Getting a quilt top flat

[shirleyknot]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

Actually,"stitch in the ditch" can be done 2-3 threads away from the ditch and once finished, you can't tell unless you dig at it.

[reg8]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

Thank you very much! I do actually have a picture of the completed quilt top (minus the final pressing). I am very fond of it!
23vmm-wdhha4.jpg

[Claire OneStitchAtATime]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

Leah Day quilts densely. She's not relying on stitch-in-the-ditch as the only quilting holding things together. Aside from which, it's much more difficult to stitch in the ditch if the seam is pressed open -- there isn't really a "ditch" to hide the stitching in.

As to the OPs question -- now you have everything together, pressing with steam will be fine -- just handle the top carefully to avoid stretching. For quilting, I find echo stitching way easier than stitch-in-the-ditch -- you can run the edge of the foot along the seam line. And if you echo stitch, then you won't be running over the thickest parts of the seam during quilting. But in any case, what you perceive as bulky now will look fine with batting underneath, especially after washing.

From what I can see of your colors from the back, this is going to be a lovely quilt! Good luck.

[Midge]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

I have never heard that before. Wouldn't you be stitching on only the threads if you did that?

I had never considered doing it either until I started taking a BOM class with Leah Day this year. She strongly urged pressing open, and if you look at a lot of young modern quilters' blogs you will see they do the same. Leah advises shortening the stitch to keep the seam tight

Not sure what you mean by stitching only on the threads. You are fmqing a quilt sandwich with a top, batting and backing. So of course there is something there to stitch. It's very secure, and doesn't look strange. At least, lol, mine doesn't look too strange if you overlook the wobbles due to my inexpert free motion stitch in the ditch. These are large blocks we are doing. Here is an example of one part of a block.

block 5 sitd.jpg

[PrettyCurious]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

Not sure if you are talking to me regarding my suggestion to press the seams open on the horizontal rows. I was just thinking you will have fewer layers of fabric at the junctions pressing open. But since you didn't plan for that from the start, try one seam and check out how it looks. When I press open I use a much shorter stitch to avoid strange looking seams where you can see the stitching. Like 1.6 or so. You can still stitch in the ditch with seams pressed open.

I see you are new to the forum, so I have another suggestion. Use the Reply With Quote button to open a response box when you are asking/replying to someone specific.

I have never heard that before. Wouldn't you be stitching on only the threads if you did that?

[PrettyCurious]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

I made a quilt for each of my very young grandchildren and pressed all the seams to one side in an effort to give as much strength to the seams as I could, imagining the pummeling these quilts were going to get over a lifetime. I still stand by that decision and logic however, even though I tried not to quilt over the bulky intersections, I invariably did and it resulted in my throwing the timing out on my machine and having to pay for a costly repair and being without a machine for a month to get it all sorted. Whilst I would do the same thing again re the seams, I would most definately be much more attentive and careful as to where I asked the machine to sew. An expensive lesson learnt, and I'm still apologising to the machine!

Yes, some machines are not made for that. A simple vintage one with fewer parts to break, and is easily maintained would be the best option besides a long arm. I have a vintage Viking Husvarna with a low gear that will slowly plow through many layers.
I would never ask a newer plastic, or any computerised machine to do what I ask of my Viking.

[grammaterry]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

You have plenty of advice here. Just press it and quilt it. It is going to be fine.

[Stitchin Sister]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

Sounds like you are trying to swirl your seams. That is just for the middle of a four patch where you want it to lay flatter, not for all your seams. For sewing your quilt together you just sew your blocks into rows, then sew the rows together in a long seam, you can't swirl each block join.

[Midge]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

Thanks, it's done and borders are on! I hadn't thought of pressing the horizontal seams open. It's worth a try! I was planning to stitch in the ditch. Are you saying that might cause issues?

Not sure if you are talking to me regarding my suggestion to press the seams open on the horizontal rows. I was just thinking you will have fewer layers of fabric at the junctions pressing open. But since you didn't plan for that from the start, try one seam and check out how it looks. When I press open I use a much shorter stitch to avoid strange looking seams where you can see the stitching. Like 1.6 or so. You can still stitch in the ditch with seams pressed open.

I see you are new to the forum, so I have another suggestion. Use the Reply With Quote button to open a response box when you are asking/replying to someone specific.

[Bernamom]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

Thats the way I do it, just slow down when you quilt over the intersections and it should be fine.

[katier825]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

I don't mind the extra bulk; I was jut worried that the needle would get tripped up when I'm quilting. That's what I'm afraid of. I don't want "speed bumps."

I think it will be fine. How are you planning to quilt it? If you are quilting a meander, you can easily avoid the intersections. I do that all the time.

[just4me]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

I made a quilt for each of my very young grandchildren and pressed all the seams to one side in an effort to give as much strength to the seams as I could, imagining the pummeling these quilts were going to get over a lifetime. I still stand by that decision and logic however, even though I tried not to quilt over the bulky intersections, I invariably did and it resulted in my throwing the timing out on my machine and having to pay for a costly repair and being without a machine for a month to get it all sorted. Whilst I would do the same thing again re the seams, I would most definately be much more attentive and careful as to where I asked the machine to sew. An expensive lesson learnt, and I'm still apologising to the machine!

[PrettyCurious]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

I only press open if 1) I need to reduce bulk, and 2) that line is not one I will be stitching in to when stitching in the ditch.
My last quilt was a quarter long cabin block sewn on the bias. I pressed the bias seam open since I knew I would be stitching in the ditch on the top and bottom seams, which I pressed in oposite directions prior to sewing just like you did. It's not going to be sheet of paper flat, but it will be sewable when quilting it. I use microtex [extra sharp] needles when quilting, so they punch through the quilt easily.

[auntiemern]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

What I would do in order to be able to 'swirl' the seams, is to clip those 2 or 3 threads that are attached, and then you could still swirl them. If you plan on stitching in the ditch you really shouldn't have any open seams. (there would be nothing there for the thread to catch). I really think it would be fine the way it is, and you won't have any 'bumps' big enough to stop or hang up the needle. IMO

[reg8]

Re: Getting a quilt top flat

Thanks, it's done and borders are on! I hadn't thought of pressing the horizontal seams open. It's worth a try! I was planning to stitch in the ditch. Are you saying that might cause issues?