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Sew much good information! I find that I do better if I cut w/rotary cutter and mat than using templates, I cut exactly on the ruler line (use caution at the ends of the cut that you dont move the ruler though). When you press your seams, just press them and do not iron them. The iron stays put, dont slide back and forth, (that will stretch the bias edge every time.) If your squares are still off, that is when I cut a 1-1/2 to 2" strip and sew around the block and then use my size up ruler & make them the exact size I need. Sometimes, that little strip just makes the quilt. (At least thats what I rationalize with myself)
Bottom line, dont give up. Practice will sometimes be frustrating, but the end project will be worth it. |
Hi Sunny Cat-
I hated using starch - it always seemed to create flakes on my darker fabrics. However, Mary Ellen's "Best Press" Clear Starch Alternative is great and it can be purchased scent-free or scented. It keeps my fabrics slightly stiffer so that aligning them goes much more easily. Judy |
I just tried making the pinwheel blocks by using the tutorial i found suggested on this site at missouriquiltco.com and they turned out beautiful. they show how to using charm pack squares which are just 5" squares but you could make them from any size you wanted really using the same concept. they matched up and ironed beautifully and were very simple. check it out. :-)
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Don't be discouraged because your blocks are "off." I read somewhere that the Amish deliberately make a block "off" because only God is perfect, not mortal man. Has anyone else ever heard this? Anyway I think your quilt will be beautiful even if there are "mistakes."
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Originally Posted by Skyler
Don't be discouraged because your blocks are "off." I read somewhere that the Amish deliberately make a block "off" because only God is perfect, not mortal man. Has anyone else ever heard this? Anyway I think your quilt will be beautiful even if there are "mistakes."
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Originally Posted by janRN
Are you pressing the seams as you go, before adding the next section of the block? Looks like some of your seams aren't flat and this can make them uneven. I'd try pressing them and then square them up to the same size. You really matched up the centers nicely-that's where I run into trouble. I also like your color choices.
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Originally Posted by sunnycat
Originally Posted by pocoellie
Whenever working with bias edges, make sure your fabrics are starched stiff, the stiffer the better. It will make the bias "behave" better and when pressing will hold the press better. How did you make them-by putting 2 squares together, then sewing diagonally or did you cut the squares, cut diagonally, then sew? All good advice offered on here, I think.
But, I do think you did a pretty good job, regardless. My fabrics weren't stiff at all. Part of my problem is that the muslin kept shifting and stretching while I was tracing the template shape. you are sewing bias, so pin at the end of the seam. then press & square up each little block. then sew blocks for the pinwheel. Pin is not a dirty word. remember when you square blocks up that you need to have a ruler with the 45 degree on it so you can lay that on the diagonal for squaring. you usually take a little off each side instead of all off one side. you might want to try one of the methods where you sew on squares, then cut diagonally. google HST methods. startching the strips BEFORE cutting helps too. the accurate 1/4" seam is so important. test yourself before doing zillions of tri's. good luck ! |
Originally Posted by smitty
Originally Posted by sunnycat
Originally Posted by pocoellie
Whenever working with bias edges, make sure your fabrics are starched stiff, the stiffer the better. It will make the bias "behave" better and when pressing will hold the press better. How did you make them-by putting 2 squares together, then sewing diagonally or did you cut the squares, cut diagonally, then sew? All good advice offered on here, I think.
But, I do think you did a pretty good job, regardless. My fabrics weren't stiff at all. Part of my problem is that the muslin kept shifting and stretching while I was tracing the template shape. you are sewing bias, so pin at the end of the seam. then press & square up each little block. then sew blocks for the pinwheel. Pin is not a dirty word. remember when you square blocks up that you need to have a ruler with the 45 degree on it so you can lay that on the diagonal for squaring. you usually take a little off each side instead of all off one side. you might want to try one of the methods where you sew on squares, then cut diagonally. google HST methods. startching the strips BEFORE cutting helps too. the accurate 1/4" seam is so important. test yourself before doing zillions of tri's. good luck ! |
Blocks are pretty fabrics.
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Blocks are pretty fabrics.
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