Sewing in one direction causes bows?

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05-02-2011, 03:26 PM

#81

cbuchanan

Senior Member

Join Date: Jun 2008

Location: Johns Creek, GA

Posts: 321

Quote:

Originally Posted by woohoowendy

I think after cutting the thread, pressing, going downstairs to get coffee, answering the phone, picking up scraps off the floor . . . . . I will SURELY forget which direction I was sewing when sewing a whole bunch of strips.

Does anyone have an easy method for remembering which direction you sewed each strip?

Should I just use a perm. marker to mark an arrow in the seam allowance at the start of each strip? Or maybe there's an even easier solution . . . . please post any ideas.

Thanks!

Don't cut the threads off where you start. That will tell you which end you started on. Once you start the next seam, then clip the thread off. I do the same thing when I do stitch in the ditch. I alternate which side of the quilt I start from for the same reason. I don't know if it makes that much difference when quilting, but I don't take a chance with it.

05-02-2011, 08:01 PM

#82

Marvel

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: eastern Oklahoma

Posts: 1,873

Hey there! Hon as long as I have been quilting this is a new one for me. I will have to read all the answers and learn with you.Love from Ok.

05-02-2011, 10:42 PM

#83

woohoowendy

Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: Portland, Oregon

Posts: 18

Followup note from WOOHOOWENDY ---- Thank you and hugs to all you lovely people with the great tips to help me REMEMBER which direction I was stitching each row, if interrupted. You are all so kind to offer your ideas after I posted my question earlier in this thread.
Thanks again to all you talented people. And happy stitching!

Wendy
(AKA "woohoowendy")

05-03-2011, 03:03 PM

#84

Pat M.

Senior Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: NM

Posts: 989

I think it has something to do with the grain of the fabric, cross wise it will stretch and length wise should not stretch.
So, that's why you sew one way and then sew the other way for the next strip if you use WOF cuts. Just remember Sew up, Sew down and use a pin to remind yourself where you stopped sewing. I hope I did not confuse anyone.

05-05-2011, 06:05 AM

#85

lue

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: Seattle, WA

Posts: 1,150

I sew the two strips together and continue sewing the additional strips (without breaking the thread) so that I have one continuous line of two strips sewn together. When I have that finished, I cut the threads holding all the two strips together, place them in the NEW direction and start back in the other direction sewing the 3rd strip. If I'm doing strip piecing, I continue doing this until all are done. I learned this the hard way when putting my first quilt together--a Twisted Bargello. Unfortunately, because I didn't know this my Bargello "twisted before its time!"