Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • seams >
  • seams

  • seams

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 03-27-2007, 06:13 AM
      #1  
    Ina
    Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Mar 2007
    Posts: 4
    Default

    :?: I am new at quilting, and I have a problem. When I match seams together they never come out even. I have one seam facing one way and the other seam the other, I pin and then sew very slowly over the seams, but they never match when I get done. What am I doing wrong?
    Ina is offline  
    Old 03-27-2007, 06:59 AM
      #2  
    Senior Member
     
    Norah's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2006
    Posts: 659
    Default

    You are being a quilter, that's what. What, more specifically, do you mean? I can't picture your problem.
    Norah is offline  
    Old 03-27-2007, 07:10 AM
      #3  
    Junior Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2007
    Location: Wilmington, NC
    Posts: 282
    Default

    Maybe too much bulk with seams going one direction or not iron pressing your seams. Try pressing all seams open, with right sides together line up seam to seam. You can hold them together and kinda rub them back and forth between your fingers. You can feel a little bump when they match up. Pin at the seam not right to left. Also peek under it just to make sure it looks good. I would also pin at the beginning and the end. I hope this helps. :thumbup: :thumbup:
    Debbie Murry is offline  
    Old 03-27-2007, 07:18 AM
      #4  
    Super Member
     
    Yvonne's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2006
    Location: Camarillo, California
    Posts: 1,746
    Default

    Ina,
    Are you pinning with only one pin? Try putting a pin on both sides of the seam after you've butted them up against one another. I've just discovered some two pron pins. They look like a hair pin. Really neat!

    Be sure to iron your sections before you try to put them together. Big, big help! For awhile, I'd just sew the seam part, peek to see if it was okay and then sew the whole seam. Easier to rip just that little bit than the whole seam.

    Bottom line it's just going to take practice to see what works best for you. :-)
    Yvonne is offline  
    Old 03-27-2007, 01:02 PM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    zyxquilts's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Dec 2006
    Location: So. California
    Posts: 3,769
    Default

    Hi Ina - One other thing that helps me when matching corners & seams - it sounds like you are already 'nestling' them with one seam going one way & one the other...now when you sew, try to have the seams on top pointing toward your needle. That way when you sew over it, it will 'push' towards the other seam instead of pull away from it. Does that make sense? I know it isn't alway possible for them to lay that way, but it does help. I also use a sort of 3 pin method - first I line up the seams, and I 'stab' one pin thru' the seams, making sure I've got it right thru the seam on the bottom too. While that one is sticking there, I then put a pin on each side of it (or one of Yvonne's 2 pronged pins!), then remove the first 'stabbed' in pin. It does take a bit longer, but I'm usually happy with the results! (It's one of the few things I'm picky about when quilting - my first quilt, when I couldn't get them to match, I ended up stitching over the intersections by hand & THEN by machine! LOL NEVER again!!)
    sue
    [quote]
    zyxquilts is offline  
    Old 03-28-2007, 04:01 AM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    Knot Sew's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2006
    Location: NY
    Posts: 5,652
    Default

    I never use pins.....I mave sewed finger nails and finger tips........but I also had a needel break and fly into the base of my thumb while sewing over pins. I use safety pins and leave them open and they come out easy. sweep them up later :twisted:
    Knot Sew is offline  
    Old 03-28-2007, 04:48 AM
      #7  
    Senior Member
     
    Norah's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2006
    Posts: 659
    Default

    Ruthie, with this pin story and the razor, I think your fingers have a death wish. Or at least, a severe pain wish. You are one brave woman.
    Norah is offline  
    Old 03-28-2007, 05:48 AM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    vicki reno's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2007
    Location: North Carolina
    Posts: 2,423
    Default

    I too use the 3 pin method. If you worry about sewing over them, well, simply slide them out right before you get to them. So close to the needle, and especially if it is under the press foot, it shouldn't slip. If you have a walking foot, I sometimes use that when sewing blocks together, especially when I have sashing and it would look ugly for things not to line up. Or if possible decrease the press foot pressure, some of the newer machines let you do that. I had an old Kenmore that you could turn something at the top and it would decrease the pressure. Hope this helps! Hang in there and good luck.
    vicki reno is offline  
    Old 03-28-2007, 08:25 AM
      #9  
    Ina
    Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Mar 2007
    Posts: 4
    Default

    :lol: Thanks for all the suggestions on doing seams. I tried them all and I had better luck with the three pins set up. My seams look great now. I live just south of Seattle and would like to know where to buy the two pron pins. We are having lots of sun today so I am going to set in my sun porch and quilt, quilt quilt. Again thanks to all who helped me. I am sure I will have more problems later. Ina
    Ina is offline  
    Old 03-28-2007, 11:58 AM
      #10  
    Senior Member
     
    Carla P's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2007
    Location: MS
    Posts: 518
    Default

    Ok, I'm JEALOUS!!! I want to just sit & quilt, quilt, quilt.... :cry: :mrgreen:
    Carla P is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    craftybear
    Links and Resources
    1
    05-03-2011 08:49 AM
    craftybear
    Links and Resources
    9
    01-05-2011 01:10 PM
    Hunnybunny
    Main
    43
    03-06-2010 11:17 AM
    ArtquilterNEWWAYtoQUILT
    Main
    16
    12-11-2007 04:00 PM

    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