Milli

My sister had her hunter star quilted by longarm and was told next time she made a top with a lot of bias pieces she needs to use a stabilizer, is this common and if so how would she go about it.
thanks.

luvspaper

I've never heard that! I've made a HS quilt and quilted it on a midarm (sitdown) with no issues with the bias pieces. I have to wonder if the long-arm quilter had it pulled too tight onto her machine and/or had a hard time keeping it straight? Or is it possible that the seams weren't a full 1/4 inch and pulled away? I'd probably ask the long-armer for more information on what she is meaning.

Wouldn't pretty much any quilt with HalfSqTris also have the same issue for that longarmer? Honestly I'd probably find another long-armer who can handle it better.

Milli

She said the quilt bunched in places, i have never heard of this either.
thanks for your input.

Tiggersmom

If the quilt bunched in a bunch of places it's because the bias was stretched in those stars. A trick for long armers is to use 2 cans of soup, one on each side of the head.......it will help take the fullness out and make it easier to quilt without folds. My experience.

Milli

Thank you !

Tiggersmom

Milli, also if she spray starches her fabrics stiff she will have less stretching of the bias.

ckcowl

A lightweight fusible stabilizer can help you keep bias edges from stretching out of shape. Very inexpensive, available at Joanne's, hobby lobby, many fabric, quilt shops. Starching before cutting and limited handling can help too

ManiacQuilter2

NEVER heard that before. You just have to use spray starch before cutting the bias so is won't get stretched while stitching.

BETTY62

Thanks for this information. I will be buying a can of spray starch today.