Please help me. I have a mess.
03-23-2011, 05:39 AM
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Lake Wales, FL, USA
Posts: 1,554
I agree with all of the previous posts.
1. Your backing wasn't stretched taut to begin with and starching it will help control puckers and slide through the machine easier.
2. Spray baste or use pins to tack more closely than you did.
3. Loosen the pressure on your presser foot.
4. Increase your stitch length. Quilting is quite a bit bigger stitches than sewing
5. Practice on a scrap before loading the real deal but preferably a scrap made of the same stuff as the real deal.
1. Your backing wasn't stretched taut to begin with and starching it will help control puckers and slide through the machine easier.
2. Spray baste or use pins to tack more closely than you did.
3. Loosen the pressure on your presser foot.
4. Increase your stitch length. Quilting is quite a bit bigger stitches than sewing
5. Practice on a scrap before loading the real deal but preferably a scrap made of the same stuff as the real deal.
03-23-2011, 05:47 AM
#22
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 255
Like CKCOWL said, the walking foot is not a magic cure-all. It can only work like it is designed to, on a properly prepared base.
I have one, but am not impressed with it. I can do just as well with regular foot.
You might find your foot pressure is too heavy for the thickness of a quilt sandwich.
Longer stitches tend to look neater, too.
Check your bobbin, again. Sounds like the bobbin tension is not correct.
I have one, but am not impressed with it. I can do just as well with regular foot.
You might find your foot pressure is too heavy for the thickness of a quilt sandwich.
Longer stitches tend to look neater, too.
Check your bobbin, again. Sounds like the bobbin tension is not correct.
03-23-2011, 06:28 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,916
Originally Posted by greenini
You might also try starching your back before you rebaste. I just did a lap size on my machine using a kind of stiff material that was also starched. Not a wrinkle in sight! Good luck
And I also like the basting spray.
And I also like the basting spray.
03-23-2011, 08:49 AM
#25
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
Originally Posted by p38flygirl
I agree...Please re do your quilt sandwich and use any brand of quilt basting spray..Remember to do a sample first...Also use a walking foot...
Be sure to baste thoroughly and in both directions, side-to-side, and use a walking foot to avoid having your quilting stitch "push" the layer of fabric forward.
Jan in VA
03-23-2011, 01:15 PM
#26
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6
I appreciate all the advice. I will definitely rebaste and try again. I used two boards when I basted it so it would be tight. I'll try to tape it down this time and also use the basting spray.
I have a couple of questions. How can I set the pressure on the walking foot? Is the "tension" the same as the "pressure" on the foot? I have the tension set at "1". I have a dial that controls tension, but I don't see any other setting for pressure. Also, how would I control the bobbin tension? My machine is a Brother with a Disney emblem. It has a drop in bobbin with a case that doesn't normally come out. I take the bobbin case out when I clean the lint out. Does the little screw on the bobbin case affect the bobbin tension?
I hope these questions don't sound too dumb. I have gotten some great advice and I appreciate it so much.
I have a couple of questions. How can I set the pressure on the walking foot? Is the "tension" the same as the "pressure" on the foot? I have the tension set at "1". I have a dial that controls tension, but I don't see any other setting for pressure. Also, how would I control the bobbin tension? My machine is a Brother with a Disney emblem. It has a drop in bobbin with a case that doesn't normally come out. I take the bobbin case out when I clean the lint out. Does the little screw on the bobbin case affect the bobbin tension?
I hope these questions don't sound too dumb. I have gotten some great advice and I appreciate it so much.
03-23-2011, 01:42 PM
#27
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
When I took a quilting class, we took a sample sandwich and drew lines across it at 1" intervals marking each with a number starting with 1. Then we set the tension to 1 and sewed from the first line across to the second line. There, we changed the tension to 2 and sewed from line 2 to line 3. And so on. At the end, we took the sample out and looked at the front and the back to see which tension worked best.
As for your problem: I think too that the backing is not taut enough and therefore, the sandwich is too loose. You may want to use the walking foot and make the stitch length longer. At least 3 or 3.5mm.
As for your problem: I think too that the backing is not taut enough and therefore, the sandwich is too loose. You may want to use the walking foot and make the stitch length longer. At least 3 or 3.5mm.
03-23-2011, 02:11 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Edgewater, FL
Posts: 924
I agree with everything here. Wondering if you taped your backing down when you sandwiched everything so that the backing was tight before you started. It looks like you have too much fabric. If you don't want to take it apart, you might be able to just tie it and check it up to experience. It's difficult to tell by just looking at the picture.
Originally Posted by earthwalker
Hello - I'm no super expert, when it comes to machine quilting, however, this is how I would proceed - unpick what you have done and put your quilt aside for a little. From what I can see, it looks like your stitch length is really small, from what you describe, your tension is in need of adjustment. Make up a "play" sandwich using similar thickness fabrics and battings to your quilt...then mess about with that and get it spot on before putting that quilt near the machine (this will save much hair tearing and unpicking). You may wish to check your walking foot is fitted/engaged properly and that your machine is lint free, threaded correctly and good to go. Walking feet are not designed for speed, so maybe that could be an issue, and let the machine do the work, don't pull the fabric through, just guide with your hands. Work from the middle out and smooth and check the underside as you go (sorry, I'm not very good with describing sometimes!).
I am sure other board members will be able to help, so persevere...and happy quilting.
I am sure other board members will be able to help, so persevere...and happy quilting.
03-23-2011, 02:22 PM
#29
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Front row
Posts: 14,646
I have to make the backing tight, not taunt, TIGHT! when I machine quilt. I have it almost like a drum when I baste it and I never have puckers or wrinkles. My big quilts, I have a LA baste them for me and I get too much fullness because the backing isn't basted tight enough. I have to smooth the backing out as I machine quilt it. I have never gotten it too tight to distort, it's all I can do to get it tight enough.
03-23-2011, 02:24 PM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Lake Wales, FL, USA
Posts: 1,554
The dial with numbers on it is your thread tension and should probably be set at 3 or 4 but it varies with the type of thread you're using.
Presser foot pressure is a knob on top of your machine--usually above the presser foot & takeup lever area. Not all machines have a knob to adjust the pressure. Those that don't have to be adjusted manually which is more than you want to try.
Bobbin thread tension is set with the tiny screw on the bobbin case. Tiny little turns make big differences so you may want to mark what it is factory set it now with a marker or fingernail polish before you change it.
My advice for now is to make a small practice sandwich, preferably with the same materials as the real quilt. Change your upper thread tension to 3 and lengthen your stitch length. Spray, pin and/or thread baste your practice sandwich--don't forget to starch the backing first & tape it down taut--and then just play with the upper thread tension & stitch length until you're happy with it. You might also want to try without the walking foot. It's possible that your walking foot is applying too much pressure to the sandwich especially if you don't have an adjustment knob.
Presser foot pressure is a knob on top of your machine--usually above the presser foot & takeup lever area. Not all machines have a knob to adjust the pressure. Those that don't have to be adjusted manually which is more than you want to try.
Bobbin thread tension is set with the tiny screw on the bobbin case. Tiny little turns make big differences so you may want to mark what it is factory set it now with a marker or fingernail polish before you change it.
My advice for now is to make a small practice sandwich, preferably with the same materials as the real quilt. Change your upper thread tension to 3 and lengthen your stitch length. Spray, pin and/or thread baste your practice sandwich--don't forget to starch the backing first & tape it down taut--and then just play with the upper thread tension & stitch length until you're happy with it. You might also want to try without the walking foot. It's possible that your walking foot is applying too much pressure to the sandwich especially if you don't have an adjustment knob.
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