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From: Anza54
Date: 04-15-2007, 02:57 PM (1 of 18)
I need help with this pattern please. I followed instructions with cutting 1 1/2 strips. Sewing together all strips with 1/4 seam allow. Then cut sewn strips into 6 1/2 blocks. The pattern shows to alternate the cut blocks to make the pattern for each 12" finished block. The problem I am having is that when I line up the 6 1/2 blocks next to each other the blocks don't match in size. In other words the edges are off by at least a 1/2". This is my second attempt at quilting and I thought that this pattern would be simple. Can anyone tell me what I have done wrong please. I hope I explained my problem clearly enough for you to answer my dilemma. Thanks all. I am waiting patiently for help.
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User: Anza54
Member since: 03-13-2007 Total posts: 63 |
From: Bama
Date: 04-15-2007, 03:16 PM (2 of 18)
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Check to make sure your 1/4" seam is right. It took me a long time to get the 1/4" seams right when I first started quilting. If that part is off even just a little in each block, it adds up across a whole block and even more across the quilt top. Take a quilting ruler and place under the needle on your machine. Turn the wheel and line up the needle on the 1/4" line on the ruler. This will help you find the right line for your seam allowance. It helps to place a stack of a post-it note pad on this line to guide your fabric edges through. I sew with a scant 1/4" seam. The fabric edge goes barely to the inside of the line and I get good 1/4" seams. Sometimes I still have to square up a block with the rotary cutter and ruler before putting them together. 
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 04-15-2007, 03:18 PM (3 of 18)
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Normally for this pattern they tell you to measure the width of the strip sets, then cut the squares to that same measurement. That way you know they'll fit. Which way are they longer? if they're longer by the length of the strips, then you can just cut them to match the width. photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495 
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From: Anza54
Date: 04-15-2007, 03:45 PM (4 of 18)
Thank you Bama, I will double check the seam allowance on my machine. I also use a quilting foot but will do a scant 1/4" as you mentioned. Plus use something to line up the 1/4". Thank you GreenDragon. That is very interesting what you said about the instructions on this pattern. My book does not say measure the width of sewn strips before cutting blocks. Just says cut 6 1/2" blocks. As it turns out the width was less then 6 1/2" which of course made the blocks not fit. And yes they are longer by the length. Thank you both for your responses. I will work on this some more but for my next quilt I think I will try something more simple. Any pattern suggestions? Thanks again
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User: Anza54
Member since: 03-13-2007 Total posts: 63 |
From: Patty22
Date: 04-15-2007, 04:18 PM (5 of 18)
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I have a 1/4" foot and my raw edge can not match the outside right edge of the foot, but rather slightly inside.......so as Bama says, a scant 1/4". Bama......since starting the calendar quilt, all my scraps are getting chopped into 1 1/2" strips......it has gotten very addictive and I have three drawers of storage bins of them already... 
Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: vickki
Date: 04-15-2007, 06:42 PM (6 of 18)
| Sometimes you get a piece of material that may stretch a bit more than the other...I always square up the blocks after their made that way all is the same size... |
User: vickki
Member since: 08-21-2005 Total posts: 374 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 04-15-2007, 08:04 PM (7 of 18)
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That is very interesting what you said about the instructions on this pattern. My book does not say measure the width of sewn strips before cutting blocks. Just says cut 6 1/2" blocks. Anza, the reason the book says to cut 6 1/2" blocks is that if you had sewn accurate 1/4" seams, the width of the blocks would have been 6 1/2". GreenDragonLady told you what would work when someone hasn't sewn accurate seams. That is why they don't put that in books since they are assuming that everyone will be sewing accurate seams. Here's a site that shows you how to get accurate seams. http://scrapquilts.com/accurate_seams.html Re easier patterns...believe it or not, the rail fence is considered one of the easiest beginner patterns. The key to quilting is the accurate seams. That is what will make everything turn out to the right size and allow blocks to match. Good luck. TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 04-15-2007, 08:11 PM (8 of 18)
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I think that's why my book says to measure and then subcut the squares the same width as the strip sets, because it's a very "forgiving" pattern for beginners! This was my first quilt pattern I did, and I may have been frustrated and not continued quilting if it didn't go together right (which it wouldn't have because my presser foot was sewing an extremely scant 1/4" seam!
