Thursday, February 10, 2011

Pucker up

So, in spite of all the gallivanting around, I've been doing some sewing. Just a little. I have all those apple core blocks cut out and I was thinking of a quilt. But then after a few I was thinking of a table runner. But I'm having some problems.

PUCKERS. I don't recall which side goes up, convex or concave, when stitching a curved seam. And for some reason, in spite of all the great tutorials out there.. I didn't find the answer to my question. Everything matches up, those Accuquilt apple core blocks are wonderful with their notches, but 9 times out of 10 I get a little bit of a pucker. I have a few rows done, maybe it will turn into a pillow?

Anyway, regardless, it's good clean fun, right? So what's up with you?

16 Comments:

Blogger Mary said...

Yee-haw for good clean fun!! Pam, I am thinking it is the concave on top of the convex for pinning and sewing. I haven't done an apple core, but can you finger press the center on both pieces and pin from the center first, ends then bunches of pins in between??? Sometimes I take just a few stitches out on both sides of the pucker, smooth it out and sew it again. Make it work!!!

6:37 AM  
Blogger Jewel said...

Concave up works best for me. When I sew fashion doll garmetns like corsets too :)

7:08 AM  
Blogger Nanette Merrill said...

Quilt the heck out of it and no one will be the wiser.

7:48 AM  
Blogger karen @ badlandsquilts said...

I certainly don't know the answer (and would like to know), but seem to recall Vickie E made a quilt with that dye?

(and I like Nanette's answer!)

8:04 AM  
Blogger Nedra said...

Here is how I remember: Smiles always win:), so Smiley on the top and frowny on the bottom.

9:30 AM  
Blogger MomWaldsPlace said...

Honestly, my life is too short to piece curved seams. I always applique them. Kudos to you for the effort. They will look great anyways!

9:42 AM  
Blogger Karen said...

Sorry you're having puckers with the applecore. I've only done one quilt with applecores and I sewed it by hand, therefore eliminating puckering. That reminds me, I really should finish it!

Good luck with your applecores!

10:31 AM  
Blogger Miss Jean said...

I found a good video on Youtube for preparing the block. She has you make a nip in the middle of the concave block to "relax" it, mark the center of the concave and match them at the mark and the nip. Then do like the other ladies say and put the concave (smile) on the top. With that said, it's a little daunting to actually give PKM any quilt advise, especially with something I'd be too darn chicken to do myself anyway! LOL!

11:12 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Yep, Nedra is right as well as Nanette!!

11:38 AM  
Blogger Lori Holt said...

Hi Pam...yes...Nedra and Nanette are right...here's my suggestion that might help too.
Try reducing your stitch length so that your stitches are smaller...therefore helping the pucker situation....smaller stitches won't "gather".
Have fun! Love the apple cores:)
xx
Lori

12:54 PM  
Blogger Penny said...

Pam ~ I think you are using too many pins. I learned this "3 pins only" technique when I took a drunkards path class from Lyn Mann & have had great success. I was amazed that when finished I had not even 1 tiny pucker! Put concave piece on top & pin the 2 pieces together were you will begin sewing. Then fold the 2 pieces in half separately to find the middle of ea then pin both together rt at their middle mark where you made finger fold on each. Put the last pin at the opposite end. You may need to pull the bottom piece gently as you sew so that you ease the fuller top piece to match both pieces where pinned at the halfway mark & you will especially need to pull in the ease so the ending edges match exactly when you've finished sewing together.

1:50 PM  
Blogger Thimbleanna said...

Ok, so I'll add my two cents to all the other great advice you've had. ;-) I can never remember whether it's concave or convex that goes where, BUT, I can remember that the feed dogs suck the bottom fabric at just a wee bit faster rate than the top fabric. Therefore, if I have easing of any kind to do, the side with more ripples, or extra fabric always goes on the bottom! ;-)

6:11 PM  
Blogger Mkdquilts said...

Two words - baggy bottom!

7:00 PM  
Blogger Annette said...

I remember Julie at JayBird Quilts once had a tutorial for a special foot (curve master...I think) that sews curves and it almost looked like fun...I always wanted to try that out.

10:04 PM  
Blogger Cheri C. said...

DITTO TO WHAT ANNETTE SAID!!!!!

It is great and NO PINS!!! YOU MUST GET!!! I saw the tutorial and had to get one. The local quilt shop said they ONLY use this now - MUST TRY!!!! Saves time and when you save time, you can have another nice, relaxing cup of coffee!!!

12:30 AM  
Blogger Mary said...

I'm late to this party, but actually have a very conscious opinion on this subject. If you have a Bernina ... any Bernina ... the #57 (quarter inch foot with a side 'guard') does the trick every time and serves the same purpose as the curve master ... but much more easily.

If you don't have a Bernina ... come on down to the southland and play with mine.

12:24 PM  

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