Expert: Dawn Paoletti - 11/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi. I am a beginner  quilter. I have made only 4 quilts. The problem I am having is after a few washes my quilts start to come apart.  It becomes very frustrating after you have spent all the time making it for it to come apart. HELP!! I do not understand what i am doing wrong for this to happen. I make sure that all my seams are 1/4 inch and i also backstitch. I do not sew round pieces they are usually a block ( squares ).
Thank you for taking the time to read this and answer.
Dawn

ANSWER: Hi Dawn.  Lovely name you have, if I may say so!

I understand how you feel, Dawn.  All that work and you can't even enjoy your quilts for very long.

I am assuming you are machine sewing and not hand sewing your quilts.  If you are hand sewing, let me know.

You didn't tell me how your quilts are coming apart; ie, seams, fabric tearing, binding coming loose, etc, so I'll try to cover as much as possible.

Here's a checklist for you to ensure your quilts don't fall apart:

1.  Quality thread.  No old or 'bargain bin' thread.  Also, make sure you haven't accidently been using wash away thread (I know it's silly, but it's happened to other quilters)
2.  Match your thread type and weight to your fabric.  Cotton thread for cotton fabric.  50 wt is the best match for typical cotton quilting fabric.  Use the same thread in your bobbin.
3.  Good quality fabric.  You should know where your quilt fabric has come from, what type of fabric it is, how old it is and how it's been stored before you use it in a quilt.  Make sure your fabric weights are similar.
4.  Plenty of quilting.  Quilt evenly all over your quilt.  No large areas without quilting.  Your batting package will tell you how far apart your quilting can be.  If you do machine quilting, use machine quilting thread or good sewing thread.  If your quilts are tied, I recommend you don't wash them in a washer.
5.  Don't wash any of your quilts in a washing machine, unless it is absolutely necessary.

Please feel free to ask follow-up questions.

Hope this helps.

Dawn




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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dawn.
Thanks for your reply back.
You are correct that i machine sew. ( would love to hand sew but maybe at a later date ).
My quilts come apart mostly at the seams.  Just in different areas.
Can the stitching length or width cause that to happen?  ( for example: smaller stitching or farther apart stitches ).

Thank you again.
Dawn  

Answer
Hi Dawn,

When I first answered your question, I had assumed it was the seams that were coming apart.  If, after you've gone through the checklist I gave you, it hasn't fixed the problem, then it may be the stitch length (if you are using a straight stitch the width won't matter).  You should set the stitch length anywhere between 1.5 and 2.5, no longer.  For regular straight seams, I use my machine's default setting, 2.5.  Make sure you are using just a regular straight stitch.

Also, check your tension.  Make sure your stitches are identical on the top and bottom.  If your tension is too loose, your stitches could come out after washing.

Hope this helps,
Dawn