Starrynight Quilter Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 This is not the first time I have put together tiny little pieces of fabric to bigger pieces of fabric.LOL I was very carefull cutting, meausred twice, cut once. 1/4" seams were exact. pressing was accurate as well. As this is a small wall hanging 38 x 38 I did not prewash the fabric, used steam to press....the darn thing is bubbly.....yes, bubbly, out of kilter. What did I do wrong???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 One trick is to square up as you piece. After each section that you piece, check to see if it is square and if not, adjust seams so that it is or cut off the excess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starrynight Quilter Posted October 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 Thanks Joan I did that as well.. and still...it is not quite right...Could the steam have caused the fabric to go funny? or should I use a dry iron??? this was just a fun project to do and not for anyone in particular...thank goodness but I hate it when it does not lie flat like it should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 marlene - i NEVER use steam...steam is not my friend. no matter how careful i am, it distorts the fabric. i am a dry iron girl. jmho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 I always use steam and starch. It sounds to me like one of your fabrics shrunk and the others didn't. This happens and one of the many reasons I always wash and starch my fabrics before cutting them out. When you ironed did you press or did you push the fabric back and forth? That too can cause distortion in your piecing. Did you set your seams before you pressed them open? That can sometimes help as well. With little pieces the inaccuracies show up more than with big pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starrynight Quilter Posted October 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 This was one of those rare occassions when I did not prewash my fabrics as it is such a small project and just wanted something to do at class. I have never used starch. I will try that and I did press and not iron. I guess the quilting angels are trying to teach me that I still have some learning to do:D:D:D:D It is so interesting just how fussy fabric can be and (anoying) lol... Thanks for your suggestions and I will definately try them out. I HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN!!!! but loving every minute of it... (gees, isn't that a song?):P:P:P;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starrynight Quilter Posted October 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 Heidi After reading your response I promptly went to the store and bought starch. I steamed and starched some of my problem pieces and it worked. It took most of the bubbles out. Once quilted, I think it will be fine. Thanks for all of your help and quick responses. I absolutely love this forum....I just knew someone would come to my rescue....:D:D. You guys (ladies) are awesome!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 Marlene, I'm so glad that it helped you out! I would be lost without my starch. I have used it forever and never had a problem. There are some that say you could get silverfish but I always wash my quilts once they are quilted anyway. I've never had a problem with silverfish. I don't like sizing as much as heavy starch. Makes the sewing process so much better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judi Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 Marlene - glad everything worked out for you! If you use that "Best Press" stuff it says you should not attract silverfish either. I buy that stuff by the gallon!! Much cheaper that way..... I always prewash and press and spray my fabrics..... always. Even the Block of the Month I was in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanmezera Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 I mix liquid startch and water in a spray bottle and I have also used Best Press, I have never had a problem with silverfish, but then my studio is upstairs not in a lower level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starrynight Quilter Posted October 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 The stuff I got today was Easy On Speed Starch. Never heard of Best Press. I will be on the lookout for it. Never heard of silverfish either. I take it it must be some kind of film left on the quilt after it dries???...Oh my,,,,I have a lot to learn... Thanks for all of your suggestions....;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 Marlene, Silverfish are a bug that like starch. I have never had a problem with them and have lived up and down the east coast. Hopefully I never learn about them. Best Press can be purchased at quilt shops. It is much more expensive than starch. I just never found it enticing enough for me to spend the extra $'s on it. Starch works just fine for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgroby Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 I'm with Heidi on this topic. I love starching all my fabrics, and use it at various stages. I, too, find it makes the entire process much easier, and my piecing much more accurate. I also think Best Press is rather expensive, considering the cost of regular starch. But it does smell good! Personally, I'd rather save my dollars for more thread! And we don't have those bugs here in central TX either - to my knowledge, so I've never had a problem using starch for quilting or clothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 On the west coast we often found silver fish in the backs of old books that had the mucalege glue in them, and sometimes on old photo's.. some product they liked to chew on. I use spray sizing, but also wash before I let go of them. You could also ask an exterminator Co. if there are silver fish in your area. If they don't know, they are in the wrong business... lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starrynight Quilter Posted October 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 O.K. I was way off on my assumption... :D and oh my...silverfish...like I said, never heard of them and really don't want to get to know them either :P:P You guys can keep them in your neck of the woods:D:D:D I have enough problems with ants and spiders. These are easy enough to deal with. I am much much bigger than they are!!!!:P:P. The problem is, they can r u n a lot faster than I can:P:P Sure glad I asked about my piecing question. Sure learned a lot from your responses. Thanks a bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judi Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 I agree on the cost of the Best Press, but I buy it in the gallon jugs and refill those tiny little spray bottles. Plus - I buy it wholesale - SO many backing and quilts I get need a good pressing!!! Best thing yet - is I can buy it where I can pick it up - and don't have the added cost of shipping!!! :cool: Be happy with the little things!!!!:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 Best press doesn't have celulose (probably mispelled) that the bugs eat. The starch does. I have never lived in a house with silver fish but I have seen them in apartments and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 Have you got bias on the outer edges of your blocks? Blocks that have triangles, and other angles for that matter, in them, will get wonky if you haven't stabilized the bias. That is why I use triangle paper for HSTs and QSTs -- you always end up with the straight-of-grain on the outer edges of your blocks. I belong to a small group of quilters at the UO who don't all know this and we've made some really awful projects as a result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starrynight Quilter Posted October 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2010 Linda, What do you mean by triangle paper? Told you I was a newbie:P:P:P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted October 14, 2010 Report Share Posted October 14, 2010 Check out Triangulations by Bear Paw Quilting. It's a CD you put in your computer, and you can print out pages that will let you sew up a bunch of HSTs in nearly any size. Since you're putting two fabrics right sides together and sewing on the lines, you never have to sew on a bias edge. No stretching!! Quick and easy peasy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starrynight Quilter Posted October 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2010 Thanks Linda...what a great website! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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