cjtinkle Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 I've never had to quilt a top with hugely waving borders before. I finally pulled out of storage the first top I pieced, and the borders are AWFUL. I had no idea what I was doing back then, and simply cut long borders, sewed them up the sides, and trimmed to fit. I decided to quilt this top for demonstration purposes, knowing the borders were so wavy they'd need a tuck... or maybe 9 or 10 tucks, LOL But, I'm not sure how that's done? Do I just fold the fabric so the seam lines of the 4 borders all line up, tapering it towards the center, then quilt carefully over it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmillie2010 Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 i learned a long time ago that if the wave is significant, to remove the border at the wave portion, and then cut and sew a seam - tightening up that wave portion - and resew the border to the quilt. thereby avoiding the dreaded tuck/pleat. this worked well on the one i did. just a thought ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 CJ, Yes hindsight is always 20/20! LOL we have all been there and done that. I cringe when I hear a teacher tell you to put borders on this way. I would love a favor. I'm going to be speaking to my guild in Sept. about what to expect and not to expect from a longarm quilter. I would love to start collecting pictures of some of our challenges. Would you mind taking a few pictures for me? I'd love one of the quilt laid out so you can see the wave and then a couple when it is loaded on the frame showing the wrinkles and then finally with it tucked and finally stitched. I understand if you don't have time. If anybody eles out there is reading this and has some good samples let me know! Also if you have other ideas for my lecture that would be most appreciated. Never too early to start preparing. I'll be doing a power point presentation, about 30 - 45 minutes. CJ now on your question. Yes you have the right idea. I first try the starch and steam method. It is amazing how much fullness you can ease in. Then if that doesn't work then go for the tuck. I try to keep the border square working all the fullness into one section if I can. When I finally have it laying flat then I will fold in the pleat and I acutally hand stitch that down using a ladder stitch while on the frame. Then I quilt it. It ends up looking like a seam and not a pleat. Since it is stitched down there isn't any way to really tell once it is quilted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtinkle Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 That's exactly what I needed to know Heidi, thank you! I wasn't sure if it needed to be hand sewn or not, so I'm glad you pointed that out. As for repairing the border, I know how to do that, but I wanted to quilt this "as is" so I could have a demonstration quilt on hand to show customers what will happen if the borders are too wavy, and I have to take a tuck. Heidi, I have at least one of the pictures you might want. I don't have any floor space large enough to lay the quilt out flat, and it's already partially quilted at this point, I'm sorry. It's funny you mention what not to send to your longarmer, I had the same idea in mind when I decided to quilt this as is, and I have been videotaping it. Hopefully the tape turns out well enough I can use it. This is taken after several bouts with starch and a hair dryer, LOL This one shows the quilt draped over the frame, look at those friendly borders! I will come back and include a pictures of it quilted over the tuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Thanks CJ that will help. If you decide the video comes out good and wouldn't mind sharing then maybe I could use part of that. I really don't think most piecers understand how longarm quilting works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtinkle Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 No problem, if it turns out I'd be happy to share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Awesome thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 CJ, cut a piece of batting and stick it under the borders. That will help keep you from making a tuck. It will take up some of the fullness. I bought a quilt from Ebay and had a border like yours. I didn't have to take a single tuck. I put a piece of extra batting under the border and spread out the fullness with my fingers and put pins in and it really helped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtinkle Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Actually, I WANT to take a pleat. I want quilt for demo purposes to show clients what MIGHT happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 CJ...I agree with Sylvia...there does not have to always be a tuck. I would suggest that there are alternate ways to quilt it aside from having to take a tuck. Tighter quilting will draw the excess fabric up to a point...and can look nice depending on what you do with the rest of the quilt! Just a thought! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtinkle Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 My demo quilt is to serve the purpose of showing a quilter who arrives with a poorly made quilt (like this one) and wants edge to edge quilting and isn't willing to spend any extra on the quilting. I'm doing baptist fans on this one. I'm afraid I am expecting to see more quilts like this than not, and more customers wanting to spend as little as possible for the quilting, in my area. Of course the best solution would be to remove the borders and redo them... barring that, an extra batting would help, as would custom quilting, but that isn't my goal here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Gotcha...tuck and quilt. Tuck and quilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtinkle Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Kristina, I wonder if that would work on my fat rolls? Tuck and quilt... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Originally posted by cjtinkle Kristina, I wonder if that would work on my fat rolls? Tuck and quilt... IF it does and it isn't too terribly painful please let us know!!!!:P:P:P:P By the way I think it is a great idea to have a sample like that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Originally posted by cjtinkle Actually, I WANT to take a pleat. I want quilt for demo purposes to show clients what MIGHT happen CJ -- this would be a perfect "sample" quilt on what longarm quilters need to do with borders. So, yes, on one border take a whole bunch of pleats. Take a couple of big ones! On another border, rip out section, cut and restitch as NewMillie suggested, On another border, starch and steam that puppy to death to git 'er to behave On the other border, rip the entire border off, remeasure, cut and piece back on the "proper" way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CindyT Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Shana, that would definitely be the ultimate wavy border FIX example. Then CJ could show all the tricks and charge her customers accordingly to difficulty of fixin'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtinkle Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Dang, I wish I'd thought of that before I started, that would have been a terrific demo quilt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Well, that poor darling could have been a nice quilt. I think I would have wonked up a small ugly quilt to show customers. Now, that poor dear has to live out life all ugly and wonky with people thinking it is all awful. Poor thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtinkle Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 LOL trust me, there's no saving this quilt. If you got this in your studio, you'd reject it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Nope I wouldn't reject it...I've had worse and have saved much much worse than that. Just use the Steam and Starch method and make it lay down and behave...Let me know if you need a CD....it will make your life so much easier and your customers will think you are a miracle worker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-Jane Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 Bonnie has a great idea, I've used similar, and it takes out an unbelievable amount of bag, ( as I call it). I have sprayed it down with water while tensioned on the machine, and ironed it in place slowly working the material in just barely letting the irons weight touch the fabric. You can see it tightening up! A little starch will make it go a little more. I have also used the Rowenta steamer and let dry and repeat and iron. Sometimes tedious but great results can be gained! If its beyond this at least you'll have shorter pleats. Take Care All--Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crafty Unicorn Posted May 1, 2010 Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 Sylvia, the quilt is a hero...it has given it's life so that others will not have to suffer "wonky border syndrome" High marks to CJ for creating a sample to show what happens when good quilts go wrong. OK, time to go to bed...I'm getting silly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtinkle Posted May 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 Bonnie, I sent you an email regarding your CD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted May 1, 2010 Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 Saw it last night, but wasn't able to answer...have now done so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blair8904 Posted May 1, 2010 Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 CJ, perfect timing on this question. I have a friend's Q4K on the frame parially quilted and I can see that the bottom border is going to need a lot of help. Thanks, everyone, on all the great suggestions. It will be a good learning experience for me. CJ, I love how you have used the space under your frame. It may require a trip to Target later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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