Hi everyone,

I have made three quilts in the past year and am getting ready to assemble the three layers for my fourth. I swear I spend more time smoothing out the top, pinning it (or spraying it), just to flip it over and see puckers. So I remove all the pins and try it again, this time from the back. Smooth it over and over again, pin it, flip it, and now I have them on the top side! I dread having to go through this step because I waste so much time pinning and unpinning. I don't trust the spray!

I have a nice flat working surface, I start in the middle, I keep flattening it out little by little, pinning as I go along, and I still cannot get the back to be as even as the top.

Should I just live with the puckers and hope they won't be noticed once the quilting's done? What am I doing wrong?

Thanks! Debbie

I used to tape my backing to the floor when I basted , then tape the batting, and the top seperately, becareful not to stretch it, just some masking tape in the corners, and in the middle of each side.
Now I baste at the table using rails, from a video I saw from Sharon Chambers(?) anyway, search youtube for hand basting, you'll bump into it.

I found this and it looks like it would work great: http://sewjournal.com/2010/09/18/bas...a-small-table/
Susie

I use masking tape & tape the "backing" to the floor. Then add batting -smoothing out wrinkles with your hands. Then add top smoothing it out & lining it up with backing. Then start pinning from center & work your way out to edges.

I have the same problem. I just read another post on the board (don't remember where) that suggested heavily starching the backing fabric to prevent wrinkles when quilting. I'm going to try it on a small project to see if it works.

that is exactly how i do it..except i layer the batting and then tape down the top too..then pin.

I use basically the same procedure except when smoothing the batting and top, I use the edge of a yardstick - it's easy to swish across the surface and smooth out the wrinkles instead of using my hand - covers more surface and less tendancy to stretch the material.

This is exactly how I do it too. I actually do it on my rug and I have the curved pins. I stick the pin through to the rug, then lift enough to pull the three layers away from the rug and then push back through and close. I actually only end up having to fix one or two pins that are stuck in the carpet ..... hehehe ..... :)

Rachel

Heavily starch the backing fabric and spray starch the top before layering. This will help to prevent puckers so much you won't believe it!

It depends on what kind of batting you're using. If you're using high loft, poly batting, it may be impossible to get no puckers when machine quilting just because of the puffiness. Use a flatter cotton batting like Warm & Natural. Definitely make sure you iron the top and backing FLAT. If it won't lay flat use starch - it can be a lifesaver if you let it sit a bit before ironing, it will take up slack areas by 20% or more. Then iron them flat taking care not to pull things out of place.
Then tape your backing down - making sure it is tight. Apply the batting, which you have let hang for a bit out of the package to de-wrinkle, and tape it down too making sure it is taught. Now place your IRONED top overtop and start pinning in the center. Don't pin too close together because it can distort the layers. When you're sewing, make sure you take out the pins before you get too close to them. And check often that the backing is taught and pull it taught if you need to. And if it's a tiny tuck - just keep sewing because only you will notice it's there.