Uneven pieces after sewing
#1
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Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 2
Uneven pieces after sewing
I am cutting squares the same size. I am able to match them easily and they are exactly the same size...and then I see them together. The top piece ends up stretching so by the end of the peice, it is significantly longer than the bottom piece! It is driving me nutty. Using a Brother PQ1500SL with a walking foot. Please share your wisdom!
#3
Try using a regular quarter-inch quilting foot instead of a walking foot. What stitch length are you using? A very tight stitch might be making the bottom fabric gather up a bit rather than the top one stretching. Are you pinning them together? If you haven't been, try that as well.
#4
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Central Ia
Posts: 1,120
A walking foot is not needed for piecing, a walking foot is used when sewing 3 pieces(Backing, batting and top together) I recommend using a 1/4 inch foot while paying special attention when nearing the end of the seam, some machines have a tendency to veer left. Maybe need to loosen the pressure foot tension that feeds the top fabric. Not familiar with the Brother 1500 not sure if it has the ability to adjust foot tensions. My Pfaff does not.
#5
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Asheville, previously Lake Vermilion, Tarpon Springs, Duluth, St Paul, Soudan
Posts: 1,651
This is what I would do if facing this situation:
I would take off the walking foot and replace it with a straight stitch foot or, if you have one, a 1/4”foot. I only use my walking foot for straight line machine quilting and attaching the binding. Then I would take out my pins, and pin the edges if they are large squares. If the squares are small, a stiletto (or your seam ripper) can be used to hold the two fabrics even at the end of the seam. This can also help keep the seam allowance straight.
Check your stitch length, and use the length recommended in yiur manual. Mine is about 2.5 for piecing
It is not unusual to need to readjust the ends of the fabrics to keeo them in line. Fabric isn’t wood or concrete. Pins can be your friend, just don’t sew over them.
I would take off the walking foot and replace it with a straight stitch foot or, if you have one, a 1/4”foot. I only use my walking foot for straight line machine quilting and attaching the binding. Then I would take out my pins, and pin the edges if they are large squares. If the squares are small, a stiletto (or your seam ripper) can be used to hold the two fabrics even at the end of the seam. This can also help keep the seam allowance straight.
Check your stitch length, and use the length recommended in yiur manual. Mine is about 2.5 for piecing
It is not unusual to need to readjust the ends of the fabrics to keeo them in line. Fabric isn’t wood or concrete. Pins can be your friend, just don’t sew over them.
Last edited by Krisb; 05-20-2018 at 09:28 AM.
#6
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,649
Maybe try sewing them together without a walking foot?
On the older machines, the feed dogs would move the bottom layer "faster" than the top layer, so one had to "outsmart" the machine so that the layers would feed the same.
One "trick" was to hold the fabric "up" before it got to the needle, so that the bottom layer would go "faster" than the top layer.
Is that clear as mud?
On the older machines, the feed dogs would move the bottom layer "faster" than the top layer, so one had to "outsmart" the machine so that the layers would feed the same.
One "trick" was to hold the fabric "up" before it got to the needle, so that the bottom layer would go "faster" than the top layer.
Is that clear as mud?
#8
The feed dogs are usually the culprit. Their purpose is to pick up the piece and keep it moving through the seam process.
I have one machine that feeds evenly, and four that don't
If you are doing block size seams hold the bottom ends together and they will feed nicely
On longer seams pin the start and end, and while they are laying nice and flat there add a few more pins so when you let go just drop down to the next pin and so on.
Once you recognize the problem you won't need pins.
Welcome to the board and quilting Amy!!
I have one machine that feeds evenly, and four that don't
If you are doing block size seams hold the bottom ends together and they will feed nicely
On longer seams pin the start and end, and while they are laying nice and flat there add a few more pins so when you let go just drop down to the next pin and so on.
Once you recognize the problem you won't need pins.
Welcome to the board and quilting Amy!!
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