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495
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From: Sancin
Date: 04-15-2007, 08:45 PM (9 of 18)
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Anza -I have run into the same problem with something I am working on. My seams are exact, but like Vicki suggested, one of my fabrics has a bit more 'give' than the others. I think the pressing may have accentuated the give/difference, not that I would stop pressing. I had to square my blocks and the next ones as well.
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: CodyGramma
Date: 04-18-2007, 11:03 AM (10 of 18)
| How many strips did you sew together? |
User: CodyGramma
Member since: 04-22-2005 Total posts: 133 
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From: Sancin
Date: 04-18-2007, 01:26 PM (11 of 18)
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six strips cut and then cut and resewn. I was making a 36 square block
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895
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From: Laurie H
Date: 04-25-2007, 10:01 AM (12 of 18)
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Anza, the Rail Fence is one of the easiest and fastest patterns to use. And I think one of the most versitile as well because of the fabrics a person can choose. I use a 1/4" foot with my machine, but I find that when I use that foot and then measure my seam itself, the seam will be 1/4 exactly...but then there is that tiny width of the stitching. Now that might not seem like much, but if the pattern calls for lots of seams, that adds up. What I want, is the stitching to fall on that 1/4" line exactly, not just off to the side. I did what Bama suggested and I cut strips of masking tape and stack them to make an extra guide. I still use my 1/4" foot, but I notice that my fabric glides just inside the edge of it, not up against it anymore. Now when I measure my seam, the stitching falls at the 1/4" mark on the ruler and my finished block is more accurate. Pressing is important as well and then squaring up. I measure at random points when making a Rail Fence (the width) and then cut the length. All the blocks fit together perfectly then. |
User: Laurie H
Member since: 05-07-2006 Total posts: 40 |
From: material_pakrat
Date: 04-25-2007, 06:34 PM (13 of 18)
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I had this problem for a while, even after making sure that my seams were right. It all came down to ironing vs. pressing, and the material I was using. I was an ironer.....put the iron on the material and move it around. I found that it caused the material and the seams to stretch a bit. Now I am a presser. I iron the board first so it's warm when I put the material on it. This is usually enough to let me finger press the seams then I just press the seams flat, with little movement of the iron. I also use a shot of steam just over the material if I havent been to careful when I was sewing, and have some subborn creases. Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: Laurie H
Date: 05-01-2007, 10:20 AM (14 of 18)
| So how's the rail fence coming along? I've been checking in here to hear about it. |
User: Laurie H
Member since: 05-07-2006 Total posts: 40 |
From: Anza54
Date: 05-01-2007, 11:40 AM (15 of 18)
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Hi Laurie, Thanks for asking about my progress. I am still working on it. I don't work on it all the time because I work full time. I was working on it all day yesterday(first day off in a week). I kept having problems with my new sewing machine I bought. (posted problem under machine talk) So it had been a frustrating day. I am on the last set of blocks. Finally!! I plan to square up the blocks before sewing them all together. I decided to go ahead and finish it even though I bought discount material for this and have found that the material is not the best to use. It has been an endless amount of unraveling on the material. It has been a real nightmare actually. Thanks again for asking. Hopefully it will look ok when it is done.
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User: Anza54
Member since: 03-13-2007 Total posts: 63 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 05-01-2007, 12:46 PM (16 of 18)
I for one am proud of you. If you can stick with this with material that frays badly & this is your first try at quilt blocks, you have the makeings of a really good quilter. Stick with it & be proud.
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User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: Anza54
Date: 05-01-2007, 12:59 PM (17 of 18)
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Thank you for the confidence booster. Actually this is my second quilt, the first one I made was just squares made into blocks. But the material was better quality. Actually it was made from scraps I had. I have never used material that has unraveled this bad ever. Annoying! Thanks again
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User: Anza54
Member since: 03-13-2007 Total posts: 63 |
From: Laurie H
Date: 05-01-2007, 01:59 PM (18 of 18)
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It's amazing what better fabric will do for a project and for our confidence and willingness to complete the project. I can't say that I always use top-notch fabric, but with this latest quilt I'm making, I am. It's just so nice to work on this one and everything lines up so nicely. I'm enjoying this one more than I thought I would, even though I've been looking forward to this particular quilt for a long time. Good for you for continuing with it. Others have mentioned that it's always a good practice to purchase the best you can, whatever that may be, but it's important to really check the fabric as well. However, once in a while, you get something that appears to be good and it just isn't any good to work with. |
User: Laurie H
Member since: 05-07-2006 Total posts: 40 |
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