Help needed: backing fabric puckering
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Wales,UK
Posts: 14
Help needed: backing fabric puckering
I'm fairly new to quilting and have run into a problem with my latest project. Every time I quilt the backing it ends up wrinkling. I've tried various solutions -
I've changed the backing fabric
I've pinned with smaller gaps
I've increased stitch length to 3
I've slowed the stitching right down
I'm using a new needle
None of it has worked.
I don't think it's the original sandwich because I've been so careful; securing the fabric to my conservatory floor with tape and then smoothing from the centre out.
But after 6 attempts I'm still getting the problem you can see in the photo
About to unpick yet again and am thinking that it might be easier to do some echo quilting of each block starting from the centre rather than straight lines. (I'm not up to anything more sophisticated than that at the moment)
Thoughts???
I've changed the backing fabric
I've pinned with smaller gaps
I've increased stitch length to 3
I've slowed the stitching right down
I'm using a new needle
None of it has worked.
I don't think it's the original sandwich because I've been so careful; securing the fabric to my conservatory floor with tape and then smoothing from the centre out.
But after 6 attempts I'm still getting the problem you can see in the photo
About to unpick yet again and am thinking that it might be easier to do some echo quilting of each block starting from the centre rather than straight lines. (I'm not up to anything more sophisticated than that at the moment)
Thoughts???
Last edited by KarenHD; 02-01-2023 at 04:13 AM. Reason: Attachment was missing
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,335
Hmm that is a dilemma! I know others will come in and offer good suggestions. My first thought is that maybe when you are taping the backing to the floor you are pulling it too taut? And then when it releases it bounces back?
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Wales,UK
Posts: 14
Thanks Lena, yes I'm using a walking foot. When I started I was using 2.5 stitch length but have now increased that to 3 and it's still an issue. Should I go up to 3.5?
When I look a the stitching closely, I can see that sometimes the stitches are smaller than they should be
I don't have the ability on my machine to change the foot pressure though
When I look a the stitching closely, I can see that sometimes the stitches are smaller than they should be
I don't have the ability on my machine to change the foot pressure though
#6
I used to use safety pins to secure layers for quilting. Some quilt backs ended up like your picture. Then I discovered spray baste spray. Puckers still happened. I was stretching the backside fabric slightly when clipping it onto the table with clips. I figured out that it was "relaxing" too much when released from clips. So, now I'm careful to smooth without pulling, and it worked much better!
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,539
It looks like you worked really hard securing the sandwich with pins. I find you just can’t get the backing smooth enough with pins or thread for machine quilting. I either spray baste or use Hobbs 80/20 fusible batt. If you still want to proceed, I suggest rather than doing long straight lines( the backing is going to pucker) try doing separate motifs. Do 5 inch lines spaced all down the sandwich and then turn the sandwich and make them into X . With them being separated, it will allow the extra backing fabric to puff between the X’s .
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,054
Thanks Lena, yes I'm using a walking foot. When I started I was using 2.5 stitch length but have now increased that to 3 and it's still an issue. Should I go up to 3.5?
When I look a the stitching closely, I can see that sometimes the stitches are smaller than they should be
I don't have the ability on my machine to change the foot pressure though
When I look a the stitching closely, I can see that sometimes the stitches are smaller than they should be
I don't have the ability on my machine to change the foot pressure though
#10
Is your fabric a poly/cotton? How about the type of batting you are using? Is some of the quilt tied before your machine quilting? I have been fortunate with my pin basting, but I also make sure to quilt slow enough to let the walking foot do its’ job to feed the whole sandwich through evenly. It seems we all find what works best for us, have you cleaned the feed dog area on your machine recently? Just some thoughts as I read your post.