Sneed

Use a straight pin to line the points up and a dab of glue to hold the seam securely. No matter how hard you try the glue is paramount. I use a basting glue and just a tiny bit so I can open it up carefully and peek to be sure it is correct. If not, dab a little water on and try again, and again, and again. When all matches I then give it a little press with my little Clover hand iron to dry and secure and then stitch. Good luck.

thimblebug6000

Yes I'm sure it was a serious reply, because I have taken a hammer to the centre seams before and it does help. (I'm not sure but I think it was a suggestion once from a tailor's shop)

Quilting Chris

It's been my experience that it is difficult to change the direction of a seam when paper piecing without changing the piecing order. You probably need to experiment, but if you piece two of the sub-units starting with 2, then 1 then 3 and two others starting with 3, then 1 then 2 they may nest a little better. I'd have to experiment. Also, you probably could use a mallet.

Kassaundra

I looked at it closer and I know you've figured out a solution, but I would cheat. I would find a stripe print fabric in two colors that would work and fussy cut 2 opposite triangles so that the stripe falls on the old "seam line" the ones I am avoiding and turn it into an 8 seam center.

Peckish

Yes. My friend Cindi swears by it. When all else fails and the seams are not laying flat to your satisfaction, whack it with a rubber mallet.

Sometimes I wish I could try that on certain people in my life.....

cindi

You bet I do. And I don't bother with a rubber mallet. I have a hammer and a piece of scrap wood in my sewing room just for that purpose. I put a doubled piece of muslin on the top and bottom of the seam, put it on the wood and whack it a few times. Great way to work of some frustration, too....

Macybaby

I did Carol Doak's 50 state blocks, and the only way I could get points to line up correctly was to remove the paper first, and then baste the parts that needed to line up before sewing the entire seam.

JENNR8R

During a class we all heard a bunch of pounding from Susan Cleveland's class next door. We all got up to investigate. Susan was demonstrating a technique to flatten multiple center joins using "The Wacker seams perfect." We all promptly went to the onsite store and bought every mallet they carried! LOL!

Here is where you can buy one: http://www.harvesthousequilting.com/...R&image=Search

GEMRM

You can find a rubber mallet very inexpensively at a hardware store, or a store like Harbour Freight. I've used both a rubber mallet and a regular hammer, with a wooden block underneath.... whatever's needed and as Cindi says, it's a great way to get rid of a little frustration too!

Stitchnripper

Has anyone used a Clapper? I like it, and it is more quiet!!
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/tailors+clapper.do