CindyT Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 This is my first batik top and backer quilt to quilt. My test piece on the side looked fine (yes, I used both sides batik for the test piece), but after quilting and rolling forward, the back looks not so nice. Using BL in bobbin and So Fine on top and 3.5 needle. It looks like pokies on the back and tension sporadic with loops a handful of times (front and back) in each 13 inch block. For those of you that have already experienced the batik quilt, do you have any suggestions or tricks you want to share to make my life a little easier on this beast? TIA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 do not overtighten batik...it likes to stay relaxed on the frame! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CindyT Posted August 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 I have the "mole" thing going on so I don't think it's too tight, but that's a good tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 Cindy, I find that I have to make the tension on top a little tighter than I normally do. There is more resistance of pulling the thread through batiks. While you definitely don't want to over-tighten I tend to like my tops a little bit tighter and not too loose. Also make sure that you don't have to adjust the hopping foot. If the foot is too high you will get ugly stitches with batiks. I like my hopping foot down as low as I can get it without causing it to push the fabric and getting pleats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 I like to use a 3.5 needle to avoid holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 When I have a favbric that is refusing to stitch up nicely, I lightly spray an area with Silicone Spray, put a wee bit of Sewers Aid on all the threading points and on the needle.. usually works pretty good. Don't spray the whole quilt.. spray what would be a 2 or 3 minute area of quilting.. Good Luck, RitaR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodlebug Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 Originally posted by JustSewSimple I like to use a 3.5 needle to avoid holes. i was gonna say that..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlhdesigns Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 I don't use BL in the bobbin for my batiks, I use so fine in the bobbin and I get nice stitches and don't have a tension problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 i, too, like sewfine bobbins - i cant get bottom line to work with anything but sewfine on top. sew fine works like a charm for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyrw Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 I don't know about the sporadic loops but I've found that the apparent pokies on the back are usually caused by the needle poking the fabric out a little. I realized this on the quilt I'm working on now. The top thread is blue, the bobbin is brown and the backing is mostly brown and green. The pokies I could see were not blue. Rub your finger nail along the stitches and fabric should move back into place. When you wash the quilt the pokies should go away. If you don't want to wash the quilt, tumbling it in the dryer for a little bit may help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 I must be weird because I haven't had a problem (knock on wood). I pre-wash my batiks and iron them. I'm now using the magna-glide and magna-quilt bobbins instead of bottom line pre-wounds. The only batting I use is QD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CindyT Posted August 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 It's a customer's quilt and I don't think she prewashed any of it. I played with the tension a little more last night and it looks a little better. I sure hope the pokies go away, too. Thanks for all the suggestions that have worked for ya'll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltlover03 Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 I have quilted a gazillion Batik Quilts and do not have a problem (knock on wood). I use Lava and a 3.5 organ needle, even Metro Embroidery thread and no breakage or tension problems. I do not wind my own bobbins, I buy prewound and I keep my Quilts very tight on the frame. I wonder if your springy thingy in your bobbin case needs a bit of adjusting, sometimes the little ends flatten out, loosing friction between the bottom of the case and the side of the bobbin, by bening the little arms back up so your bobbin has a little "bounce" might work better. That was a problem I experienced with backlash loops on the backing. Just a thought..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterfly Posted August 19, 2010 Report Share Posted August 19, 2010 The magna glides are the key for me, also, the batting has a lot to do with it. Warm and natural is a no-no for me when quilting batiks. QD seems to be the best in this case. Jess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonbon Posted August 20, 2010 Report Share Posted August 20, 2010 Try slowing down a bit to minimize the needle flex. I also loosen the quilt sandwich with batiks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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