Tropical

I have made 12 pinwheel blocks for a baby quilt. My confusion is do I square each pinwheel block or do I block them. I watched a youtube video on blocking and I have watched videos on squaring. Which is correct for my pieced block? I squared a tube block and it made one half of the inside hour glass smaller than the other. I don't want to distort all of my pretty pinwheel blocks. Please help.

Rebecca VLQ

I'd square pinwheel blocks...they're essentially HST. As long as you square them with the center seam in the middle, you're good.

Tube quilts, as long as your sewing line is accurate throughout, should not need squaring. The part where you make them accurate is lining up your ruler with the sewing line (not the edge of the fabric) and then CUT!

Prism99

For me, it's always safer to block than to trim.

How out-of-true are your pinwheel blocks? And what size are they? It is only occasionally that I need to "block" blocks.

Tropical

My blocks are only about 1/8 of an inch on some/ not all sides. Does that much really matter? can I adjust in the 1/4 inch seam line? Thank you for your response. :)

Prism99

How big are the blocks? If the blocks are 6" or larger, I don't think I'd worry at all about 1/8th of an inch off. If they are really small pinwheel blocks, then I would be more tempted to block before sewing.

sewwhat85

i sometimes just correct it in the seam allowance if it is close

amma

Start squaring up, when you are making the 1/2 sq triangles. Then make adjustments in your seam allowances as you put them together. It is harder if you wait til the pinwheel blocks are made, to start squaring them up :D:D:D

Prism99

Oh, I see these are 12 pinwheel blocks for a baby quilt, so they are probably 12-inch blocks. Being 1/8th inch off on a 12-inch block is minimal; I wouldn't worry about it.

Tropical

Thank you so much. I tend to be a perfectionist when it really isn't necessary. I'm going to use your suggestion and not worry about it. My DH is always telling me to lighten up. He's a stickler when it comes to his doing measurements though. lol

IBQUILTIN

I'd give them a good starch and press, then see how far off they are. You should be able to block them that way