Fabric Distortion
11-14-2013, 03:10 PM
#11
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
starch the fabric well... bias edges tend to stretch easily- starched and the broadcloth on the bottom with the other cotton on top may help (or the other way around if that way is causing the problem) a nice new sharp needle, I would not adjust the tension but I would lengthen the stitch length a little bit--- many of joann's fabrics have a bit looser weave than fabrics you will find in a fabric/quilt shop...so, pre-washing, a good starching/pressing will help tighten the weave and add some stability.
11-14-2013, 06:52 PM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SW Missouri
Posts: 2,988
You might try the way to make triangles where you sew across the diagonal of squares, then cut them apart. You won't have to deal with bias edge triangles that way.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...s-t141047.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...s-t141047.html
Last edited by AngeliaNR; 11-14-2013 at 06:57 PM.
11-15-2013, 04:04 AM
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 110
I am not happy with JoAnn's quality of fabrics for quilting. Some of it is OK for crafting. But I don't want to spend hours making a quilt with it and be disappointed in the color fading or fuzzys on it. I made my daughter some pajama bottoms from their flannel and they didn't hold up very well....holes appeared in fabric after several washings. Their prices are outrageous compared to their quality....unless you use the preverbial "coupon."
11-15-2013, 10:34 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Paradise, Texas
Posts: 916
It's always chancy, in my opinion, to mix poly with cotton in a quilt. I don't mind using it in
other craft projects but not mixed in a quilt block. Sometimes you can get by without any
problems but not usually. At least that's my experience. I don't like having to starch because
there's no guarantee that it will stay straight after it's completed and washed. Then you'll
really be unhappy that you spent time, effort, and money on a disappointing project.
other craft projects but not mixed in a quilt block. Sometimes you can get by without any
problems but not usually. At least that's my experience. I don't like having to starch because
there's no guarantee that it will stay straight after it's completed and washed. Then you'll
really be unhappy that you spent time, effort, and money on a disappointing project.
11-15-2013, 11:45 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
Has anyone had a problem with Joann's Symphony Broadcloth losing it's shape? (If I can explain this without confusing the issue) I'm working on a pattern, Card Trick, that uses lots of HSTs and QSTs. I start out with a perfectly straight square, cut it, still nice straight edges, but when I sew the halves together, I end up with a curved or bowed edge on the broadcloth side. It's making me crazy. The other half of the triangles don't lose their shape and the fabric in them is the regular quilting cotton. I've tried loosening the tension and sewing very slowly. This happened on another quilt I was working on and I ended up cutting all the broadcloth squares almost a half inch larger and then squaring them it. It's such a waste of fabric that way. I've just started this and only cut enough for one square, so starting over is not a problem. It's just that I have 5 yards of this fabric and hate to waste it.
Thanks
Thanks
11-16-2013, 06:00 PM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
Posts: 1,669
I've never had a problem with polyester and cotton blends nor with JoAnn broacloth. But I have never tried to sew anything from straight edges. It may be that the blend does not do well on the bias. Use your yardage for a back and get fabric that doesn't distort for the front. froggyintexas
11-16-2013, 07:12 PM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,811
Are you pressing the squares with steam because that can distort the blocks. I found a travel iron that gets really hot and it really helped my accuracy. Also, before I cut, I starch the fabric. I have used JoAnn's without problems.
12-01-2013, 06:27 PM
#19
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 211
YES! Funny you should mention this.. I have just had the same problem with the broadcloth from Joann's ! I thought it was just me.. apparently not.. it also shrank quite a bit ! I don't normally wash all my fabrics, but the gal at the store told me I should wash this one.. good thing I did ! It is very frustrating !
12-03-2013, 06:07 PM
#20
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 155
Have you tried marking the centers of the triangle, pin both pieces together. sew from the corner to the center, you may want to use a leader to start your piece, then go to other side and sew to center. Check to see it is sewn straight, square and flat.
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