CindyT
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| posted on 8/18/2010 at 07:18 PM |
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Is There A Trick to Quilting Batiks?
This is my first batik top and backer quilt to quilt. My test piece on the side looked fine (yes, I used both sides batik for the test piece), but
after quilting and rolling forward, the back looks not so nice. Using BL in bobbin and So Fine on top and 3.5 needle. It looks like pokies on the
back and tension sporadic with loops a handful of times (front and back) in each 13 inch block. For those of you that have already experienced the
batik quilt, do you have any suggestions or tricks you want to share to make my life a little easier on this beast? TIA.
Cindy Thompson
My perfect quilting combo...Milli and Quiltazoid
Chrome Top Quilts
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sagebrushquilter
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| posted on 8/18/2010 at 07:40 PM |
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do not overtighten batik...it likes to stay relaxed on the frame!
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CindyT
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| posted on 8/18/2010 at 07:41 PM |
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I have the "mole" thing going on so I don't think it's too tight, but that's a good tip.
Cindy Thompson
My perfect quilting combo...Milli and Quiltazoid
Chrome Top Quilts
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hmerrill
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| posted on 8/18/2010 at 07:54 PM |
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Cindy,
I find that I have to make the tension on top a little tighter than I normally do. There is more resistance of pulling the thread through batiks.
While you definitely don't want to over-tighten I tend to like my tops a little bit tighter and not too loose. Also make sure that you don't have
to adjust the hopping foot. If the foot is too high you will get ugly stitches with batiks. I like my hopping foot down as low as I can get it
without causing it to push the fabric and getting pleats.
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JustSewSimple
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| posted on 8/18/2010 at 08:00 PM |
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I like to use a 3.5 needle to avoid holes.
Just Sew Simple
Sylvia Blissett
APQS Lenni Aug 08
Circle Lord 2010
“Until one has loved an animal, Part of their soul remains unawakened.”
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RitaR
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| posted on 8/18/2010 at 08:05 PM |
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When I have a favbric that is refusing to stitch up nicely, I lightly spray an area with Silicone Spray, put a wee bit of Sewers Aid on all the
threading points and on the needle.. usually works pretty good. Don't spray the whole quilt.. spray what would be a 2 or 3 minute area of quilting..
Good Luck,
RitaR
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doodlebug
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| posted on 8/18/2010 at 08:10 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JustSewSimple
I like to use a 3.5 needle to avoid holes. |
i was gonna say that.....
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rlhdesigns
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| posted on 8/18/2010 at 08:51 PM |
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I don't use BL in the bobbin for my batiks, I use so fine in the bobbin and I get nice stitches and don't have a tension problem.
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meg
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| posted on 8/18/2010 at 09:48 PM |
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i, too, like sewfine bobbins -
i cant get bottom line to work with anything but sewfine on top.
sew fine works like a charm for me.
Meg & Lola-baby, Freeedom SR w/ a QZ Twist
Remember, money talks but chocolate sings!
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Hollyrw
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| posted on 8/18/2010 at 10:11 PM |
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I don't know about the sporadic loops but I've found that the apparent pokies on the back are usually caused by the needle poking the fabric out a
little. I realized this on the quilt I'm working on now. The top thread is blue, the bobbin is brown and the backing is mostly brown and green.
The pokies I could see were not blue. Rub your finger nail along the stitches and fabric should move back into place. When you wash the quilt the
pokies should go away. If you don't want to wash the quilt, tumbling it in the dryer for a little bit may help.
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Gator
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| posted on 8/19/2010 at 12:45 AM |
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I must be weird because I haven't had a problem (knock on wood). I pre-wash my batiks and iron them. I'm now using the magna-glide and magna-quilt
bobbins instead of bottom line pre-wounds. The only batting I use is QD.
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CindyT
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| posted on 8/19/2010 at 08:52 AM |
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It's a customer's quilt and I don't think she prewashed any of it. I played with the tension a little more last night and it looks a little
better. I sure hope the pokies go away, too. Thanks for all the suggestions that have worked for ya'll.
Cindy Thompson
My perfect quilting combo...Milli and Quiltazoid
Chrome Top Quilts
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quiltlover03
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| posted on 8/19/2010 at 09:35 AM |
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I have quilted a gazillion Batik Quilts and do not have a problem (knock on wood). I use Lava and a 3.5 organ needle, even Metro Embroidery thread
and no breakage or tension problems. I do not wind my own bobbins, I buy prewound and I keep my Quilts very tight on the frame. I wonder if your
springy thingy in your bobbin case needs a bit of adjusting, sometimes the little ends flatten out, loosing friction between the bottom of the case
and the side of the bobbin, by bening the little arms back up so your bobbin has a little "bounce" might work better. That was a problem I
experienced with backlash loops on the backing. Just a thought.....
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Butterfly
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| posted on 8/19/2010 at 11:41 AM |
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The magna glides are the key for me, also, the batting has a lot to do with it. Warm and natural is a no-no for me when quilting batiks. QD seems to
be the best in this case.
Jess
APQS Freedom SR
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bonbon
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| posted on 8/20/2010 at 10:17 AM |
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Try slowing down a bit to minimize the needle flex.
I also loosen the quilt sandwich with batiks.
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