eparys

When I first started with my Voyager 17, I had the thought that if I had the side tensioners tight, the quilting would be "flatter". I found that yes, inconsistencies in the middle of the quilt might be flat but the edge of the quilt was sometimes wavy. If I have no border, I stay stitch the edge and when I have a border/borders the outer most border is always on the length of fabric if I have enough fabric to do so. I now "float my top", basting the edges tog before each pass and I do that before tensioning the sides.

It is all a learning process - there is so much to learn and remember - it takes a while. Good luck with your machine!!

Jackie Spencer

When I have bias edges around the outside of my quilt, I always stitch 1/4 in. all the way around my quilt. I also do that if I have wide borders. I don't have a LA, so I have to send my quilts out. I have gotten quilts back where the borders were a little distorted, and they were'nt before the quilting.

PaperPrincess

Another thing that may have caused a bit of stretch is pinning the quilt too tightly to the leaders, and/or putting too much tension when attaching the side clamps. If you watch quilting videos, the pros have quite a bit of slack in the quilt.

Vat

One of the best things I have started doing is starching. I starch every piece of fabric before I cut. This solves lots of problems, before you get to the binding. And not just a manufactured spray starch, it doesn't give the fabric enough body. I use Sta-Flo (buy at Walmart), I mix it half with water, then spray my water-dampened fabric with the starch and iron DRY. Then start cutting out my quilt. I think if you will try this method you will be amazed and will love it. It does take a little extra time but well worth it.

jitkaau

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.

duckydo

check out Bonnie Hunters's web site quiltville.com and check out how she puts boarders on, it also works for measuring your binding

canuckninepatch

This is a super tip that should really stabilize the edges of your quilt.

maviskw

Now don't send those quilt police my way, but I always STRETCH my binding as I'm putting it on. At least a little.

The quilt I'm working on now is quite non-traditional. It has a double knit back and the same double knit squares in the top with other cottons. Just some fabric I wanted out of the house and it will be donated. I used pieces of batting, and machine quilted it in a large meander to keep these in place.

I will stretching this binding quite a bit to make the knit behaves.

sherryl1

you do need to baste the side of your quilt as you advance it.you need a pink centering tape.it goes on the front of your frame and as you advance the quilt,it allows you to line the sides of the quilt with the same measurement everytime.keeping the sides straight.then befor you quilt after advancing,look side to side and see if the quilt "appears"straight.if it looks straight,it probably is.there is so much on u-tube that can help you.just put in "long arm quilting".longarming is hard.but relax and enjoy it.

janeknapp

If the quilt was not evenly stitched over the whole quilt, the outside edges may be wavy. You may need to add more stitching near the outer edges. Since your quilt is done, there is no going back and using the excellent suggestions for "in the future" although blocking your quilt could help.

This happened to me only once and I hope I have learned my lesson. I had already put on the binding. I removed the binding. By hand I took needle and thread and did a slight gathering along the binding edge by stitching for three inches...pulling slightly to gather and then an overhand stitch 2-3 times to "lock" the gathering...stitch three more inches...repeat. I was able to cut six inches off the binding when I rebound the quilt. Maybe this could work for you. Good luck!