blocks not same size

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11-20-2010, 03:00 PM

#61

lab fairy

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: High Entropy Zone

Posts: 1,247

I noticed you said you had the small "square" rulers. Do you own a 12 1/2 inch square one? I use that one a lot and it is well worth the investment to square your block accurately.

11-20-2010, 06:31 PM

#62

ljwinemiller

Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Posts: 78

That's the size I use the most!

11-20-2010, 08:04 PM

#63

Annz

Power Poster

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: West Roxbury, Ma

Posts: 10,353

Cutting the material properly is crutial as well as correct 1/4 inch seams. Also place the iron on the fabric and try not to run the iron over the fabric as this could stretch the material.

11-20-2010, 09:32 PM

#64

pittsburgpam

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: California

Posts: 3,502

It really does just take time. When I first started quilting I had lots of problems with things lining up. After 20 years I'm better at it. :)

Absolutely critical to cut accurate and even more important to sew a CONSISTENT seam allowance. If you don't have a machine that can move the needle to the 1/4" setting then get a 1/4" foot. The best thing I ever did to help with accuracy was getting my Viking 830 that has the needle setting. The 1.8 setting is 1/4" and I move it one tick more to 2.0. I just did a quilt with 48 blocks that have 1 1/2" pieces and I didn't need to square up anything, they all came out great.

11-21-2010, 02:43 AM

#65

CindyBee

Senior Member

Join Date: Jun 2008

Location: Louisiana

Posts: 739

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeanne girl

I don't believe there is such a thing as "a scant 1/4" seam". It either is or it isn't and you need to find out where an exact 1/4" seam is on your sewing machine plate. I use 70 microytex sharpie needles and 60wt 100%cotton thread..it is just as strong and less lint than 50 wt. These 2 items take less space for the seam, thus more perfect piecing. Press each seam line as you go and then press each seam in the direction it should go in the whole piecing. Measure ea.block as you complete it and if it isn't the size it should be, get it right before you continue any further with another block.

My thoughts exactly. This is what I do. No taping stuff to your machine and agonizing over every seam.