I'm quilting my son's quilt diagonally (from corner to corner and criscrossing it) with the walking foot. What do I need to do to avoid folds? The pattern has blocks with four patches and weathervane(?).

In the past I had the problem that when I used the walking foot, I had a couple of folds. How can I prevent this from happening? I don't have this problem with the mending foot.

My machine is a Kenmore 19566 (I think), which is similar to Janome Quilters Dream (I might be mistaken about this one)

TIA,

quiltingemi

The main thing is to pin baste your quilt every 3-4 inches apart. You do not want anything to move as this causes folds. Alternate the ends of the quilt that you begin; every other row begins at the same end. This must be done for every row! Also you need to adjust your tension in relation to your batting. And I would make a square of the same fabrics and batting I'm using and do a sample so you will know how your fabric will react.

Hope this helps!
Betty

Thank you, Betty. I pinned closer to 4 inches than 3. I hope it's enough.


When I start quilting, should I quilt in one direction alternating where I begin until I'm done in one direction and THEN, do the perpendicular lines? Or should I one line and then its perpendicular? I hope it's clear what I mean.

Do one line and the turn it and do the next perpendicular! It's the only way it will work!

Betty

In other words, do one line, turn end to end and do the next line. Is that clear as mudd?
Betty

Hi Gemi - when I first started quilting, I had trouble with my quilt distorting when I did grid quilting on it. I got Diane Gaudynski's book on machine quilting and I took her advice and never had trouble again. So I'll just throw out to you how I learned how to do from her book...

Since you're doing diagonal quilting in a grid all over the quilt (which I think will look wonderful!) start at the top of one corner and quilt a line all the way to the other corner. (of course, you don't have to include the borders, just corner to corner in your patchwork.) Clip your thread and go back up and to the right of the line you just quilted and do your next line. (Each line will go in the same direction.) Do this for each line as you work out towards the edge of the quilt. When you have quilted the first half of the quilt, turn it so you are now beginning your quilting line going in the opposite direction that you went for the first set of lines. So all your lines on the one half will be going in one direction and all the lines on the second half will be going in the opposite direction of the first set. After those are done, follow the same procedure for your crosshatch lines.

Another thing I do is lower the pressure on my presser foot when I'm quilting. I usually piece with my presser foot on 2 - 3. But when I quilt with my walking foot, I lower it to 1. This can really help the quilt feed through without puckers or bunches even though I am using the walking foot.

good luck and I hope we can see a picture of your quilt when it's finished!

Thank you, ladies for your help. I'm heading off to try you advice!

I will post a picture later on.

quiltingemi

I'm also having trouble keeping the lines straight as you can see from pictures.

quiltingemi I also had problems like that with my first few quilts and discovered that I was not pinning it right.
I first lay the backing on the table (this can be taped down to the table to stop it moving and keep it tight) then the wadding and then the quilt top. Then I use bulldog clips (large paper clips) to hold everything tight, I attached these around the edge of the table. Then I pin I usually put in a safety pin every four inches or so.
Since I have been doing it like that I have hardly any wrinkles.
My table is only small so I start with the centre and once that is pinned move the whole lot and then reclip.
Hope that makes sense.
By the way your quilt looks great