Problem inherent in strip quilting??
01-04-2016, 08:53 PM
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Butte, Montana
Posts: 185
Something else that helps when you have cut strip sets or even quilts with a lot of small pieces...Before you put the borders on, stitch the entire outside edge of the quilt very close to the edge (1/8th"), it helps keep those seams from starting to pull apart.
01-05-2016, 04:31 AM
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hernando FL
Posts: 1,662
This is what I do as it also keeps the edges from stretching. I have done a lot of garment sewing and there it is called "stay stitching" which you often do around necklines to keep them in shape while you put a collar on etc. Once I have my quilt quilted but before the binding I also stitch around the perimeter to keep all the layers together for when I put my binding on It also keeps whatever seams I have in my borders in check.
01-05-2016, 09:39 AM
#33
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 7,312
Try several different stitch lengths on a sample square.
Make them each about 2-3 inches long and about 1/2 inch apart and mark each sample with the setting on your machine that created it.
Measure the different samples and find one closest to about 11-12 stitches to an inch. This is the one you are best using when strip piecing. It will help your seams with other kinds of piecing, too.
If you have trouble getting the tip of our seam ripper under a stitch, try using an Clover brand seam ripper. The one below is less than $4 at Connecting Threads -- so cheap you could order 2-3 at a time! The tip of the Clover ripper is very slender and sharp and works really well. They are one of the tools that you should replace often, as they become dull, just as you would needles or rotary blades.
http://www.connectingthreads.com/cft...paign=PPCgpGen
Jan in VA
Make them each about 2-3 inches long and about 1/2 inch apart and mark each sample with the setting on your machine that created it.
Measure the different samples and find one closest to about 11-12 stitches to an inch. This is the one you are best using when strip piecing. It will help your seams with other kinds of piecing, too.
If you have trouble getting the tip of our seam ripper under a stitch, try using an Clover brand seam ripper. The one below is less than $4 at Connecting Threads -- so cheap you could order 2-3 at a time! The tip of the Clover ripper is very slender and sharp and works really well. They are one of the tools that you should replace often, as they become dull, just as you would needles or rotary blades.
http://www.connectingthreads.com/cft...paign=PPCgpGen
Jan in VA
01-05-2016, 12:24 PM
#34
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Location: PA
Posts: 10,703
01-06-2016, 12:31 AM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 6,764
This is what I do as it also keeps the edges from stretching. I have done a lot of garment sewing and there it is called "stay stitching" which you often do around necklines to keep them in shape while you put a collar on etc. Once I have my quilt quilted but before the binding I also stitch around the perimeter to keep all the layers together for when I put my binding on It also keeps whatever seams I have in my borders in check.
01-06-2016, 10:59 AM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,416
You could also back stitch a stitch or two to lock them. A friend of mine that is learning how to make a quilt has the same problem and its usually because we man handle our quilt so much between the sewing, pressing, connecting to each other, etc. At least this seems to be the problem for me when I have this issue.
01-06-2016, 11:08 AM
#40
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
Done. I found the sweet spot that is 11-12 stitches per inch and stuck a post it there to mark it. I am getting the impression that's the spot I want to use for most of my sewing anyway?
Most of the time, I'd agree. It's what I've done successfully for decades anyway.
I was thinking no matter how loosely I stitched my blocks, the quilting would hold everything together in the end. Wrong??
Not likely, as the stress of "living" on the seams will often make a block come apart. The way I look at it: piecing holds the blocks together; quilting holds the quilt together -- and -- adds decorative elements.
Most of the time, I'd agree. It's what I've done successfully for decades anyway.
I was thinking no matter how loosely I stitched my blocks, the quilting would hold everything together in the end. Wrong??
Not likely, as the stress of "living" on the seams will often make a block come apart. The way I look at it: piecing holds the blocks together; quilting holds the quilt together -- and -- adds decorative elements.
Thank you everyone for recent complimentary remarks about my responses. I have been away from posting for a while since major surgery in May followed by Mother's stroke in the fall. It's almost like I am back in class teaching again and I didn't realize how I had missed it! It's rewarding to know you all like my thoughts.
Last edited by Jan in VA; 01-06-2016 at 11:16 AM.
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