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Home Machine Quilting

by Bridgette
(Great Cacapon WV)

I have a Kenmore 15358 a very basic beginner friendly machine.

I have my quilt blocks together and I am wanting to quilt them individually then put them all together and add them to backing.

I have purchased a walking foot to do quilting, but on the sample blocks I've attempted and some other projects as well, all my backing is puckering...mahatma can I do?

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Jan 29, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		Tension
by: Rebecca

Tension can be really tricky, especially with an unfamiliar machine.

I would start lowering the tension. If it starts getting better, fine tune it that way.

If it makes it worse, go the opposite direction.

If neither of these directions works, try lowering the feed dogs.

The walking foot will still be more likely to stitch straight (with your guidance of course), but the dogs won't try to feed the backing in at a different rate than the top.

Let us know how it goes!

Rebecca
Jan 28, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you!
by: Anonymous

Thanks Rebecca I have played around with the free motion quilting, but I almost have my heart set on a straight continuous line for quilting the log cabin quilt.... Which tension do you think I should fool with?
Jan 28, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		The Walking Foot Needs to Take a Walk
by: Rebecca

I applaud you for starting this project. Furthermore, I'm excited you asked this question and I get to help answer it.

A walking foot is great for piecing together quilt blocks. However, when it comes to quilting stitches it can be a real pain in the patooty.

In order to get the quilting done and still use a walking foot, the tension has to be played with.

To be quite frank, I don't have the patience for it!

That's when a wonderful foot can be the star of the show and savior.

A free-motion foot is incredibly awesome!

It allows you to quilt with your feed-dogs down. This allows your stitches to be sewn while you glide the fabric to where you need it.

There is not puckering or catching at all!

A free-motion foot usually looks like a circle or the letter C at the part that touches the fabric.

It's usually a metal or clear plastic foot.

This allows you to see exactly where your stitches are going.

I highly recommend using a free motion foot for your sewing machine when quilting.

The alternative is playing around with your walking foot.

There are a few things you can try to make it work better for you, like adjusting the tension.

Another thing to try would be lowering your feed-dogs so the backing is feeding into the machine at the same time as your top.

Whichever method you try, make sure to use a new sharp needle to make your quilting more effortless!

I hope this helps.

I can wait to see what other quilters suggest. :)

Rebecca

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