AmyLynnLayton

I am cutting squares the same size. I am able to match them easily and they are exactly the same size...and then I see them together. The top piece ends up stretching so by the end of the peice, it is significantly longer than the bottom piece! It is driving me nutty. Using a Brother PQ1500SL with a walking foot. Please share your wisdom!

AmyLynnLayton

I mean it stretches when I sew them together....not see them together.

IceLeopard

Try using a regular quarter-inch quilting foot instead of a walking foot. What stitch length are you using? A very tight stitch might be making the bottom fabric gather up a bit rather than the top one stretching. Are you pinning them together? If you haven't been, try that as well.

Jo Anne B.

A walking foot is not needed for piecing, a walking foot is used when sewing 3 pieces(Backing, batting and top together) I recommend using a 1/4 inch foot while paying special attention when nearing the end of the seam, some machines have a tendency to veer left. Maybe need to loosen the pressure foot tension that feeds the top fabric. Not familiar with the Brother 1500 not sure if it has the ability to adjust foot tensions. My Pfaff does not.

Krisb

This is what I would do if facing this situation:

I would take off the walking foot and replace it with a straight stitch foot or, if you have one, a 1/4”foot. I only use my walking foot for straight line machine quilting and attaching the binding. Then I would take out my pins, and pin the edges if they are large squares. If the squares are small, a stiletto (or your seam ripper) can be used to hold the two fabrics even at the end of the seam. This can also help keep the seam allowance straight.

Check your stitch length, and use the length recommended in yiur manual. Mine is about 2.5 for piecing

It is not unusual to need to readjust the ends of the fabrics to keeo them in line. Fabric isn’t wood or concrete. Pins can be your friend, just don’t sew over them.

bearisgray

Maybe try sewing them together without a walking foot?

On the older machines, the feed dogs would move the bottom layer "faster" than the top layer, so one had to "outsmart" the machine so that the layers would feed the same.

One "trick" was to hold the fabric "up" before it got to the needle, so that the bottom layer would go "faster" than the top layer.

Is that clear as mud?

SusieQOH

Are any of the fabrics on the bias? If so starch or Best Press would help. I also agree about the foot.

KalamaQuilts

The feed dogs are usually the culprit. Their purpose is to pick up the piece and keep it moving through the seam process.
I have one machine that feeds evenly, and four that don't

If you are doing block size seams hold the bottom ends together and they will feed nicely
On longer seams pin the start and end, and while they are laying nice and flat there add a few more pins so when you let go just drop down to the next pin and so on.

Once you recognize the problem you won't need pins.
Welcome to the board and quilting Amy!!

Irishrose2

If it is possible on your machine, loosen the pressure of the presser foot. I had that happen this week for the first time. It was a very long seam to have to rip and redo with pins. Grr.

ArlaJo

If my pieces get stubborn I use a drop of Elmer's washable school glue and a quick tap with the hot iron. That usually brings them around to my way.