Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • QUILTING QUESTION >
  • QUILTING QUESTION

  • QUILTING QUESTION

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 09-01-2007, 12:38 PM
      #1  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    BDor's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2007
    Location: o
    Posts: 376
    Default

    I am sewing strips and they do not lay flat but are wavy. What am I doing wrong?
    BDor is offline  
    Old 09-01-2007, 12:49 PM
      #2  
    joy
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Nov 2006
    Location: new zealand
    Posts: 769
    Default

    Are you stretching them when sewing... OR have you not cut the strips with the grain of the material going the same way...
    joy is offline  
    Old 09-01-2007, 01:03 PM
      #3  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    BDor's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2007
    Location: o
    Posts: 376
    Default

    JOY, I HAVE CUT THEM WITH THE GRAIN ALL THE SAME. IT MAY BE THAT I AM STRECHING THEM WHEN I SEW. WILL TRY TO WATCH THAT. THANKS
    BDor is offline  
    Old 09-01-2007, 02:04 PM
      #4  
    joy
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Nov 2006
    Location: new zealand
    Posts: 769
    Default

    You could quarter point each strip and then they would match at the same places... it is so easy to stretch strips, not meaning to... it is like sewing borders on quilts... they have to be quarter pointed and the quilt also.
    joy is offline  
    Old 09-01-2007, 02:10 PM
      #5  
    Senior Member
     
    pinecone's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2007
    Location: New England
    Posts: 821
    Default

    I alternate the starting end when sewing multiple strips. It seems to cut down on the tendency to twist. Good luck.

    piney
    pinecone is offline  
    Old 09-01-2007, 03:20 PM
      #6  
    Administrator
     
    patricej's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2006
    Location: Southeast Georgia, USA
    Posts: 9,133
    Default

    if they're wavy after you've sewn them together and pressed, it may be that the two different fabrics react differently to the heat of the iron - especially if you're using steam and/or spray starch.

    i take one each of the different strips i'm going to use over to the ironing board and test their reaction to pressing before i sew them together. if the fibres contract or expand when the spray starch hits them, i know to press all the strips of that particular fabric before i sew them with them.

    it's a pain and slows me down, but it takes less time than ripiting the strips apart to fix them.
    patricej is offline  
    Old 09-01-2007, 06:30 PM
      #7  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    BDor's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2007
    Location: o
    Posts: 376
    Default

    Thanks everyone for your tips. I am so glad I joined this group, everyone is so great to help. It's wonderful to have experienced quilters share their knowledge.

    Beverly
    BDor is offline  
    Old 09-02-2007, 07:52 AM
      #8  
    Suz
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Nov 2006
    Location: Central PA
    Posts: 1,920
    Default

    Once you have stitched two strips together, set the stitches by first pressing the stitches, then proceed to press the seam to one side or open. It also helps to press along a straight line. Think about using a pigma pen and draw a straight line on your ironing surface and making one edge of your strips align it.

    When cutting your fabrics, it is best to cut all in the same direction, i.e., either from selvage to selvage or lengthwise along the selvage. There is different stretch for each and may also be the cause of "wavy".

    Suzanne
    Suz is offline  
    Old 09-02-2007, 12:27 PM
      #9  
    Senior Member
     
    pinecone's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2007
    Location: New England
    Posts: 821
    Default

    Originally Posted by PatriceJ
    if they're wavy after you've sewn them together and pressed, it may be that the two different fabrics react differently to the heat of the iron - especially if you're using steam and/or spray starch.
    Good point. I am a wash before cutting person ~ many conversations have been had on this ~ just once too often I got caught. :( Besides, I am one of those odd ducks that actually likes to iron. :D

    piney
    pinecone is offline  
    Old 09-02-2007, 07:31 PM
      #10  
    Senior Member
     
    annmarie's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2007
    Location: Rhinelander, WI
    Posts: 868
    Default

    When cutting your fabrics, it is best to cut all in the same direction, i.e., either from selvage to selvage or lengthwise along the selvage. There is different stretch for each and may also be the cause of "wavy".

    Suzanne[/quote]

    Suzanne - thank-you for this very important reminder. I think it may solve BDor's problem & I definitely need to remember this.
    annmarie is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    ladybug45
    Main
    14
    08-01-2010 11:36 AM
    tortoisethreads
    Main
    15
    06-25-2010 06:33 PM
    gracie_r
    Main
    17
    09-02-2008 07:37 AM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter