T.

I also have trouble with matching seams sometimes; I will try some of your suggestions as well.
One thing I have learned when I first started was to square up the blocks using the smallest and most "perfect" block as a guide. Of course the ultimate goal would be having all of the squares the same size that you originally intended. But when you can't; this will help keep all of your squares the same, and so you can match the seams with all the methods suggested here in this blog. THank you all for your suggestions.

mar32428

I too was having a huge problem with seam matching. Then after reading the board, I realized my problem was the pressing. I wasn't pressing, I was ironing, and stretching my fabric. I have a tendency to be a little (?) careless about pressing seams. I have learned from you all how very important this is and now being much more careful with much better results.

mojo11

Matching seams is why I now hand applique and love love love it. No seams to match.

smitty

and I would add---gently press seams "as sewn" to set the
stitches--then press to the side needed. another thing that
sometimes people do not notice is that sometimes you tend
to go narrower at the end of a seam (or wider, usually narrow).
so, your seam looks like 1/4",but it is off just where you will
match the SA. make sure when you press that you do not
have a minute "fold" on the seam.

TN Gal

I've been told over and over again - accuracy, Accuracy, ACCURACY! Comes with practice and much patience!

T.

One more thing, when you square up, measure based on your stitching lines (in the middle of the block, for example) so the shapes come out looking more balanced :)

nancia

press--don't iron. pressing means you put the iron down on the fabric and put weight on it. pick the iron up and put it down in the next place, press down on it. ironing you move the iron around on the fabric. pressing is different, as you can see. ironing stretches the fabric and moves the threads around. pressing keeps the threads where you want them--where they were when you cut the piece.

Marie4403

I pin at the intersection of the seams with pins that look like forks made for this purpose. The machine sews right over them. This seems to work for me. The pins are in joannes .

postal packin' mama

Use the "Search" function at the top of this page and
look for the tutorial by Izzy "Easy Intersections".
There's a download to click on at the bottom of her posting that takes you to a very good tutorial on it.
(Or you could use "tutorials" at the bottom of the screen and search for that one.)