On my quilt frame now is a whole cloth quilt that I began more than ten years ago. I had a tiny pattern and enlarged it to a lap size quilt. The pattern is lovely and I love hand-quilting, but back then, I quickly tired of it and put it away for years. After finishing my applique quilt I was inspired to work on this one again. I put the quilt frame in the living room and work on it each evening as I sit “listening” to the TV. (I love Hallmark movies.) It was only about 1/3 done before….and I already have at least 2/3 done now. At this rate it will soon be considered another winter project finished!!
Does anyone out there know what causes the puckering during hand quilting? or if there is a way to prevent this? It is not everywhere in the quilt…only in certain places. It won’t matter after I am finished and soak the quilt, as I imagine it will all be “puckery.”
Have fun stitching whatever it is you are working on! Amities, Averyclaire
Averyclaire 
Claudine Beaurenaud
May 12, 2013 @ 21:35:09
very, very beautifull – I like it very much – congratulations
squnches
May 13, 2013 @ 00:26:43
Wow that is a lot of work, good on you for having another go at finishing it. I never really worry about the puckering, it adds character and shows that it is an original 🙂
Nanouanne
May 13, 2013 @ 01:15:47
Another wonder to be completed very soon! I did not really see the puckering until i read your question…I found your quilting amazing. The crossing lines took all my attention. We can see that you love handquilting!
Did you glue-spray your batting on the lining? It might cause the puckering. But, yes you do not have to worry as you will treat this quilt as the previous one and it will be lovely. I can’t wait to see it.
Annie
May 13, 2013 @ 05:47:07
You are really on a roll now. This is another beauty in the making. I’m not a quilter, so I can’t offer any advice on the puckering. Probably worth a Google search for tips. Just for fun I Googled, “how to prevent puckering during hand quilting”, and got lots of interesting articles and suggestions.
Virtual Quilter
May 13, 2013 @ 07:06:59
Lovely!
Margaret
May 13, 2013 @ 07:23:17
Gorgeous! It’s going to be lovely! I don’t know where the puckering comes from, but as you say, it won’t show once you are all finished.
Life on a Dirt Road
May 13, 2013 @ 11:00:56
Looks great!
pierresdecritures
May 13, 2013 @ 11:23:18
Excuse moi…j’écris en français!!
Quel magnifique travail…J’ai surtout remarqué la qualité du quilting ! Quelle perfection !
Je ne peux pas te dire pourquoi le tissu a froncé autour des fleurs …Est-ce si grave ??? Je serais tentée de croire que ces mini fronces disparaîtront au premier lavage!
Félicit
pierresdecritures
May 13, 2013 @ 11:24:37
Excuse moi, le message est parti trop vite.Nicole
Beverly
May 13, 2013 @ 23:35:17
Beautiful work. I like to quilt and “listen” to movies as well. The BBC North and South is one of my favorites. And anything Jane Austen.
Karen
May 14, 2013 @ 08:21:20
lovely quilting- I listen to tv also while quilting. My living room isn’t big enough for furniture and my large quilting frame – instead the quilting frame and our computers and tv are in an spare bedroom and that is where we spend most of our time – hubby works on computer stuff while I quilt/sew – works for us and we are together
Dawn
May 14, 2013 @ 09:06:05
Beautiful stitching! I love a whole cloth and yours is wonderful. SO glad you have it back out. It will be finished before you know it!! Thank you for sharing.
jill
May 14, 2013 @ 16:55:04
Your whole cloth quilt is just beautiful! I love how your quilting it, I am working on one now where I am cross hatching and using feathers. Thanks for sharing!
Ángela
May 16, 2013 @ 15:44:35
Very very nice. It´s beautiful. I love it. Congratulations.
Hugs.
haleyarden
May 17, 2013 @ 08:48:09
Lovely!
Carla
May 19, 2013 @ 06:16:20
So inspirational! Beautiful work. I was wondering it you could suggest a good book on Sashiko patterns?
Jill
May 19, 2013 @ 07:27:21
Exquisite! LUV the applique. I feel comfort in knowing that I am not the only who has worked on a quilt for many years. Fine stitching!
Nancy
May 19, 2013 @ 07:38:32
Such lovely work. I would like to follow your blog but don’t see where to sign up. I don’t want to get daily emails.
