Matching up will be the death of me (or at least until I can afford a top of the range machine with built-in dual feed which is unlikely!).
(I don't want to seem as though I'm hijacking your thread, Camila, but this 'matching up' is my biggest problem too. I hope that anyone commenting will benefit both of us.)
I started in July using a new domestic Singer with a lap quilt, followed by a queen size with flannel backing (I must have been insane but it worked reasonably well), 8 placemats and matching table runner, another lap quilt and minutes ago I finished a king single-sized quilt.
The latter started with 5 inch squares and had sashing and posts in between the squares. I measured, sewed (I used a walking foot for all the piecing), pressed, seam ripped, measured sew etc. I put more effort into this than my previous work. When the top was finally finished everything appeared straight and in line - I was very proud and felt I was finally getting the hang of it.
I carefully put the three layers together (cotton batting), made sure the pinning hadn't caused any ripples and if they did I re-pinned.
Then came the quilting which left me feeling down after all the previous work. I straight line quilted a 1/4 of an inch on the side of all the seams with the walking foot. Everything was going fine for the first 2/3rds or so despite wrestling the quilt through the standard throat when I noticed the occasional small pucker starting to appear just before I reached a seam. I then also noticed that the seam lines and shape of the squares and posts had very slightly altered.
My guess is the fabric started to stretch and perhaps the walking foot was wearing out (does this happen in such a short time?). I'm so disappointed because of the concerted effort I put into this quilt.
Anyway, the quilt is in the washing machine at the moment because it's a gift for my MIL whose having an operation on Thursday (one of the reasons I'm a bit down - I wanted this quilt to be the best). I hate this part because I have nightmares of my work falling about in the washing/drying process although it's never happened.
How do you experienced quilters maintain the 'matching up' right through until the end? Unless the secret depends on an expensive sewing machine made for piecing/quilting, I just don't see what else I could do to come close to the near-perfect quilt.



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