How long did it take you to conquer 1/4" seams?
04-04-2011, 04:48 AM
#32
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Winter PArk, Florida
Posts: 1,145
I found two problems with mine. I was sewing too fast and I really didn't understand the purpose of good pressing and I was careless. Once I got that down, I was better. Not perfect, but you know who's the only perfect one.
04-04-2011, 04:48 AM
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Winter PArk, Florida
Posts: 1,145
I found two problems with mine. I was sewing too fast and I really didn't understand the purpose of good pressing and I was careless. Once I got that down, I was better. Not perfect, but you know who's the only perfect one.
04-04-2011, 05:15 AM
#36
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ahwatukee, Arizona
Posts: 36
I am probably going to get kicked out of the club for this, but my philosophy is to enjoy the process. Sure, I do try for perfection, but If a don't always get it exactly right, I refuse to let it spoil my joy in the process. I've never made a perfect quilt, and never will, but I'm a good quilter and love doing it!
04-04-2011, 05:22 AM
#37
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Mena, Arkansas
Posts: 1,351
Originally Posted by crb45
I am probably going to get kicked out of the club for this, but my philosophy is to enjoy the process. Sure, I do try for perfection, but If a don't always get it exactly right, I refuse to let it spoil my joy in the process. I've never made a perfect quilt, and never will, but I'm a good quilter and love doing it!
I've been quilting since the '80s, and I still have to be careful about that quarter inch seam. There are lots of tricks to help you; try them all. It's okay to use more than one at a time.
The most important thing is to enjoy the journey. When I teach, I actually enjoy telling my students about all my mistakes. Some of them think they have invented new ones, but they're wrong! I have become really good at ways to 'fix that.'
04-04-2011, 05:23 AM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 469
Originally Posted by crb45
I am probably going to get kicked out of the club for this, but my philosophy is to enjoy the process. Sure, I do try for perfection, but If a don't always get it exactly right, I refuse to let it spoil my joy in the process. I've never made a perfect quilt, and never will, but I'm a good quilter and love doing it!
04-04-2011, 05:24 AM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 469
Originally Posted by crb45
I am probably going to get kicked out of the club for this, but my philosophy is to enjoy the process. Sure, I do try for perfection, but If a don't always get it exactly right, I refuse to let it spoil my joy in the process. I've never made a perfect quilt, and never will, but I'm a good quilter and love doing it!
04-04-2011, 05:25 AM
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Nawth o' Boston
Posts: 1,879
Originally Posted by MTS
I just wrote this yesterday to someone else who was having a similar problem.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-112724-1.htm#2925138
You might very well be sewing a perfect 1/4" seam. But it you're still coming up too short (or too long/wide), then your problem is either in the cutting or in the pressing.
And a 1/16th off in the cutting, not pressing the seam properly here and there.... then you sew a couple of subunits together and your block is short 1/4". Not a big surprise.
Those other steps are just as important as the sewing. And that's not quilt police propaganda. ;-)
As I did in the thread link, if you can get your hands on "The Art of Machine Piecing" by Sally Collins, it will explain in nauseating detail the how/what/where things go wrong, and how to prevent it.
It's really just checking, checking, and checking at each step of the way.
Notions - post-its, 1/4" feet, block books - they're not a panacea for understanding the construction.
And then, after you understand the how/why/where, you can totally forget Sally's perfectionist ways and go make art quilts. ;-)
Try to find the book. Really. ;-)
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-112724-1.htm#2925138
You might very well be sewing a perfect 1/4" seam. But it you're still coming up too short (or too long/wide), then your problem is either in the cutting or in the pressing.
And a 1/16th off in the cutting, not pressing the seam properly here and there.... then you sew a couple of subunits together and your block is short 1/4". Not a big surprise.
Those other steps are just as important as the sewing. And that's not quilt police propaganda. ;-)
As I did in the thread link, if you can get your hands on "The Art of Machine Piecing" by Sally Collins, it will explain in nauseating detail the how/what/where things go wrong, and how to prevent it.
It's really just checking, checking, and checking at each step of the way.
Notions - post-its, 1/4" feet, block books - they're not a panacea for understanding the construction.
And then, after you understand the how/why/where, you can totally forget Sally's perfectionist ways and go make art quilts. ;-)
Try to find the book. Really. ;-)
thanks
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