mlt150

I just finished a Shoo-Fly block for my Underground Railroad quilt class. I laid out the HST and after sewing and pressing and sewing rows, I some how get the blocks wrong in the pattern. This is an ongoing problem with me so I ask you seasoned quilters...how do you keep everything correct when sewing many pieces? I thought I took extra time checking the pattern and by golly I sewed wrong pieces together!! I think if I did an entire quilt of HST I would be in a fetal position in a corner sucking my thumb!!! What tips and hints can you pass on?

Thanks, Dianne

scrapinmema

I have the same problem but found that if I lay the block out on my sewing table and then put a pin in the side that is suppose to be sewn it seems to help. Will do this with each piece until the block is finished. Hope this helps.

Becky Crafts

We all do that & become fast friends with our seam rippers. Just remember it next time, slow down & try even harder. I'm not aware of any tips on not making mistakes. I'd sure use them if I did! LOL! Just a part of being a quilter I guess. Laugh & go on. Perhaps you've discovered a whole new design! :-)

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

I put the pattern on my table and layout all the block pieces to match the pattern. Then as I pick up each pair I stick a pin on the edge I am supposed to sew. Sadly, I still mess up on occaision.

lfstamper

I double check BEFORE I sew and pin the side to be sewn. I also use a design board and only sew one at a time and put back on the board. I hate ripping....lol. Still make mistakes tho...

QuiltnNan

i remember watching Eleanor Burns a few times when she stacks the entire [small] project left to right and top to bottom. she manages to sew the entire thing together correctly. sadly, this just never works for me. i'll never do a quilt in a day because i have to take two pieces, look 3 times before i sew once

Toni C

I print a picture of the block and as I put it together say out loud the way it should be. "Red top left(HST) long piece, red top right" I have moderate dyslexia and it makes it very interesting sometimes. I can't tell you how many times I have to double check the picture of each block. Sticky notes on 'top' so they don't get turned around, I lay out the blocks in at least 3 rows then sew and replace until all of 1 row and sticky note.Go on to row two and sew.Sticky note row 2 place on top row 1.Lay out row 4 et.

mlt150

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the pins on sewing side, triple check and the picture idea is great. Sticky notes might help me. I really need to get into a good habit of sewing blocks because I am becoming very frustrated with myself!!

Tartan

I made myself a portable block flannel board. I just took a piece of cardboard and made a flannel pillowcase for it just big enough to slid the cardboard in and stitched it closed. I cut my block pieces and arrange them to make the block on the board. I then carry the board to my sewing table and piece 1row at a time and place it back in the right position before doing the next row. I am not saying it is foolproof but it helps.

AliKat

Yep, I keep a picture of the block on the sewing machine cabinet and then I strip piece as much as I can checking each piece as I go.

ali