misspriss

It must not be just you and me, everyone seems to know what to do..lol I watch the tutorials and they don't seem to have our problem. What gives??

bearisgray

It's also possible that your fabric is shrinking if you are using steam.

ManiacQuilter2

I usually do (if possible) make any block bigger and take the time to trim them down perfectly after they have been starched and pressed. I always assumed that using steam and not prewashing fabric, that they shrunk a tiny bit smaller. It does take time to trim but then you have perfectly size blocks. Good Luck !!

Jackie Spencer

I think the 2 most important things when piecing, is the cutting and the 1/4 in. seam. Even a 1/8 in. goof, can be a big mistake at the end of a row. I am not the quilt police, but until we can get that right, we are going to have problems getting things to fit. Which I have to say, I sometimes do. But everytime this happens I hear my Dear Mother say " If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right!"

Bonnie

I agree, you think it would be easy, but not for me either. Mine was with a 5 in. solid block and a 4 patch 5 in. to match up to it. Some matched up, some didn't. Don't understand it either............

Barb_MO

If you can't get a 4-patch to be exact, you will never be able to make 9-patchs, can't trim those, or anything with triangles. work on the accuracy of the 4-patch until you get it right. I test my 1/4 in seam allowance by cutting a piece of 1/4 grid graph paper so I have a good edge to put against my seam guide or the 1/4 in foot guide. lower the needle until it nears piercing the paper. I adjust my needle until I can get it to go through just to the right of the 1/4 in line. Then sew down the graph paper for three or four inches to check that you are staying online. Now sew a four path together and if it is accurate mark the line on the dial used to change to needle position. If that didn't work, move the needle a tiny bit more and test again.

Shorebird

Have you watched Jennie Doan's easy-peasy 4 patch You Tube video?? If not, give that a try..following her method, they come out AOK for me..

AudreyB

This method is new to me. It looks interesting. I'll have to give it a try.

Jingle

Go to the tutorial section on this site. There is a tutorial for making four patches. I made one and put 4 four patches together, some thought they were 9 patches, there was 16 patches to make up a square. I don't second cut them, just leave as 4 patch. I was using 3-1/2" squares of scraps.

Lori S

I find that starching my fabrics prior to cutting really helps with accuracy.