“Cover Me” Quilting Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 I have just started long arm quilting. I have successfully finished two small quilts with cotton backings. A friend gave me a small quilt to finish and provided fleece backing...which is very stretchy in one direction!! Which way do I load this type of fabric, with the stretch on the rollers or along the length of the frame?? I would hate to destroy her beautiful quilt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbm Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 You want to pin the stretchiest direction to the canvasses, being very careful not to stretch it out of its natural shape as you pin it. And as you advance your quilt, be careful to release the stretch along the sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamache Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 I have used fleece a few times. I always load it with the selvages on the sides (not on the rollers). They have turned out nice. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
“Cover Me” Quilting Posted August 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 Thank you so much Barb! I will take care!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbnt9999 Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 I have done a quilt with a fleece backing before and I'm trying to think which way the stretch was. I loaded the fleece with the selvages on the poles. It worked out great. Just be careful not to over tighten. Hope this helps. Do a search, I know it's been discussed before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidiP Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 It looks like quilters load both ways so try both ways and see what you like best. I have done a few minkie backs. The key is keeping the back loose. I always load the selvage to the leaders. When I advance the quilt, if the sides are beginning to curl then the back is too tight and needs to be loosened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 As everyone says, not stretching the fleece/Minkee is the key. I cut muslin rectangles about four inches wide and twelve inches long to use as a base to clamp to. Wrap the fabric around the edge when the backer is slack and pin every two inches and parallel to the edge. This stabilizes the edge so the clamps don't stretch out the backer. Attach the clamps to the pinned fabric right on one of the pins and tighten the clamps elastic only until the backer is level. Make sure you use a curtain rod or yardstick to elevate the elastic/clamps barely to the level of the bed of the machine. Ease off on the roller-to-roller tension and all should be good. If the backer is stretched, any curvy quilting you do will result in little balloons of fabric around the curves after the quilt is unloaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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