Why am I getting wavy edges on quilt?
#21
Alex Anderson told me a few yrs ago that sometimes the problem is a lot of quilting in the middle then less quilting on the edges or border. I know you don't have a border....in that case, I definately stay stitch the edges (no stretching when doing it either) Then measure thru center of quilt both ways and add binding.
The quilt I asked Alex about has to have the border taken off and start over from there, with lots of hand quilting. I'm just sick about that but I will eventually do it.
A quick fix for you is to put a rod pocket on the bottom and just get a dowel to flatten it out while it's hanging.
The quilt I asked Alex about has to have the border taken off and start over from there, with lots of hand quilting. I'm just sick about that but I will eventually do it.
A quick fix for you is to put a rod pocket on the bottom and just get a dowel to flatten it out while it's hanging.
#23
Measure across the middle of you quilt and cut the borders to fit that measurement. Ease any excess into that seam. Then measure the other way along the middle of your quilt and cut the border to that measurement and sew it on. Your measurement should be square after that.
#25
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
I have to disagree - and I apologize for using this particular posting to quote, but if you measure the center and make the borders that length all you are doing is stretching or easing the borders to fit that measurement. If the edges of your quilt are not the same as the center, your quilt is not square, and stretching or easing will only compound the problem -visually. You might ease the border, but then all you'll have is the center puckered into a border. The border might be straight - you've just moved the problem in to the center. You have to correct the problem of why the edge of quilt is not right. Do you have to just trim a bit? Or take a bit more of a seam in some of the pieces. But if the quilt doesn't lay flat before the borders added, it won't lay flat when the border is on.
#26
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Madison, Ohio
Posts: 226
I'll bet you're not using the "straight grain" of your fabric as the edge of your quilt. If you're cutting your fabric "WOF" (crossgrain) that will result in waves. A little more time consuming to cut on straight grain, but the results are well worth the effort.
#28
Question for all of you... if you have a quilt with no borders and will quilt it on a sit down machine do you all think this would help putting a stay stitch in to keep it from getting wavy. I'm almost done with a Farmer's Market and I'm fretting about quilting it.
#29
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: southeast iowa
Posts: 2,887
Thank you SO MUCH each and everyone of you for responding. I'm going to copy and print all of the suggestions and make a notebook for tips on helping me do my LA quilting. You girls are the greatest for taking time to answer this and it is much appreciated This board rocks I don't exactly know WHY it happened....but, I'll try to take preventitive measures for the next quilt. Thanks again, debby
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,061
Cutting borders on the lengthwise grain works better if you have enough fabric. The lengthwise grain stretches less than the crosswise grain. I also run a line of stitching around the whole edge of my quilt top so that even if it is handled a lot before it gets quilted it won't stretch.
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