Machine applique puckers

[Diana U.]

I have been practicing the double blanket stitch and am using solvy (medium weight) for the stabilizer. It looks okay until I put it in water to dissolve the stabilizer. Then it gets very puckered. It looks the same whether I use the stabilizer or not. The background and applique fabric have both been prewashed and I am using steam a seam 2 light to attach the applique piece. What am I doing wrong? I don't want to but something in the quilt that will puckered this bad when it is washed.

I am using Masterpiece in the bobbin and King Tut for the top. I love the look of the variegated thread.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Diana

[Janet S.]

I'm not familiar with Solvy stabilizer. Anyone else? Are you starching your fabrics beforehand? You might want to check the tension on your machine with your blanket stitch. If it's set too tight, it may cause puckering. Have you pressed the piece after it has dried? Maybe pressing with a shot of steam would help. Did you buy the kit or using your own fabrics? I've never had any issues with puckering using Ricky Tims Stable Stuff stabilizer, so I'm not sure. Hopefully someone else will chime in here.

[Andree B.]

I know what puckering is, but can we still see a picture of what it looks like?

Andrée

[Judith A.]

I have used Solvy. Solvy can be very stretchy - especially the lighter and medium weights. Solvy is great for some applications - such as a topping for machine embroidery on towels or other highly textured fabrics. If I am not mistaken, Solvy is made of gelatin. I would not use medium weight Solvy for machine applique. I think you would be happier using a more stable stabilizer!

I am sorely tempted to do the BOM this year. I have been a big fan of Janet Stone's quilts for a few years now.

Judy in Virginia

[Diana U.]

Here is a picture of the sample after it has been rinsed. There was no puckering before rinsing. My concern is what will the quilt look like when it is washed?

Diana

[Margo C.]

Diana, you might want to try making a sample of the applique, complete with QUILTING, then wash it to see how the applique looks. The quilting stitches may provide enough stabilization that you are OK with the finished look.

However, it does look like there is some issue with the tension of your machine stitches, so maybe you could also experiment with that?

[Janet K.]

Could it be that the king tut thread shrinks? Is it cotton? Don't think the poly magnifico will shrink?

Hope this is helpful. Janet

[Michael B.]

Solvy is like a thin layer of dried Elmer's glue. I use it with an embroidery machine for lace or to make patches or as a topper - but I have never used it for appliqué. Maybe I should try it and see if I get the same result. But it is very different than other stabilizers. I bet that is the issue. Try a light or medium weight tear away stabilizer or the Tims poly. I have had good results with both.

[Gerlinde E.]

So is the problem that her bobbin tension is too tight? I'm always nervous about messing with the tension. I know that's very old school with the new, better machines . . . .

My block looks pretty good--no puckering--but now I'm a little worried. Does everyone wash individual blocks? Does everyone starch each block before appliquéing? This is the heaviest blanket stitch I've ever done--I do love the look--but now I'm not sure how it will behave going forward. I am using the kit thread but my own fabrics.

[Janet S.]

So is the problem that her bobbin tension is too tight? I'm always nervous about messing with the tension. I know that's very old school with the new, better machines . . . .

My block looks pretty good--no puckering--but now I'm a little worried. Does everyone wash individual blocks? Does everyone starch each block before appliquéing? This is the heaviest blanket stitch I've ever done--I do love the look--but now I'm not sure how it will behave going forward. I am using the kit thread but my own fabrics.

I have never washed individual blocks. I do prewash, and starch all my fabrics fairly heavily before I piece or applique. I use Sta-Flo, a liquid starch, and mix it 50/50 with water. Any of the spray starches will work also, but I like the Sta-Flo, because it seems to flake less. I also use Ricky Tim's Stable Stuff as a stabilizer when appliqueing. I have never had any issues with puckering. If your blocks aren't puckered after you applique them, they should be fine.

[Margo C.]

So is the problem that her bobbin tension is too tight? I'm always nervous about messing with the tension. I know that's very old school with the new, better machines . . . .

My block looks pretty good--no puckering--but now I'm a little worried. Does everyone wash individual blocks? Does everyone starch each block before appliquéing? This is the heaviest blanket stitch I've ever done--I do love the look--but now I'm not sure how it will behave going forward. I am using the kit thread but my own fabrics.

I agree with all of Janet's comments and would like to add that if you are concerned about how it's working, it might be worth your time to make one small sample block using the products you are working with, QUILT IT, then wash it to see how it all behaves.