I have been quilting for years but I am a better piecer than quilter. So here is the issue.......When I quilt (not fmq), I tend to get the one awful looking stitch after I pivot a corner. I try to make sure that I am not pulling too much and that the fabric is laying flat.

Any advise?

Hmm, I honestly don't see what you are referring to. Your stitches look good to me.

it looks like what I do when I go past the 1/4" mark I am trying to follow I think you are looking too close to the quilt. I had to look pretty hard to see the stitch maybe mark the corners with a pin to mark 1;4" were you need to pivot. I like your quilting you do a great job!

Hmmm, no clue! Could it be your machine? I'm a better piecer, too. Tried fmq for the first time a few days ago, was AWFUL. I threw the sample in the rabbit cage to be chewed and peed on. Hand appliquéd for the rest of the weekend. I know it takes practice, and I got great advice and support from this board. Your problem surely has an easier and more immediate remedy. The board will come through! Btw, like your quilt, pretty!

Personally I think your are being to hard on yourself. But if it bothers you maybe by each corner mark it so you know where to stop.

the dreaded extra stitch. i know it well. :lol:

the good news is that nobody will ever notice or worry about it but you.

the better news is that if it's only one stitch too many, and you notice it before you start stitching the next section of your line, it's fairly easy to fix.

slow down as you approach the pivot point. if necessary, do one stitch at a time for the last quarter inch or so. if your machine doesn't have a reliable needle up/down button, do it manually by turning the wheel in the proper direction.

make sure to stop stitching with the needle down.

life the presser foot, pivot the fabric, put the foot back down.

if you realize you are one stitch too far, manually back the needle up out of the sandwich to undo the extra stitch. carefully reposition the quilt. manually lower the needle so that it goes down in the correct spot. manually turn the wheel to bring the needle all the way down and then back up to complete that stitch.

proceed.

Patrice knows! Perfect answer there for you!

someone once told me if you can't see it while riding by on a galloping horse, then it's fine. and by the way, your table runner is really nice, and I think it looks just fine!

Couldn't have said it better!

your table runner is really pretty!

I have had that problem with my new machine. I've never had the needle down option before and I keep expecting it to stop immediately, but it goes one more stitch. With my older machine, I always hand turned the last couple of stitches, so why didn't I think of it on my new machine???

I think you did a great job, IMHO if it continues to bother you just toss it in the washing machine, after it comes out of the dryer, I don't think you'll be able to tell where the extra stitch is. If it still bothers you after washing it, I think sending it to me would be an excellent idea :) :) :) I won't mind the pivot stitch at all LOL Really Michelle it's a lovely table runner.

Are you leaving the needle in the fabric when you lift the presser foot to pivit?

Agree, she did explain it so nicely!

Excellent explanation :thumbup: :thumbup: I know what I want to say but takes me forever to put it in words...

I agree with Patrice. I have noticed too that if the need IS DOWN and you pivot on that, don't pivot quite as much. It almost looks as if you pivoted slightly too far and your next line of stitching looks slightly thinner. Very pretty piece. Nice quilting for sure.

are you using your foot to measure where your seam was? I do. when i pivot, i put the pressure foot back down and see if my foot i'm using is in the right place or not. if not, i raise it again and take one more stitch if necessary.
also when pivoting, make sure you line up your block straight again. that seems to be your problem in your photo. just not lined up right when you begin stitching.
good luck.

Mark your pivot points with a wash-out dot before you start the quilting. Aim for that dot. And follow Patrice's other advice!

Jan in VA

What Patrice said!.... :D

The points on your tablerunner are not 90 degree corners like you would have on a quilt binding. You have not allowed for the larger angle and that's why they do not lay flat. Check out quilt how to's on turning that type of miter. Moosegirl

Everything has been explained so well, but these two steps are quite important to follow all the time:

Make sure to stop stitching with the needle DOWN, then

Lift the presser foot, pivot the fabric, put the foot back down.

Personally I also like to move the machine wheel by hand when approaching the corner and the pivot point, and then when proceeding to sew. I like to know where each stitch is going until I get past the critical corner area.

Pam M

Great colors, great work, don't worry be happy!!

Yes, exactly. I think so too.

I know with my machine that I can press a button to have the needle to stop with the needle in the fabric or out of the fabric. If I choose for it to finish in the fabric, then it will make that last stich to stay within the fabric...does this makes sense? Is this the reason for that extra little stich I think I see in your picture? If it is then perhaps you need to play around and alter your stich length to keep it to the finish you want? Not sure but that is what I sometimes need to do with my machine. It is not that noticeable but I understand that it is annoying sometimes especially when you pride yourself in doing things 'properly'. Best wishes.

if you have a machine that has a needle button - my Esante es2 does - it goes one extra stich when you stop....so I have to make my self stop early

but to be honest, I didn't know what you were talking about until I saw the post on the extra step and then looked really really hard at the picture

Hi Michelle,
I have learned to count the stitches past the design. I know it takes my machine six stitches and then it is perfect to turn. I would make up a little test patch and count how many it takes your machine to get to the quarter inch mark. That way you are sure it is right and you won't get your bump.

It also could be that after you've take that extra stitch, you're trying too hard to get back onto the 1/4" line that you're following immediately after taking the corner. Why not ease back into that 1/4" line rather than immediately going there. Does that make sense?

Yes.

Another thing you could do is mark all your corners, before starting to sew, then follow those lines when you sew.

Very pretty table runner.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Beautiful tablerunner!

Same here!

Same here!

Did you make a small pleat (fold) at the corners for the extra material needed? Looks great otherwise

Looks fine to me. Only thing I can think to do if you are not happy with it is to make sure your needle is in the fabric when you pivot.

I see no wrong it's only u want it so perfect
My father used to encouraging me and mother before me and tell it's the beauty of hand made.
May be because u look to up side pic ;)

It looks like you are going 1 stitch to far, maybe just make a little mark where to stop for the turn. Honestly, would not have noticed if you didn't point it out though. Great job!!

I believe Patrice said it best.. I can't add anymore other than I think your table runner is very pretty, and the color choices wonderful!

Your tablerunner is gorgeous. I have found that we as quilters are too hard on ourselves. You did a great job.

Nine out of ten, unless you tell some one, no one but you is going to know about the stitch. Don't drive yourself nuts over a stitch.