Can anyone tell me the trick to doing the zigzag edge on postcards? Mine kept getting pushed down into the throat plate and I finally had to do the last side from the middle out. As you can see I didn't do a very good job.
Monday, October 08, 2007
What's the trick?
I spent part of the day running errands and unpacking. I didn't feel like loading a quilt or finishing up the coins quilt so I made another postcard.
Can anyone tell me the trick to doing the zigzag edge on postcards? Mine kept getting pushed down into the throat plate and I finally had to do the last side from the middle out. As you can see I didn't do a very good job.
Can anyone tell me the trick to doing the zigzag edge on postcards? Mine kept getting pushed down into the throat plate and I finally had to do the last side from the middle out. As you can see I didn't do a very good job.
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13 comments:
First the doll quilts, now postcards...hehehe, all those projects sucking you in! It looks great though (even if I have no advice for how to get the satin stitching to work). I love the projects you've been showing -- the pink quilt is lovely!
I use a .3 - .5 length on the zig zag. As you start an edge, I push the card on the side closest to me...and have some pressure pushing the card at the back edge where the needle is. Once you're 1/4" in, I don't seem to have trouble with it pushing down. I've had more problems with it not moving and getting a ball of thread...thus the pushing.
You're in trouble. THese little things are almost as addictive as chocolate.
I really enjoy reading your blog. I've only done about 7 quilts on my midarm...I am amazed at your quilting. Thanx for sharing.
I love this fall postcard....fall is my favorite season, its all about the colors of the leaves/trees. I have been wanting to make some postcards too. I have asked friends who have about the edges and some said they use stitch and tear so the edge has somethng to hold on to then just rip it away.
you may want to try a product like that.
It is normally used for machine embroidery.
I use it for my machine buttonholing.
Kathie in NJ
I LOVE the postcard idea. I saw it on a TV program while I was on holidays and really want to make some. Do you have a tutorial on them? How do you make them??
Start at the center of a side instead of at the corner. When you get near the corner slow way down. Almost to a crawl until you get around the corner. I use a matching color baby weight yarn as a cording inside the stitching. Stitching over the yarn gives a nicer finish to the edge.
You got lots of good zig-zag advice there so I'll just ask - are you going to join the MQR swap not that you make postcards????
I haven't done any postcards, but at my guild we did some bookmarks last year that needed a zigzag around the edges, and here is a trick we figured out:
Leave the edge a little bigger than you need it, but draw a line where you want your zigzags to go. Zigzag over the line, starting in the middle of a side, not at the corner. Then use your rotary cutter to trim just a thread beyond the zigzag stitches. Go around with the zigzags again, which should catch the little rough edges.
there are two tricks i use for edge finish zig-zag. one is to tape over the hole in the throat plate where your needle goes in and then, with no thread through the needle or in the bobbin case, make several stitches to open the tape ONLY in the area where the needle will go through. this reduces the open area where your fabric can fall in and get stuck. the second is to make your card about 1/4 inch too big in both dimensions, mark a pencil line where you want the outside of your zigzag border to be, sew along your line, and with very sharp scissors or your rotary cutter, cut the extra timtex (or whatever base you used) away.
i love this card, and the edges are well within the acceptable range. you might just still be too close to appreciate it. hide it for 24 hours and then look at it again with fresh eyes - you'll see what we all see
Are you kidding? That card looks fine to me. You would not believe some of the cards I've received. But that's part of the charm for me. Everyone's sending a little bit of their handiwork, the good, the bad and the ugly.
I think your postcard is gorgeous! There's some great advice here in the comments. I've learned a lot just reading what the others had to offer. Thanks for the lesson. :-)
Start on a straight edge not a corner. Sew off the corner then pivot and sew over that corner again as you proceed down the edge. The other options include using a water soluble stabilizer that you wet with a q-tip to remove after stitching, or cut a "binding" with a decorative edge rotary cutter and fuse to the edges, then just do a straight stich down the middle to secure it.
Or just go with what you've done and not be so anal about it...the recipient will love it no matter how you finish it. Remember, It's about fun and sharing...relax, and enjoy the process.
looks great to me as well-and boy did you get some great advice!
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