Buckeye Rose

I have a janome 6600 and have been doing fmq on a memory quilt. I was given a fusible poly batting (not my choice) and I couldn't seem to get it to fuse....just seemed to compress the fibers. So I just basted the sandwich together using glue. Next I SITD around all the squares with the walking foot. When I started the fmq thr problems started...skipping stitches. And now I find some sticky stuff on the needle. I am thinking both issues are related to the fusible part of the batting. Does anyone have suggestions to fix this problem? Do you think I could "gently" wash the quilt and get rid if the sticky fusible stuff? TIA....Rose.

Prism99

If it's fusible on the needle, I think your best bet is to wipe down the needle frequently with rubbing alcohol (to clean the gunk off the needle). Worth a try, anyway.

I don't think washing a quilt will get rid of the fusible. Basting spray, yes. Fusible, no.

Tartan

I have only used Hobbs 80/20 fusible batt and have had good luck with it. I didn't know they made a polyester fusible. How is it fused? Is it water solvable that it can be washed out?
If you have already stitched the blocks, I would stitch around all the quilt edges before washing it.

QuiltE

ITA with Prism to wipe your needle periodically with rubbing alcohol. I keep some of the individually packaged swabs in my sewing room, just for that sort of thing. Not a lot of alcohol on each and don;t have to worry about a spill from a bottle.

Also, consider changing your needle to something sharper than what you are currently using. Also, a larger needle. One or both, might be what you need to have the ability to "punch" thru the fusible and make a difference.

Prism99

If it's this batting: http://www.joann.com/fusible-polyest...prd_06194716a/
then the fusible is water soluble. I think you could test by wiping your needle down with water to see if it takes the gunk off. If it does, then *maybe* soaking the quilt in the bathtub (since you have already done SITD around all the squares) would dissolve the fusible on the batting. If trying this, I would use a lot of water in the tub, and I would dry the quilt by laying it flat (on a large flat sheet) and putting a fan on it.

PaperPrincess

Before doing anything with the whole quilt, I would try washing a small scrap of batting to see if the fusible will wash out or not.

QuiltE

I wouldn't wash it ... some of the quilting is already done, and you could have a real mess on your hands!

Instead try the needle switch I suggested and clean the goo from the needle periodically.

Buckeye Rose

I am using a 16 needle and don't have any bigger ones on hand....will have to make a run to the store....I have the alcohol pads and have already cleaned the needle, but I can't sew 6 inches without it skipping or the thread breaking.....if I put the binding on (so there are no raw edges anywhere) will I be able to safely soak the quilt in the tub?....the squares are 10" and SITD around all seams.....I guess I am confused because I had no problems with the SITD.

coopah

Clean the goo off the needle. If you're going to the store, get some titanium needles. That was the recommendation from my dealer when I messed up my timing due to glue. Good luck!