|
Posted by Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. on February 21, 2007, 11:39 am
If the package says 3.5 inches then believe that and don't vary from
it. You do NOT want the batting shredding and bunching up from
quilting too far apart.
Yes, you go all the way from one edge to the other. Knowing that you
have to quilt 3.5 in. or less apart, I'd suggest quilting SITD on all
the seams plus going thru the middle of each 6 in. square- in both
directions. That would make your quilting 3 in. apart in all
directions. There's no real tricks to using the walking foot other
than don't go too fast. Many of us have found that the screw that
holds the needle in the machine will loosen and the needle will fall
out and break if you go too fast- check the screw periodically and
keep it tightened. And do not tug or pull on the quilt sandwich as it
feeds thru the walking foot- let it do it's job by just guiding the
sandwich.
*IF* it were me, I'd quilt edge to edge in down the middle- either V
or H. Start in the middle seam sewing edge to edge. Then work your
way over to one side sewing each seam edge to edge and parallel to the
middle seam's line of quilting. Do stop and check for puckers after
every line of quilting. Then quilt in the other side of the middle
seam in the same direction- one line at a time until you work your way
to the other side. You'll have all the parallel seams quilted in the
same direction. Turn the quilt and sew the other seams- start in the
middle and work your way over to one side and then the other side.
You'll have all the SITD done both V and H.
Then start quilting thru the middle of each block going either H or
V. Use the same middle seam to side sewing edge to edge with
parrallel lines of quilting as you did on the SITD as before. Do both
directions and you will have a + inside each 6 in. block. This will
make all your quilting lines 3 in. apart.
I don't want to put any additional pressure on you (VBG), but SITD is
easier if you stich just slightly to the side of the seam on the side
opposite the direction the seam allowance is pressed. That means if
the seam allowance is pressed to the right, then your needle should
hit just slightly to the left of the seam. You can use your hands to
slightly spread the seam open for the needle to get right into the
seam, too. The stitching will disappear into the seam. If that is
too much, then just keep as close to the seam as possible.
Another "if it were me".... I'd unbaste that quilt top and go buy a
batting that didn't need such close quilting! I use Warm & Natural or
Warm & White exclusively. Both are 100% cotton and cling to the
cotton fabric- it makes quilting much easier. You'd cut your quilting
in half if you switched to a different batting that can be quilted at
least 6 in. apart- you wouldn't need to go thru the center of each
block in both directions. And I sure do hope you haven't chosen a
thick, fluffy batting. If so, good luck- you are in for a real
battle. (shudder!!!)
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
wrote:
> I think I may have less problem with vertical and horizontal. I have
> purchased the walking foot for my machine but never used it so I definitely
> must practice with it.
>
> So I can just forget SITD and do the grid? The instructions on the batting
> say 3.5 inches.
>
> If I do vertical and horizontal - do you mean I would quilt each block
> vertical and horizontally individually? Or go the whole length vertically
> from top to bottom starting in the middle? If I do it this way, can I do
> all the vertical quilting before starting the horizontal? I guess I don't
> know what method to use (which way to go when) so it won't pucker.
>
> Thank you so much for answering these questions.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > And the answer is...... it depends! VBG A walking or even feed foot
> > is the easiest way to machine quilt- you don't have the learning curve
> > like you have for free-motion quilting. First consideration, if your
> > intersections of seams do not match perfectly, SITD isn't the easiest
> > way to quilt it. Every time you approach an intersection, you'd have a
> > decision to make about which way to go. If you want to use a grid, it
> > would be easier to go thru the middle of each 6 in. block- vertically
> > and horizontally. You could eyeball that, measure and mark with
> > masking tape or a quilt marking pen of some type, or use the little
> > arm thingy that usually comes with most machines- you line up the
> > previous sewing line or seam and run the arm along the length as a
> > guide while you sew the quilting stitches. Starting in the middle
> > and working your way to the edges is what is most often recommended.
> > Alternating top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top is optional. I'd think
> > that would be asking for trouble but YMMV. If you want to quilt on
> > the diagonal, then quilting corner to corner of each 6 in. block would
> > be easiest- use one of the methods I described above. Starting in the
> > middle and working towards the edges would be the same as V & H
> > quilting. Your batting should tell you on the package how far apart
> > you can safely quilt it. Warm & Natural allows you to quilt 6 to 12
> > inches apart, if I remember correctly. Some battings only allow the
> > quilting to be two inches apart. Any more questions? ;-) Good luck!
>
> > Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
>
> >> Got the baby quilt all sandwiched together and plan on practicing on
> >> some squares. Have a couple questions.
> >> I am going to SITD the entire quilt, but the blocks are 6 inch blocks
> >> so I will have to do more quilting either in each individual block or
> >> in a grid. So, think the easiest design for me with it being my first
> >> quilt would be a diagonal grid or a horizontal/vertical grid. I need
> >> some opinions on that.
>
> >> If I do hor/vert grid can i start in the middle at the top and stich
> >> to the bottom, turn and stick back up to the other end using long rows
> >> and continue until I am done with one side - and then do the other
> >> from the center out? Then do the horizontal lines the same way? Or
> >> do I need to alternate doing horizontal lines with vertical lines so
> >> it won't pucker?
>
> >> If I do diagonal how do I start? The quilt has turned out to be about
> >> 43 inches wide by 53 inches long. Do I just start in the corner and
> >> let it rip? How do I measure to make it come out even? How wide
> >> should I make the spacing? I think I am scared. You would think this
> >> quilt is huge the way I am stressing. Any advice is appreciated.
>
> >> Thank you,
>
> >> Helen- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
| 
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap