88650
the first quilt is always difficult but you will enjoy it
28916There are some brilliant answers here which I must remember WHEN I get round to making a quilt, so thanks to all and a flower too
114511i have only made 3 quilts so far but i did find that masking tape and special safety pins from spotlight did the job for me to sandwich the 3 layers together. then pin from the middle down, up and sidewards smoothing the top fabric out with your hand to remove wrinkles. i only used walking foot on the last quilt...not much different to my open toe foot. good luck Yoriko!!
by manami
14 Aug 2009
Oh Marlene, I'm going to go ahead with the regular foot then. Thank you so much for the tip! Love, Yoriko
5868Yoriko, I know how U feel... I'm stuck on the quilting part of my first quilt... I've spent several weeks and months putting it together and now I'm afraid to quilt it as I don't want to mess it up... So It sits in the sewing room waiting for me to get the curage to make the next move... It seems ever step takes alot of time and fear takes hold before I can make that move... No-one wants to make a big mistake on something that took along time to make...
Sam :)
3624Please, dont laugh...it is just for learning. Well it is in this stage. I used the temporary glue and now I want to do some decorated stitches around the each design. I only did the center block. My DH said he is buying the walking foot for me so I can finish this quilt.
Thank you so much for your inputs, they are going to help me a lot!
Love and blessings,
Yoriko
88650Thanks for asking this question Yoriko, very interesting to read some of the answers and yes the price you paid for your walking foot is good. Good luck with your quilt and can't wait to see it finished.
Sheryl
15218Yoriko, to keep the bottom from wrinkling. lay the back right side down on the floor. Start at the middle of one side and put a piece of painters tape down. Go to the opposite middle of the other side and put down the tape making sure that it is slightly stretched. Yes, SLIGHTLY. move to the left or right of that piece and then put the matching piece on the opposite side. What you are doing is keeping it taunt equally. Do the same for the top and bottom and opposing corners. Lay down your batting, which you have let "rest" for at least 24 hours. (that means take it out of the package and unfold it.) Tape it in the same manner as you have the backing. Then put your quilt top on with the top side up. Repeat taping again on opposite side and keeping it slightly taunt. Once you are finished you have a "quilt sandwich". Then either bast the layers together by stitching across the middle, then from the top to the bottom. Stitch another line on either side of the side to side center stitched line, then on either side of the top to bottom line, continuing until you reach all of the edges. You can now remove your tape and carry the quilt to your machine or put on your hoop for hand quilting. (instead of stitching you can use safely pins in the same pattern) I have never had a pucker in any quilt I made that I did that way. Yes, it's alot of tape, but I spent too much time on the quilt to short change it now. I hope this makes sense and that it helps you. I'm attaching a link that has alot of help, too and of course you can contact me if you have other questions.;)
by nonna57
11 Aug 2009
Instead of hand stitching together, you can buy special quilting saftey pins @ spotlight. Pin your quilt at this stage every handbreath apart. All over the quilt. This works for me. Goodluck :)
158560This may not be what you originally planned, but how about just knotting the quilt so you have a very nice comforter. This is what I get the 4-Hers to do when the squares are too thick, etc. It would at least give you a finished project and you could enjoy it. Hope this helps:) stork
20077
211078Manami,
i am not sure what you are asking, but anytime you get a new feet(s) for your machine, check your shank...is it a long or short shank...then you will get one that will work with your machine,
as i said I am not sure what you are trying to do....but when I have to "quilt" a quilt, (sandwich of backing, batting, and top) and it is too thick....I drop the feet dogs, use the darning/embroidering foot ,I control the moving of the quilt, and the machine needle just jumps up and down. You got great advise from the others as to how to pin & keep your sandwich together. but this way you can just "mender" ( that is like a drunk person, too drunk to walk stright..lol, all over your quilt or blocks...you don't have to be stright if you are not doing "stich in the ditch" There is also websits that you may want to ck out, fonsandporter.com, quilt in a day.com and others,
good luck
196The trick is to tape the bottom (backing fabric) to the floor/table with painters tape, then place the batting and top with your quilt top...pin with safety pins...place a pin a fists distance between pins. Sometimes you can't help but get a wrinkle in the back....that's why you usually see small prints as backing fabric...so don't sweat the small stuff....JUST have FUN and ENJOY!!
