annette

HI i sure have added a small border to some of my blocks to make them even, but on the other hand i don,t beat myself up if my blocks aren't straight i just try harder to get them straight the next time and pay more attention in measuing and cutting the next go round
Happy Quilting lol Annette

Dodie

you might also measure an eexact quater inch seam on your machine and
stick a corn pad there if you have trouble running your fabric straight under the pressure foot this is just high enough to do that hope this will
help you
Dodie

luvabargain

Thanks everyone. I will keep all your tips in mind. I know that part of my problem is that my machine is on its last leg. It has major issues and it doesn't sew straight and everything is off on it. My mom has a really nice one and she is upgrading hers, so I will be the recipient of her old one, so I'm holding off on getting a new one, that, and I will be making a move more than halfway across the country, so I was planning on waiting anyway. I have started marking my 1/4" sew lines in pen, and that is really helping. It's more time consuming doing that, but is better than ripping out and redoing. I also think that I may have gotten a little aggressive with the ironing - instead of just pressing on a few things.

Tiffany

Ouch. My suggestion would be to get a new machine if at all possible, or at least borrow a good one until you are able to get your moms. My old machine wouldn't sew straight either and once I got my new one, it literally made all the difference in the world!!! I agree with Diamonds and the other gals, correct measuring and cutting and making sure you have a 1/4 inch seam is vital in getting your piecework to line up.
~Tiffany

Lois-nounoe

I have had some blocks that were just a wee bit off. If you have ever sewn clothing where you have to ease in seams it can help a lot. Also washing after finishing can hide a lot of "sins". :lol:

alix

Best investment I made was the 1/4" foot with guide, keeps the exact 1/4" tons easier and i think is one thing less to think about. The other thing is accurate cutting - so tedious but true. Sometimes you just want to jump right in to the doing but I find i always muck it up when I do.

Chele

My best investment was a 1/4 foot for my machine. It forces me to stay in line, which if you ask my family, isn't easy to do! 8) Maybe your mom's machine has one or you can easily purchase one. I think you'll enjoy a new machine too.

Tiffany

I find I can usually quilt out any tiny problems in my quilts, though I strive not to have them in the first place. :lol:

luvabargain: How soon will your mom be upgrading? I know working with a broken machine or one on its way out is never much fun. Do you like to applique? If you have never tried it now might be the time to check into it and see if it is something you enjoy. :thumbup:
~Tiffany

luvabargain

She already got her new one, but she lives several states away and is waiting until I move b/c they are planning on visiting me then. I do like applique', it's fun to do, but I don't want to just do that.

Feathers

LuvABargain: I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with everything DIAMONDS wrote above but I also think your iron is your BEST FRIEND and that pressing your seems in the right direction so each junction of your quilt blocks "nest or spoon" next to each other makes your work much easier and your finished block looks so much nicer than having things all caddywampus. Another thing I always do when I'm laying out my blocks before sewing them together is to number the rows with a safety pin with a tiny piece of paper with the number on it. I also put a TOP and BOTTOM designation as I don't always have time to sew all the rows of blocks together in one sitting so this helps me keep everything straight. When you are making blocks (like scrappy quilt blocks) it's important to try and arrange the colors and the fabrics so the same color or fabric blocks aren't next to each other. If they aren't labeled I end up with a mess and then it's rip, rip, rip, rip and I'd rather SEW, SEW, SEW! :lol: