she said every once in a while, her machine would slow down and just chug chug chug for about 5 or 6 stitches. Then it would resume regular stitching for a few more minutes, and then again with the chug chug chug, and just drag for about 5 or 6 stitches. She got up from 2 go hours of solid quilting, held up her quilt and thought, what a great job she had done. Then she looked at the back of her quilt !!!!!!!!!!! And there, ever so neatly, she had quilted her soft vinyl tape measure into the back of her quilt. Quilting 101 , moral of the story, clean your work space before you start quilting !!!!!!!!!!! Greetings from Auntie B, Saskatchewan Canada.