Gemi, you might also try increasing your stitch length. On my machine I set it to 3.4 stitch length for straight line quilting. Your stitches may be too short and tight and pulling your fabric into bunches.

You might be right about it being your machine though. I'm not familiar with your machine, but I do know when I moved up from a Singer to my Elna, everything about my quilting improved.

By the way - beautiful quilt!!

Gemi -

Pinning is very important. It is very easy to pin the folds into your quilt without knowing it. Make sure the backing is taut and flat after you aredone pinning - before you start quilting.

I was told to start in the middle of the quilt and stitch out to the borders. And alternate directions from the center. I found this to be cumbersome and sometimes hard to make the beginning points so the stitching matched up correctly in the center.

The last few quilts I made I used a basting spray - no pins. I was leery of this method, but it worked! Only thing is, the spray has to be done in an open airy room/area. And you are not supposed to inhale the fumes. And I have done this on a kingsize sheet, because the overspray is very sticky and you wouldn't want it on your carpeting or floors.

Hope this helps.

Thank you, everyone!

Betty told me so! I suspect it's my pinning. Most of the pins were at about 4 in, but there were pins that were a little farther apart. I was trying to avoid pinning where I needed to sew.

I'm ripping all the stitches. I will do the sandwich all over again. I need to iron the top and the backing again because it got really wrinkled when I rolled the sides of the sandwich to be able to fit it through the machines throat.

Thanks again for your help!

Emi

You do not have your backing stretched tight enough....this is what I do...

I lay my backing fabric wrong side up on my carpet...then I take T-Pins and pin it to the carpet stretching the backing. When I pin there is no play at all...then put your batting and do the same thing...(now that I use basting spray to hold my layers together-I protect my carpet with a sheet of plastic!) I then stretch the top and I use 1" safety pins and go a fist apart...all over. I don't use as many pins now that I use basting spray but I still use some.

You just have to much play in your 3 layers!

As far as your machine, I've owned several Kenmore machines and you can adjust your tension. If you don't have you manual, call Sears in your area and find someone that can tell you how to do this. But I think you'll find that once your layers are stretched taut that you will not have folds!

If you have tile floor, tape the backing down with a strong tape! Or if you have a large table, buy large paper clamps at the office supply store and stretch your layers on the table.

Betty

In looking at your photos, you have way to few pins...you need them much closer together!

Betty

Sorry, mark your lines with a chalk marker or use a long strip of masking tape. Tape a few rows and sew, retape and sew.

Also, don't let the quilt hang off the table...the sewing machine needs to be able to feed the quilt smoothly and if it is hanging down in front and behind the feed dog this will cause problems also.

If you have a quilt shop close, take it in and ask their advise. I don't know of a lqs that would not help
Betty

Betty

You did a beautiful job piecing you top is just beautiful congratulations.

I found when I quilted my first one I didn't use enough pens,it really makes a difference and being sure the backing is pulled tight.

Miki