! Quilting wonky Double Wedding Ring
 

I'm afraid I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I do longarm quilting, and I agreed to do this double wedding ring for a client. I did not look closely enough at it when she dropped it off, and when I was loading it on the longarm, I realized just how out-of-square the blocks are. You can see the excess fabric in some of the plain sections in this photo. How the heck do I quilt this?

She and I had agreed on an all-over design for it - I think she was scared off by the pricing on custom quilting. But now that I look at the whole thing laid out, I'm afraid that trying to pantograph this will just quilt pleats in all over the place. I can't do that. I'm thinking I need to call her, and suggest strongly that we go with a custom design - so that I can encourage the areas to lay nicely under the needle as I go, and avoid pleating. Any suggestions? And ideas for what type of motif might work best? I'm thinking light quilting, rather than heavy, to allow the excess room to "puff" between the stitching lines. Fortunately (I think), she chose a poly batting with a fair bit of loft, so that will hide some of the issues when it's done.

Help, please! I was hoping to start this today, and if I can't figure out a plan I'll have to unload the whole thing and put my next quilt on to avoid falling behind too far.

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Definitely call her and have an honest conversation about the problems you are facing and what needs done so the quilt finishes nicely. Do discuss pricing and if you feel that she doesn't want to pay the extra, offer to give it back so she could maybe find someone else. Customers don't always understand just how badly it will affect the quilt when they don't keep to a 1/4" seam! I know exactly those problems having just finished one my mother made many years ago....extra fabric, skimpy seams, huge seams, just a big mess. Took me forever to just decide on how to quilt it! You might want to add an extra layer of batting, to puff up into the areas of extra fabric. Maybe the old saying "less is more" would be a very good thing for this quilt? Good Luck!

I agree with the other posters. Don't do anything until you have contacted the customer. If you have to take the quilt off the frame, at least you have a good picture of the issue. While you are waiting, you can view my favorite long arm video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzoL7ddTEnA

PaperPrincess - thanks for posting that I really enjoyed it. I have noticed that usually it is the piecer not the quilter who says you can quilt that out!

PaperPrincess, thank you for that link! What a great video!

I don't understand why this person didn't fix these problems while she went along. It must have been obvious that the background pieces weren't fitting properly.

I have been criticized for trying to be accurate with my seams and piecing. After that video....I will always be careful even though I do my own long arm work. Not good, and mostly pantos, but as best as I can do. It is harder to work the extra in. I had it in one border. I still don't know how it happened, but I have been more careful after that.

Could you custom quilt it for the same price, if you do a lot less quilting as you suggested? I think that's what I would offer her.

When you have it on the frame are you floating that top? I pin the free motion side to the leaders, roll up to where I have basted down the batt, and use that line as a guide and then baste the top to that......then as I set it up, I can ease in any fullness better and I also use elasticed clamps on sides(3 per side) to keep all at same taunt ness.....also, if you set your speed a bit higher than you usually work at and slow down your movemen a bit, the stitching will ease in the fullness without puckers. I have one on now where she bordered her backing(8 inches)---- but it's not done correctly ( a bit ruffly). So when I pinned to leaders there was a sag in center....so I tucked in some used "practice" pieces(my little sandwiches to test stitches--- about the size of a diaper) under free motion side roller leader to take up slack...quilted that section....perfect! Now it is good...don't know what the last section will bring(another added on border)!

Thanks for your comments everyone. sewbizgirl, I think that is what I am going to do. I did a couple of sample pieces, to see how well I can quilt in fullness with a couple of designs. Had pretty good luck with a tight stipple, but still ended up with some pleats at the end. Geri, your suggestion might help me there. I also did an open design, which worked pretty well. Left some puffy areas, but no pleats.
So, I've sent off an email with a couple of photos, and I'll see what she comes back with.