mamabird3

Today I was sewing sashing on to a row of blocks I put together.
When I finished sewing a few rows I noticed that the sashing looked horrible. The rows and and the sashing do not lay flat once sewn together. I know I haven't explained this well, but my camera is down and I can't take a picture.

How so I prevent this from happening? Would starching the sashing first help? I don't want sew the other rows on until I fix and figure out why this happens.

Thanks for you help.

amma

I find that starch really helps my sashing, borders and piecing. :D:D:D

sdparent

cut your sashing on the lengthwise grain and starch helps too!

CAROLJ

This may help, when sewing long pieces sew each piece in opposite directions. When you sew everthing in the same direction it will wave and cup. It's sorta like mowing a lawn, you go up, then back down.

Charlee

Are you meaning that you're getting "ruffled" or puckered seams? I get that too sometimes....especially with my 201-2. I've adjusted tension, (Both top and bobbin), I've changed needles, I've rethreaded...doesn't help. Seems that the finer the fabric, the more it happens...

I'll be interested in the answer!

nativetexan

I also pin the ends, the center and in between too.

martha jo

It definitely helps to pin in the middle and several places along toward ends. If you just start sewing from the top, it will stretch and pucker. The same goes for binding.

Prism99

Do you mean that the blocks in the rows do not line up? If so, here's a method I posted in the tutorial section:

It is very easy to keep your blocks aligned when using sashing strips, even if you don't use cornerstones.

Create your rows as usual, with a sashing strip between each block. Add sashing to the bottom of your first row of blocks. Turn this row to the wrong side and using a pencil and ruler, mark every block seam on the wrong side of the bottom sashing strip.

When you add your next row of sashed blocks, pin first so that each new block seam aligns with a mark on the sashing strip. If you have a little excess fabric in a block, ease that block to fit the sashing. If the sashing has a little excess fabric in it, ease the sashing to the block.

The pencil marks take the place of cornerstones so that when you are finished, all of your blocks are lined up from row to row.

mamabird3

Thank you for the replies. Lining up is not the problem. It is the stretching and puckering look. I've never been big on pinning but I guess I need to do that. I will incorporate all of your suggestions and let you know how it goes.

Thanks again..

Minda

Try using your walking foot when you are sewing long seams, and pinning is also good. I use my walking foot for almost all of my sewing. It eliminates stretching of the fabric.