Why the puckers????????!!!!!

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09-23-2012, 11:25 AM

#11

coffeebreak

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat M.

Is your quilt laying flat on the table or hanging off of the machine (about 3-4")?? Do you use the quilting gloves? When the quilt hangs it pulls on the machine needle and cause problems, I always use the gloves. It helps to hold the fabric in place.

well, yeah, it hangs lower than the machine, I have an extension plate, but the machine is still elevated from the table. But I have a 5 ft banquet table as my sewing table and as much of the quilt as I can get there...is on the table.. And yes...gloves are a must, I do use them.

09-23-2012, 11:26 AM

#12

coffeebreak

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Quote:

Originally Posted by crafty pat

Are you stretching the fabric because it is cut on the bias?

None of it is cut on the bias. All straight of the grain. the diagonal seams are HST's sewn together.

09-23-2012, 11:27 AM

#13

coffeebreak

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Quote:

Originally Posted by greensleeves

You didn't mention whether you use a walking foot. That could be the problem-a walking foot helps to move top and bottom layer equally.

I have always used the regular all purpose foot, but with this problem, I had heard that the walking foot helps move the fabric better...and used walking foot this time...didn't see any difference in anything over the all purpose foot

09-23-2012, 11:29 AM

#14

coffeebreak

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ckcowl

try lengthening your stitch length a little bit- are you using a walking foot?- if not that is the problem- if you don't have one can you (lessen) the pressure on the foot you are using? some machines allow that-some do not- but your stitches look really really tiny- lengthening them a little will help

I was using the walking foot and had stitches at 3 instead of the 2.5 it is automatically set at. I was thinking that the stitches need dto be longer to help the walking foot manuvre the fabric better instead of the small stitches...but didn't see any difference.

09-23-2012, 11:31 AM

#15

coffeebreak

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunnye

I have stretched fabric before when I wet the fabric too much with the starch.

INteresting thought but I dont' think I do that. I do starch, but not overly starch. And I press, not iron when I starch.

09-23-2012, 11:31 AM

#16

coffeebreak

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Quote:

Originally Posted by auntpiggylpn

When I am doing any straight line quilting or SID, I lengthen my stitch. I think it helps "loosen" the tension and causes less puckering

I lengthen to 3 but maybe need a few more.

09-23-2012, 11:33 AM

#17

coffeebreak

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Tartan

When I do the straight stitching on sashing before FMQ, I start in the middle of the quilt and stitch out to the edge of the quilt in all directions. I used Hobbs 80/20 fusible batt but the fabrics still move a little but if you get the "extra" to the edge it helps. After the whole quilt is stitched outward in the sashing, I quilt inside the stabilized squares. My Machinger gloves really help with smoothing the sandwich as I approach intersection. I think intersections are where most problem puckers tend to occur.

I start in the middle also...do the blocks first on the whole quilt , then go back and do sashings.. maybe I need to do blocks AND sashing from the middle out. I will give that a try next time. Thanks for the tip. How do you make sure the back fabric is smooth and no puckers?

09-24-2012, 04:44 AM

#18

Toni C

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Location: Crosby,Texas

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Are you using the same machine? Has this always been a problem for you?

09-24-2012, 05:11 AM

#19

TanyaL

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Join Date: Apr 2011

Location: Bosque County, Texas

Posts: 2,709

When you wash the quilt, don't the puckers vanish in the over all winkles that occur to the quilt?

09-24-2012, 06:01 AM

#20

sew4nin

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Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: St. Charles, MO

Posts: 307

I understand your frustration. That is exactly what my quilting looked like before I got my Pfaff with a built in walking foot. If it is possible, you might want to try taking your problem to the store you bought your machine from. They are usually pretty good at trouble shooting. Even if you didn't buy your machine from the store, problems like this are sometimes seen as a challenge. My other thought is to try loosening the tension on the top thread.
Good luck and let us know if you find a solution.