Kate
May 19, 2013 @ 08:20:12
Hi from Sydney! Your current old project is really lovely, beautiful stitching. How nice to bring it back out after a little holiday in the cupboard and be once more inspired to work on it.
rosa
May 19, 2013 @ 08:30:17
Just wonderful,love,love it.Happy quilting!!
Rose Marie
May 19, 2013 @ 09:29:24
What a treasure you have in the making …… love it!
Linda
May 19, 2013 @ 10:27:51
Lots of beautiful quilts and handquilting!! I am enjoying this blog hop with lots of inspiration!!
Little Penpen
May 19, 2013 @ 10:29:30
Puckering? What’s a quilt without puckering? It’s beautiful!! I love that you enlarged the pretty pattern onto your quilt and I really love to see wholecloths that aren’t always white. I want to attempt one in the future, but I think I would get bored working white on white. (Penny NC)
Sandy White
May 19, 2013 @ 21:03:03
Hello from Ohio. Your quilting is wonderful.
Ann-Mari
May 20, 2013 @ 04:24:39
It is to bee a beauty when finished.
An Older Woman
May 23, 2013 @ 09:34:15
You stitching is so incredible. (10 stitches and inch????) I love the cross-hatch look. The puckering may (and I am speculating here) be from a fault in the fabric … like an area where one of the 150-400 threads per inch broke, or perhaps two or three or more, making the tension in the fabric different in a particular area. It’s nothing you can see with your own eye, but if there was a disparity in the fabric weave, there would necessarily be a disparity in the tension; hence, puckering. That’s the only thing I can come up with besides a cat might be sleeping on it at night making a dip (that’s happened to me often!). Patsye
Virtual Quilter
Jun 11, 2013 @ 07:59:18
Lovely!
The puckering may be caused by not stretching the quilt quite as much in one direction as the other when you make the sandwich … not enough for most of us to notice untilo you point it out to us, but enough to be annoying up close!
Virtual Quilter
Jun 11, 2013 @ 08:00:21
I think I invented a new word .. untilo … it means the same as until!
Martha Briese
Jun 15, 2013 @ 10:10:12
Lovely quilt!!! I may need to learn hand quilting after seeing yours!!! My birth mom hand quilts too 🙂 And, your appliqué quilt is amazing!!!!!
wendy
Jun 19, 2013 @ 22:15:54
I have no clue what may be causing the puckering but my question would be are you sitting in a different chair when it happens, or is it happening at either the beginning or ending of a session. Seems to me it must have something to do with tension however it’s happening. If you figure out the cause, I’d love to know.
Carla
Jun 25, 2013 @ 09:10:59
Oh my, your hand quilting is exquisite! Love your work! I too love to stitch in front of the tv.
Leah
Aug 13, 2016 @ 05:49:28
I love it and agree with An Older Woman with regard to puckering. Also when I sandwich and have a lighter fabric on top, I tend to get puckering for no or little reason. Found your work on Pinterest and would love to see the finished product. Will keep looking though as it may already be up ‘here’ somewhere.
averyclaire
Aug 13, 2016 @ 09:01:51
Thanks Leah…my quilt was finished in January of 2014 and when done I used trapunto on all the flowers and leaves. I have the finished piece at the top of my facebook page (Karen Jablonski). I don’t quilt much anymore because so much of my time is devoted to my finished business. Do you have a blog? or facebook page?
Leah
Aug 13, 2016 @ 19:46:47
I do have a Facebook page (Leah Lowney) but don’t have any of my craft on it. It is just for keeping touch with friends back in Tasmania where I am from. I will have to do something about that! Looked at your page and your quilt looks great. Like the work that you do.
CARLA F THERRIEN
Aug 13, 2016 @ 08:50:33
I think it is hard to prevent some puckering. I found keeping the backing taut but not stretched and just letting the top lay naturally on top and then basting seems to work the best. I think the puckers actually act when we stretch the top a bit when basting. From your photo I would say not to worry so much about it and just enjoy. Such beautiful work. Look forward to your final picture!
averyclaire
Aug 13, 2016 @ 08:59:10
Thanks Carla! I am surprised at the comments on this quilt. I finished it and used Trapunto on the flowers and leaves in January 2014. I think there is a post on January 29, 2014. I haven’t quilted much since then as I devote most of my time to my finishing business. You do BEAUTIFUL quilting and always look forward to your blog posts. I actually have this quilt at the top of my Facebook page (Karen Jablonski). Friend me if you like.