Feeling like I've wasted so much time on this.
 

I can't figure out what has gone so terribly wrong. I haven't been quilting that long, but why aren't I getting better at it instead of worse? I usually pin base mine together and though my quilting skills are very beginnerish I have always managed to quilt something acceptable together. On this last one the back of it has puckers everywhere and I have just figured out the the quilt top really isn't flat enough to quit the way I wanted without making puckers on the front. I'm already done the stitch on the ditch part on the whole thing and it is just all to much to take out. I already took a bunch out once re pinbasted it and started over. I don't think the batting can handle it again. It is just awful. It's a chevron quilt. I've made one before and love the first one so much I made another. I think the biggest difference is that on the first one I cut every thing myself. This one I bought layer cakes and assumed everything was the same size and maybe it wasn't. That would explain the front, but not the back. And because its toward the end of the whole thing how many hours of my life have I wasted? First of all, I will never buy layer cakes again. And I think I need to consult utube again about how to pin baste. I really hate this quilt.

I should come on here more often instead of just when I have quilting problems.

I am so sorry you are having such problems. I do know precuts are often not accurately cut, so that is probably what made your top not lie flat. Bias edges on pieces can also stretch, causing problems. Puckers on the back can be avoided by making sure the backing fabric is smoothed out really flat and taped securely around the edges before layering and pinning or thread basting. You are not alone--we have all been there, and we all hate ripping out as much as you do. Have done it many times before, will have to rip out many times in the future. All we can do is try not to repeat mistakes by learning from them.

Where do you pin baste? Is it on a table? On the floor? How close together do you pin? Do you have any pictures you can post?

When I baste my quilts I do it on my cutting table and i use the spray glue and pins. (I do both if I am not sure how quickly it will be quilted). But my table is my cutting table and about 6 feet long and 30 inches wide. So I baste it in sections. Also, it goes so much better if I have help, but that isn't always the case, it is just easier. (I do wear a face mask when I spray.) It really is the glue that keeps it from puckering for me.

Maybe you should try the Elmer's School Glue basting, for future quilts. It's easy and keeps everything nice and smooth.

Just a crazy idea but if the back of this one is really upsetting you, I would consider covering it with a blanket. Since the layers are already quilted, you could attach the blanket layer, with ties or tacking. It'll end up being a much warmer quilt but sometimes that's a good thing. :)

I pin the quilt back to the carpet with straight pins very tightly to avoid puckers. This quilt had pins about every five inches or so.

Not a bad idea, but I don't think I want to invest money on a blanket for this quilt at this point I hate it that much.

I feel your pain. I made a French braid quilt and "forgot" I would have all those bias edges. It kept growing when I was basting the sandwich! I ended up quilting the "begeesus" out of it with a tight meander and once it was washed it was less awful.

It gets better with time. ONe thought is to starch your fabric real good. I"ve learned that the hard way. I make my own starch and it seems to not stretch the fabric too much. I used to pin, but have resorted to elmers glue to baste my 3 layers together. The trick is to not put your glue too heavy. I usually do swirls with my point of the glue on the fabric. I also watered it down a little and have used a brush to put it on. Don't give up though. It gets better. Also invest in some rubber gloves when stitching. I buy the cheap ones from Harbor freight, they hug my hands and don't shift.

How about covering the back with an inexpensive sheet? You could even make a duvet cover out of it. :)

To prevent puckers on the back when you machine quilt, I highly recommend *heavily* starching the backing before you layer. I mix a 1:1 solution of Sta-Flo liquid laundry starch and water, apply to the fabric using a large wall painting brush (very fast and easy), wait a couple of minutes to make sure the fabric fibers have absorbed the starch, toss in the dryer, then iron with steam. This stiffens and stabilizes the backing so it is unlikely to bunch up or pucker while you are maneuvering the quilt under the arm of the machine.

It's a good idea to also use a few layers of spray starch on the top -- again, to stabilize the top. You would know at that point if it's not going to lie flat. When a top doesn't lie flat, it can help to use a medium loft batting (such as Hobbs 80/20 or Hobbs Polydown), keeping your quilting lines a little farther apart.

I also recommend using Elmer's glue for the basting process.