New Quilter
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Rochester, New York
Posts: 93
I am having difficulty with squared off finished block. Everything measures well until I attach the border to all 4 sides. Because I am a new quilter I expect that when I an stitching the pieces together they are not the same seam width. I have put a taped line to the seam width on my machine so I thought this would do the trick.
#5
Try sewing a bit slower, and concentrate more on how the fabric is feeding into the front of the presser foot, not up closer to the needle, until you get to the end of it :wink: :D:D:D
#7
Take it slow and easy, with your eye on the front of the foot where the fabric is feeding through, not where the needle is. I put a strip of bright blue painter's tape on mine, coming right down the front of my machine, I can focus on the fabric lining up more that way than close to the foot or needle. It has helped immensely.
#10
The tape tip helped me quite a bit. Until I got it, though, I did things a little differently. I cut my border fabric just a bit larger (about 1/4 inch) than needed. After sewing the border on, I squared up the block using my rotary cutter and mat.
Let's say you need a finished 2 inch border. You'd cut it 2 1/2 inches. I cut it 2 3/4 inch before sewing. Make the seam and press.
Measure carefully from the seam to the edge of the border and cut so that you have a straight edge. Using the 2 inch example, you will cut so that the block will be 2 1/4 inch. (Remember you need that 1/4 for the next seam.) Anything over 2 1/4 gets cut off. Turn the block and place the new edge on a mat line close to your body (it's easier to see so you can line everything up). Again measure from the seam, making sure the ruler is straight with the mat and the seam. Anything over 2 1/4 inches gets trimmed. Turn the block again, measure, cut. One more time to get the final edge and you're done. Now the block should be perfectly square with neat straight edges, and your border is exactly what you need to continue on your way.
Let's say you need a finished 2 inch border. You'd cut it 2 1/2 inches. I cut it 2 3/4 inch before sewing. Make the seam and press.
Measure carefully from the seam to the edge of the border and cut so that you have a straight edge. Using the 2 inch example, you will cut so that the block will be 2 1/4 inch. (Remember you need that 1/4 for the next seam.) Anything over 2 1/4 gets cut off. Turn the block and place the new edge on a mat line close to your body (it's easier to see so you can line everything up). Again measure from the seam, making sure the ruler is straight with the mat and the seam. Anything over 2 1/4 inches gets trimmed. Turn the block again, measure, cut. One more time to get the final edge and you're done. Now the block should be perfectly square with neat straight edges, and your border is exactly what you need to continue on your way.
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