LauraJ Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 I used my laser light/clamps and pinned the top edge of quilt on perfectly straight - then basted - again straight as possible. I'm now at the end of the 2nd row and it's wonky. The right side is now a little lower than the left - can tell because of the sashing across the quilt and when setting things up for the computer stuff. Also, the right side border is wavy so fixing that with starch/steam method. Did I mess up or is there something slightly wonky with the quilt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 I don't do many pantos, but with the quilt being slightly wonky and you not having ANY control over how the quilt sucks up as you quilt could be a reason. This is one reason I put extra clamps on when I do pantos. And another why I don't use them. They and I have never bonded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraJ Posted August 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 Sorry - I didn't explain well. This is custom work - no panto. Each square / border has computer motifs but the sashing and inner border is free-motion. I baste the sides down as I move down the quilt but this one has me befuddled as to why it's gone wonky all of a sudden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 That is a huge difference. You say your basting the sides down. What about the sides of each block with SID. You will have total control then. When you only baste down the sides of the quilt and not the rest or each block. I find that things suck up differently from block to block. If you don't want to or aren't getting paid for SID. Then pin well each row down solid as you move down. You will be able to control how things suck up better. There are many many ways to do this. You will get several methods so pick what works for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 I very seldom have a quilt stay straight as I quilt and roll it. I always readjust the quilt top, so that it is straight after I advance the fabric, and then take in any excess as I quilt. If you are doing motifs, are you SIDing around the block edge first, so that it doesn't move? I'm not sure I completely followed what you were saying, but keeping a quilt top straight while quilting seems like a game of averages, as far as I can tell! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmillie2010 Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 if, as you say, the right side is wavy then this may be the cause of that right side going a little lower ... the waviness is moving down. maybe fixing the waviness first before any stitching will help prevent that right side from dipping. also the pinning the b-jesu out of the row before you start the quilting will help. unpin as you go. jmho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniemueller Posted August 25, 2011 Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 I float my quilt tops. It helps me to pin across the quilt close to the top roller, as well as pin or baste the sides. Refresh with every roll. Sometimes it helps to switch direction, stitch every other row right to left. I know it goes against what Dawn teaches but it's something that Sue Patton preaches. Did you measure the quilt top carefully before loading? Maybe it was wonky to start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraJ Posted August 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2011 I must be more tired than I think I am - Yes, I'm sidding around the block and because there is a "block" inset with triangles - I'm sidding around the inside block also prior to doing any quilting. I'm also starch/steaming the wavy border prior to any sid along the outside edge. The bottom edge of the top is attached to the roller and I pinned / basted the quilt top edge after using the laser light to make absolutely sure that it was straight across the top. I guess that's a partial float. This is the 2nd quilt to do this after starting. Another one had to be blocked after the quilting - it wasn't anything I had done but the way the quilt was pieced. I'm hoping this is the same. It's such a dream when I get an absolutely square quilt top!! Thanks all - any more ideas still welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Hi Laura. One thing you could check--that outside border edge you use as a guide for straightness--seldom are those border pieces perfectly straight. Check for straight along the first horizontal pieced seam. Use your laser along that to adjust the top. You have already found that the side border is wonky--the top border could be as well. I treat borders as separate parts of the quilt. Seems like they are the main trouble spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg_marsh Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 I agree with Linda - several months ago I started squaring up using the first seam in from the border and I have much better results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busy Quilting Posted August 26, 2011 Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 I also pin my top to the sandwich using the first border/sashing inside the border as my straight edge . If the border is pieced and not finished at the outer edge of each seam then it can pull apart and be a lot larger than the inside of the top very easily. Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraJ Posted August 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2011 Meg, Linda - that's what I did! I don't use the outer edge of the border but the first seam. It's all totally weird. Hopefully, when it's done - it'll be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.