coldquilter

Ok, I hate to keep asking questions and be the local pain...... I asked the question about keeping a quilt square about a week or so ago and someone gave me the good idea to use some cheap painters tape on the rollers to keep an eye on what the quilt did as I rolled it. Great advice, sorry I don't remember names well so don't remember who said it. Anyway, I put another quilt on yesterday and was working on it tonight and put the tape in place and what is happening is that the farther down the quilt I go, the middle is shrinking in. Does anyone have any helpful ideas on this? I would imagine it was my problem all along but I didn't realize it without the tape in place. I have not been doing this very long so it is a learning stage right now and I don't really have anyone else to ask so I really, really appreciate all your help. I always try to answer other questions that I can from other beginners hoping to make some points for all my dumb questions. One thing that I thought of, not sure if it makes a difference on the long arm if the selvage is running lengthwise or across the top and bottom. This is something that I have done different on a few quilts and some have mysteriously worked out better than others and so wondering if it might have something to do with it. All good fabric that I am using. Thanks so much in advance. Can't wait for advice.

Rose L

If I understand correctly... when you roll your quilt are you checking the ends (or sides)of it to make sure that they are rolling directly on top of each other? It's something you have to keep an eye on when you roll. I make about a half roll and then run my hands along the backing on the take up roller to make sure that the edges are rolling on top of each other as I go. If it gets too far off I grab onto the ends and give them a pull until they are back in place. I roll tightly too and watch the lines of the piecing to make sure they are not getting skewered and stay in line with the rails. I just eyeball it to make sure it looks even as I go. Hope this answers your question but if I've misunderstood just give me a holler.

Xtgirl

Did you measure your quilt before putting it on...a lot of times the quilt will be a bit bigger on the ends than the center. Do you baste down the sides before quilting as you roll. That helps... I may go ahead and put measuring tapes on both my leaders. I tried the painters tape and it helped me eyeball it, but if you want to make sure it's staying consistently the same all the way through the quilt, remeasuring and basting it to that measurement as you go may be a good idea.

dunster

I'm wondering why you mentioned the selvage, since it should be cut off before piecing.

Peckish

Are you saying that as you quilt it, it's shrinking?

ckcowl

if it is (pulling up in the center) while quilting --to an extent that is normal- just like doing embroidery & applique---as you quilt the fabric (draws up) some---which is why the backing/batting needs to be larger than the top-
if it is a big problem---a couple things === is your backing pieced? do you have one seam running vertically down the center? if that is the way it is loaded with each turn of the bar the center is building 4 layers of (bulk) compared to the one layer on each side---when possible seams should be horizontal so they lay flat & even along the bar.
also-about the direction of the fabric-
the lengthwise grain has less stretch than the cross width---so i can make a difference if the salvages are top & bottom (crosswise grain) or side to side (lengthwise grain) going up & down do a (pull test) & see which direction your fabric stretches most in---salvages should be removed though---they are a tighter weave and effect the (lay of the fabric)

chrisqlt

I used painter's tape to attach measuring tapes to both ends of my table and it is so worth it to take that few minutes and have them on there! It really helps me keep the quilt square as it gets quilted. I advance, measure to each side edge, baste the sides and go! Some quilts I even baste across the bottom edge as low as the bar allows the machine to go. Then I am quilting in a defined basted down rectangle and everything in it behaves pretty well. I also jot down the number the tape hits at the left side edge and right side edge then I know at the next roll what it is supposed to be hitting. It's been one of the best helps to me since I started Longarming.

coldquilter

Rose - yes, I am watching the sides as I roll, the problem being both sides are seeming to move in towards the middle. When I try to pull the sides out, it obvioiusly doesn't work as both sides are in about equal amounts. Almost as though the quilt itself is shrinking inwards. I measured before putting on the la and it was very equal in width measurements.

CoyoteQuilts

Do you have tension on your sides? Some type of clamp on your fabric that has elastic or velcro that is stretched to your frame to each side..... The clamps can be anything from skirt hangers to expensive ones made just for this purpose.

JUNEC

If it is a new LA I would ask the person you purchased it from to have a look at what is happening