The Sewing Place

The Emporia => Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside => Topic started by: rubywishes on March 19, 2018, 07:36:26 AM

Title: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: rubywishes on March 19, 2018, 07:36:26 AM
So I may have accidentally, by not paying attention, sandwiched my texta quilt with the scrim facing the wrong way and given that my batting is white and my backing is dark brown, I now have very noticeable white fuzz all over my backing where the needle has punched it through.  :angry:
So does anyone have any experience with this? Do you reckon a lint shaver or a disposable razor may help to remove the whiskers? Or should I stop being so anal and not worry about it...it is on the back afterall and will be a couch quilt so.....

Any advice other than to take up stamp collecting? And no, this quilt has come waaaaay to far ie, 14 hours now of quuilting for me to even consider skinning it and starting again. Lordy, I feel the need for a scotch at the mere thought!
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Iminei on March 19, 2018, 07:42:48 AM
You have to lay your wadding how ????   -<

there's a right side and wrong side ???  :S

Errr ... its not the first of April yet, is it ?   :P
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Efemera on March 19, 2018, 08:44:08 AM
What kind of batting is it?
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: rubywishes on March 19, 2018, 08:54:42 AM
Im, my understanding is that some batting come with a "scrim" a fine layer/webbing that is meant to keep the batting fibres more stable and together. I think in theory it enables a wider quilting space but it's also useful to prevent the needle punching wisps of wadding through your fabric. If you place your batting "scrim side" down, ie against your backing then supposedly when the needle punches down from the top fabric and pierces through the batting and then the backing, the scrim helps prevent the needle pushing wisps through as it completes its stitch. If the scrim is "up" against the underside of the top fabric then the needle is passing through the batting AFTER it has gone through the scrim so there is nothing to stop any wisps being carried through from the batting out the backing stitch hole. Now, some battings don't "wisp" as much as others, and obviously if you have a dark/charcoal coloured batting with your dark backing fabric, wisps aren't going to be so noticeable.
There....clear as mud,,,simples....well, that's my understanding of the process, I am happy to stand corrected if I am wrong.
Hi Efemera, my batting is a 60/40 wool poly...white...ugh....I knew I should've bought some dark batting but thought I could get away with the white as I have heaps of it if I laid the scrim correctly...duh.......
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: BrendaP on March 19, 2018, 08:59:02 AM

there's a right side and wrong side ???  :S

Some wadding are definitely different on the two sides, especially those held together with a scrim layer.  I didn't realise though that it made a difference as to whether or not whisps of fibre (bearding) could get through the outer fabric.
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Efemera on March 19, 2018, 09:12:33 AM
Sorry I can’t help, I’ve only ever used Warm and Natural and never had wisps.
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: rubywishes on March 19, 2018, 10:17:06 AM
Some wadding are definitely different on the two sides, especially those held together with a scrim layer.  I didn't realise though that it made a difference as to whether or not whisps of fibre (bearding) could get through the outer fabric.

This is just my understanding/conclusion from the reading I have done. I think thread count can make a difference too as far as bearding goes. A thinner weave in your fabric may also allow bearding if the batting is so inclined, but my backing fabric had a thread count of 78 so was a good quality. I'm left thinking the upside down scrim is the reason. Meanwhile, I'm still contemplating how to get rid of my wisps -<.
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Lowena on March 19, 2018, 10:19:37 AM
Never heard of that @rubywishes   :S I just use 80/20 wadding any way it falls from the packet  -<
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: rubywishes on March 19, 2018, 11:15:30 AM
So no one has had bearding?? :S I guess I'm just special then. "Special" in a "wrong texta/hole-y/bearded"  kinda way. sigh, I do have talent for ineptitude don't I??  Ah well, I shall just muddle on and try to find a solution. Tomorrow is another day.
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Lowena on March 19, 2018, 12:03:27 PM
I'm sure this would help Rubes....
:toast: :gin: :cake: :toast: :gin: :cake:
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Kenora on March 20, 2018, 01:39:11 AM
A bit late to this one but - yes - I've had bearding. I was using an 80/20 cotton/poly wadding and the wisps showed up horribly against a plain dark blue fabric.  :S I assumed at the time that it was the needle I was using that had created the bearding because I'd forgotten to change the needle from a previous project, and it was bigger than I usually use for quilting. (It was a 90/14 universal and I usually use an 80/12 microtex.)

