caddyhomes Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 The left side of my quilts, clients and mine, are consistently rolling up 1/4 inch less than the right side causing them to come out less than square. What could be causing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 Check out this recent thread- http://forum.apqs.com/index.php?/topic/36780-twisted-backswhy-and-replacing-leaders/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 We had that for one small practice quilt when we had an old stretched machine that had no marks on the poles to follow. We'd not gotten a section of the duct tape straight on that end of the takeup roller. The APQS rollers we got have a straight line on them that we use to line up the leader as we taped it on. Hope Linda and I have helped. Rita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie H Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 This has me thinking ... Even if your leaders are a tad off, if you apply your quilt top using channel locks to get it on nice and straight at the top, does it matter if your leaders are a little off? The way my brain is thinking, it shouldn't. Yes? or No? It's not a rare occasion that I have a customer quilt that is a little longer on one side than another. Before I load any quilt, I take measurements so I know in advance if I'm going to have to pay special attention to easing it into square. I find an inch or so is no problem on a big quilt. Three or 4 inches, can become a problem though, depending on where the extra fabric is hiding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Hi Bonnie---I float my tops and always use my channel locks to line it perfectly straight at the top. I never use the edge, since you can't count on that being flat and straight. I use the most prominent horizontal seam to load. Sometimes it's the first horizontal seam and sometimes if there are multiple borders, it's the seam between the borders and the body of the quilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie H Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Linda, I too, do the same. I was thinking the leaders being a little off wouldn't affect the squareness of the quilt top if one is loading the quilt top square (parallel to the bars) with channel locks. Mostly the leaders being a little off would affect how the backing rolls up. Some days my brain has a way of thinking on it's own and other days it takes more power. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat C Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 This is a great topic. Caddyhomes, I have exactly the same issue as you are having. I've checked everything (or at least thought I had) and cannot figure it out. Obviously I'm missing something. Bonnie, I see what you are saying. If the leaders are a bit off and you use channel locks to make sure the quilt is straight from the beginning, why would it be off unless that "tad" is pulling the quilt off square a bit. I'm going to re-check everything again when I get the next quilt off the frame. The bigger the quilt the more I'm off at the end, but it hasn't been more than about 1/2", but it is the right side that "grows". I didn't know if it had much affect when rolling up the quilt if the machine head was under the quilt, so I've moved it out from under the quilt as I advance the quilt on the frame. Can't tell if that has made any difference, but I'm trying to rule out everything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caddyhomes Posted November 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 This is a second attempt to post my reply. My apologies if it shows up twice. I considered all the options you gave me, and practice the same loading techniques suggested. I unrolled the pick up canvas right to the aluminum and discovered on the right side, the side that consistently winds tighter, a 1/8 inch glob of glue from the factory used to attached the canvas to the roller. That 1/8" over the course of a large quilt could add a significant distortion. I am going to remove that glove of glue, let the canvas rest, and reroll hoping that solves the distortion issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheagatzi Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 Is that glob of glue bumpy, or just that the leader is glued slightly 1/8'' off? sounds interesting, will investigate mine as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caddyhomes Posted November 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 It was a glob of glue! I scraped it off and vacuumed it all up, but should have taken a picture of the debris field! The next quilt won't be a test because it is a much different size. But the future will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 Great troubleshooting! Let us know how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caddyhomes Posted November 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 This is the final instalment in the saga of The Case of the Uneven Quilt Tops. The removal of the glue glob may have been an insignificant factor, as the problem of uneven rolling on the left side of the quilt continued. I called in the professional! THE HUSBAND! I was humbled by his quick analysis of the issue. Maybe even a touch humiliated! The backing roller and the pickup roller were not installed exactly parallel to each other. The left side was 1/4" out of line. Roger tighted up the screw holding the roller in place, while I held the roller- important step, to ensure equal distance between the two rollers. Perfection ever since. The main issue was rollers not installed exactly parallel to each other. Thank you for your encouragement to keep pursuing perfection. Charlotte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat C Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 Great detective work to you and your hubby, Charlotte! Now I'm going to ask a stupid question: What is the best way to measure these to make sure they are even? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caddyhomes Posted November 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 For spot on accuracy, Roger says, buy your husband a laser tape measure! If you are on a budget, a ridged yard stick would work. He used a regular construction tape measure, placed it against the pick up roller, over the leveler bar, under the quilt top roller then to the backing roller ensuring that he remained consistent in placement from side to side. Any system would work, as long as you use the same parameters for each side. The collar and shoulder bolt were easy to remove and adjust. I am so thrilled with the new performance on my machine! Charlotte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheagatzi Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 I have been reading and imagining and reading and imagining this and still trying to figure out the tape measure. LOL I'll get it on the 11th try. Good super sleuthing on your husband! Maybe he needs to be a piecer with that accuracy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat C Posted November 28, 2014 Report Share Posted November 28, 2014 Charlotte, thank you for the great explanation. My hubby's got quite an assortment of tools, gadgets, etc. so I'm sure we can come up with a laser level. I know there's one here somewhere. His shop is about as bad as my sewing/quilt rooms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenslug Posted November 29, 2014 Report Share Posted November 29, 2014 Charlotte, , Can your husband recommend a laser tape measure. My DH loves tools and has many which he uses. That would make a nice Christmas present and he could use it on my machine. I have been so lucky that he can fix most anything. Of course, every job usually requires a new tool of some kind. However, they have all paid for themselves. Any info you can give me will be appreciated. Marilyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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