31942I don't know what is making it so difficult, but I suggest that you pin the quilt every few inches to eliminate the "bunching". In addition to trying the ideas already suggested put the pins right across what will be the stitching line EVERY FEW INCHES and sew over them, but I know that sewing machine manufacturers advise against this. It will take a while, but worth the effort. If you don't want to sew over them, move them to the left a little. Then I hold the quilt in front and in back of the needle. I pull a little to aid the feed dogs and walking foot move the fabric. Also, be sure that the weight of the quilt is not dragging it down. I try to have all my quilt on the sewing table. I hope one or all of these suggestions help. Good luck.
1733It sounds like you are makeing what we call a working quilt. One that will be used and loved and washed and hugged. Some times when I need to do a simple quilting i just use an wmbroidery stitch set on 1 no repeats and i just tack the quilt every 5 to 6 inches. I do this alot with baby quilts where you don't want to quilt over lots of then little designs. Did you pin baste your quilt? That should help keep the layers even also.
7261i have read another answer to your question have you tried to spray the back of your quilt with quilt basting spay as this will hold fabric in place as you quilt also and it will help i swear by it and it also works very well for applique i get a can from wal mart its called june tailor quilt basting spray it lasts for ever and is not exspensiv at all mary
by lovsewings
20 Aug 2009
Right on...Marymilf41!!! i had forgotten about the basting quilt spray, until today .Since I gOT MY LONG ARM , I haven't used it for quilting , just when i don't have that stickey stabilizer, I remember I have a can...lol
4685i can tell you that i make a lot of heavy quilts as you have seen on here the heavist one is the log cabin raggy quilt and that one had to be hand tied there was no way i was going to be able to quilt it when i know that its going to be a heavy quilt i quilt one square at a time and then put all of them together when its all done if you dont like the way the back turns out (sometimes)it will bunch up if your not realy careful then what i have had to do is put a false back on it and tack it down with tying it i refuse to pay a lot for feet my moto is if i caint do it with what i have then dont or find another way and i agree with what (ycnan) askes have you gotten a stronger needle as i will only use a needle for blue jeans for heavy quilt as they are very strong and can go through a lot and i set my machine to jeans or leather as this will help move your fabric through also my email is (dante334125@yahoo.com) if i can help in any other way pleas dont hestate to wright i dont mind sometimes it just helps to talk it through till you can figure it out good luck mary
4685I wish I knew, Yoriko. What type of walking foot do you need (brand or for what machine). Some of my quilts I do for the kids are pretty thick but I haven't run into this problem as of yet. And I also picked up a squared ruller and was amazed at how much easier it was to cut the blocks. At the same time I purchased a rotary cutters and Oh my gosh, how easy to cut nice, square blocks. I hope one of the Cuties that quilts more than I can help you. Have you tried Ebay for the walking foot. I go to it first, many of thier places sell items very cheap and they are of good quality. Check it out and see what you may be able to get it for there. Prayers and Many of God's Blessings, Libbie
11500I can't believe it cost you $60 for a walking foot. Have you changed your needle to a sharper stronger needle? What about your thread? I would find someone in your community that would happily give you a tip on this. Don't give up. There is a solution. I wish you well and God bless!
by manami
11 Aug 2009
The problem is that the bottom side is wrinkling, the quilt doesnt go smoothly. The squared ruler cost me 24 dollars, I thought that was too much, but I needed it to measure my blocks. Thank you, and welcome to cute, Ycnan49. Love,Yoriko
by gg2009
11 Aug 2009
In MY OPINION, unless your machine has a built in walking foot (my Janome does) then $60 is NOT bad for a walking foot, and having one is a MUST. Also, I ALMOST always get my rulers WITH A COUPON or on DISCOUNT DAYS. Verify you are using the RIGHT needle for the thickness since all needles are created equal. As others suggested, pin (I use the quilting safety pins / they are not the usual straight safety pins .. they have a U in them) and then pin, pin, pin. I do NOT sew over them, but pin slightly to the side of where I know I am going to stitch. Start in the middle and work out. I have never used tape, so don't know how that works, but I have sprayed the MATERIAL / NOT the batting. A SHEET has a high thread count, so that is NOT really the best choice for a backing.
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