amma

Even if I am not doing SID I still like to start from the center of the quilt and baste in stitches. These help to stabilize the quilt sandwich, especially if you are wrangling around a larger quilt. The more quilting I plan on doing, the more basting stitches I like to use.
I have had a little traveling even when using the spray, and a little basting seems to help hold the whole project together nicely.

Any amount of quilting can draw in the quilt, distorting the final shape and seam lines. The heavier you quilt, the greater the chance. Keeping the quilting evenly distributed, and working from the center out, may help you too.

If you are straight line quilting, a walking foot really helps to feed the sandwich through easier, with less distortion. Try using a little longer stitches too.
You shouldn't have to really tug and pull on the quilt to get it going under the needle. If you have to tug too much, you run a greater risk of distortion.
The suggestions for supporting the quilt are great ones, and will be very helpful to you

peggyauberry

I free-motion quilt usually. I always start from the center & am very careful about pulling or stretching the fabric. That is why I am so frustrated. Does the amount of quilting affect the shape in anyway? Thanks forall the input.

mcdaniel023

I second everything she said. (Even have the same machine)

hperttula123

quilting will stretch your fabric out slightly. It's never perfectly square after it is quilted. You have to square it up after it is done. They have videos on youtube to show you how to do that.

kpelletier83

I bet mine is worse than yours. I just did straight line quilting outlining blocks on my quilt but I did it without a walking foot (since I don't have one for my Bernina yet). I thought I was doing great until I hung it up on my design board and saw how wonky it make my border. I have a one inch border and then a 3 inch one. Then inside of the 1 inch border is crooked now. I make two mistakes. Not using a walking foot and quilting on the across the bias of my half square triangle. I am so bummed. I am hoping if I wash and block it I may get it to straighten out. I am still very new to domestic machine quilting. I just can't seem to get the hang of free motion yet. I bet it would have been better than this though.
so I feel your frustration.

ckcowl

i've always (evened) the edges before quilting- but i square the quilt after it is quilted- before the binding- the quilting process draws up the fabrics--due to the thickness of the quilt sandwich- much like fabric is (drawn up) when appliqued or embroidered- so it is normal for it to get a little---uneven when it is quilted- after the quilting is the time to square up- and block if needed.