I spent ages going over the blue border (luckily it was only the border where it showed up) with a tiny pair of sharp scissors, cutting all the wisps off. I hadn't thought of a lint shaver (I've got one somewhere) but it sounds like a good idea.

I've used the same wadding again since, and this time I used the 80/12 needle and had no problems. Sorry, Ruby, but I really don't know whether it's anything to do with which way up (or down) you place the wadding as I don't usually take any notice of which way the wadding goes in the sandwich.

In my case, it could also be something to do with the fabric because the dark blue fabric was a much thicker cotton than I usually use. Unfortunately there are so many variables that it's difficult to pin it down to just one culprit.  :devil:

Sorry I can't offer any practical suggestions - just know that you are not alone. <3
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: rubywishes on March 20, 2018, 11:23:37 AM
Thanks Kenora. I've tried 2 different brands of needles and with each brand, 2 or 3 different types of needle but it hasn't made any difference. I'm using a 50wt thread and a size 80/12 needle....my standard weapons of choice for quilting  0_0.
The backing fabric has a good thread count so I would've thought it can't be due to a thin weave letting wisps through. The lint shaver has done a good job of removing most of the fuzz so now I just hope that that is the end of it and there'll be no further pokies.

I agree with you...many variables to consider and when you start researching on the 'net you get a multitude of opinions  many of them conflicting with each but all bearing some merit or logic.
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Kenora on March 20, 2018, 22:01:24 PM
Quilting's certainly not an exact science, is it Ruby? Although you'd think it ought to be, bearing in mind the exact measurements and scant 1/4" etc etc. :S

Glad to hear your lint shaver did the trick. Wish I'd have thought of that earlier in the day with mine. :)
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Catllar on March 29, 2018, 16:09:56 PM
But if it's on the back does it matter very much?
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: rubywishes on April 05, 2018, 12:14:46 PM
But if it's on the back does it matter very much?

I've come to that decision too Catlar!  :) (Sorry for the late reply......unexpected work obligations).
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Lowena on April 05, 2018, 14:16:15 PM
Not been sandpapering any balls whisps, have you @rubywishes  :devil:
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: rubywishes on April 06, 2018, 23:09:33 PM
Why goodness me no......honestly, it was just a piece of cloth I use to wipe my sewing machine with!!

OMG the press and the outrage we have had over here you would not believe. The majority of the public here are screaming and want to send the 3 blokes to a penal settlement....oh oops...hang on, that's where we are isn't it! What a blooming silly thing to do. I know plenty of others from other countries have been caught and punished in the past but you always hope that "your lot" are above all that. :( I guess what really shocked everyone over here is that it seems that the 3 of them discussed and planned it rather than it being one individual doing "a dumb thing"; it was a deliberate and calculated plan to deceive. Warner is not as well liked over here as the other 2 and there is quite a bit of sympathy for the young bloke who obviously felt pressured by his captain and vice captain.

Now I have to go and tamper with my morning toast!!! LOL
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Lowena on April 07, 2018, 10:10:23 AM
Same over here @rubywishes  People feel sorry for Cam. Bancroft as he was probably put in an untenable position. Shocked at Steve Smith who we've always held up as a good captain and a good bloke........ not surprised at Davey Warner - to say he's unpopular here would be an understatement  ;) Hey ho, these things will pass,  :)
Have you got the next project in mind yet Rubes? I'm supposed to be doing the cushion cover and Project Linus competitions but I just can't motivate myself to get going  :| Still, the deadlines are not upon me yet  :D
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: supergran on April 07, 2018, 20:33:12 PM
I had to read the last few posts several times, wondering what on earth I'd missed, then I remembered you were both into cricket or some such sporty thing. That's the thing about the balls, right???  :o
Title: Re: Aaaarrggggghhhh....I've got wisps!
Post by: Lowena on April 08, 2018, 11:08:14 AM
Yep @supergran  cricket it is..... :D