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As much as we want those tops to be DONE, the devil is in the details. I found out the hard way that prep work WILL make a difference. If you cut accurately, and sew accurate (consistent) seams, and press accurately AND CAREFULLY, and make sure your blocks are the same size, your top will pracically fall into place. One block out of joint and you WILL be fighting with it.
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If you try to sew the 4 x 4.25 block to the rest of the blocks with the same size seams, it will be a pain in the *** .
You can "cheat/compensate" by drawing the "finished" size square on the back of the block - and then use 1/8 inch seams on the skimpy sides. 1/4 of an inch on a 4 inch (finished) block is a lot. I would redo it. |
i would never throw away a block for being too small- i would set it aside to use somewhere else-
and how important is your 1/4" seam??? you should strive for getting it right- but no one is perfect- if you are making a 16 patch (checkerboard) square- and your seams are off just a tiny bit (1/8") --you join the first row of 4 squares...1/8" x 4--- you are 1/2" off---if you joined two of these blocks you are a whole inch off- by the time you put 6 blocks together for the first row of blocks your measurements are off by 3 whole inches!!! those little bits add up- sometimes it works to cut a little larger and trim down- or use a scant 1/4" but for every 1/8" off you are- every 8 seams will add to a whole inch |
That bloody 1/4" seam has been and remains my nemesis!
However, I keep trying o conquer it. |
Accuracy is very important if you want all your blocks and points to match.
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There is some great advice in here. Myself, I would go back, take out some seams and make them smaller to make the block 4.25". If it can't be done then make a new one. Learning to correct mistakes on simple block parts now will help you later when you have to correct or adjust for mistakes on more complicated blocks.
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Can we help you find the 1/4" on your machine?
precise cutting and 1/4" seam allowance,is VERY important..to keep you from becoming VERY frustated! |
Originally Posted by DogHouseMom
At first I worried more about consistancy of my seam allowances than I did exactly what measurement they were. Consistancy is far more important.
As for the one block, don't throw it away. Rip it apart, figure out where your error was and fix it. It may have been in cutting, it may have been in stitching. We learn by ripping :) |
THROW IT AWAY??? Quilters never throw any fabric away! LOL!! take the stitches out and replace the piece with one of proper size - happens to me all the time
Originally Posted by JenelTX
Finally! I started my first quilt today. (I forced myself to wait until I had finished another project.) What a fun day! I cut strips and made 22 blocks with 9 squares in each. They're supposed to measure 4.25 x 4.25 inches, and they all do... except one. That one is 4.25 x 4 inches, maybe a little bit less.
I think I'm just going to throw it away and make a new one, but I wanted to ask more experienced quilters how much I should worry about a quarter inch. Do you normally throw away a block that's off by that much (smaller)? If not, how do you compensate for the shortfall? Next weekend... pinwheels!!! :) |
Save it for somethingelse but cut a new one for your project. That 1/4 inch will definitely make a difference. Because that is your seam allowance.
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