Back in 2000, my daughter thought it would be great to make a quilt for her future in-laws 30th wedding anniversary. My daughter doesn't quilt but her mother does!
I wasn't doing this alone. She was going to learn!
Fast forward 13 years ...... the quilt has been used and washed and used and washed again (Isn't that what it is for?).
As you can see by the picture, a lot of the stitching has 'popped'. Now I am in the process of un-stitching it so I can re-quilt it.
Question(s):
Why did it do this?
Did we use the wrong thread? (We used YLI quilting thread in the top and regular piecing 50 wt. thread in the bobbin).
Someone suggested that because we stitched on the bias and the fabric stretched, the thread did not so it 'popped'.
Was it just from 13 years of much loved use?
Stitching length too short?
Any suggestions or thoughts?
(please be kind ...... this is why I don't quilt much ..... I don't know what I'm doing but I'm great at hand work ;>))
8 comments:
I had to do that to a quilt. It was a log cabin flannel quilt that I straight line quilted on the bias (think a diamond grid). Hubby loved to tuck it under his feet and then pull it to his chin. The stitches popped. Like you, I think the stitches did 'give enough'. I resorted to tyeing it since the flannel had so much give. The batting was a fluffy poly, I wonder if that contributed too?
If only I had answers...but I don't make quilts so can't help.
I would like to think it was because of lots of use.
Karen
*shrugging* I got nothing.
I always use a walking foot when doing straight line quilting... especially important if the quilting is further apart than normal. It helps to move the top & bottom in unison. Also I always change my needle before starting to quilt because I've found a new needle pierces the three layers better. I will change it once during my quilting if I'm doing a queen or king size quilt. Hope that helps. :-)
I"m new to quilting and have not tried machine quilting... I can say that I had purchased a King sized quilt... and during the wash cycle I had to re-balance the load while wet... when I pulled (the very heavy when wet quilt) up to shift it, I heard stitches tear... so, may very well just be the machine washing...
I'm going to guess a lot of use...and likely how much they are washing it in a regular load washer. Perhaps some lines of quilting weren't real secure so much use and it just sort of raveled more and more over time.
First of all what a wonderful gift!! Love the thoughtfulness of your daughter - just like her Mama!
Hope that all is well and that you are enjoying your granddaughter during this holiday season.
xo
Leann
It helps to stabilize the quilt if you quilt around the squares & rectangles, stitching both on the grain and across the grain; then stitch the "X" on the bias. YLI is a good thread, so don't be discouraged. At least it can be fixed. I once quilted a throw with cotton covered polyester...after lots of loving use, the much stronger polyester thread cut through the seams of the cotton fabric. :(
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