Some factors in getting a block to finish at "the intended size"

Reply Subscribe

Page 3 of 3

Thread Tools

08-06-2017, 11:15 AM

#21

bearisgray

Power Poster

Thread Starter

Join Date: May 2008

Location: MN

Posts: 24,522

Make sure that your rulers are still have straight edges. I wore a couple of mine down so much that I was cutting curves instead of straight lines.

08-06-2017, 01:03 PM

#22

Beachbaby12

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: Florida

Posts: 748

Thank you!

08-07-2017, 02:59 PM

#23

ube quilting

Power Poster

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: PA

Posts: 10,703

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearisgray

Good idea!

I now have a question for you-all:

When making a test block - should one use the "good/intended" fabrics for it? I have noticed major differences in the "heft" of even different "quilting type" fabrics.

An extreme example would be heavy weight denim as compared to organza or plush upholstery fabric as compared to sheer curtains.

I think it would be better to use the components that one is planning to use in the final item for the "test before cutting out everything" step.

I think using "throw-away" scraps might be okay for the first test run.

Another suggestion: If you need/want to put a project away for awhile - leave notes for yourself - which rulers were you using - which machine and which settings you were using -

The reason I am mentioning this - I did not do that - and I wish I had.

Most of my suggestions come from having NOT done some of these things - and I made more work for myself or things did not turn out as intended.

Some very good instruction here to make life easier. A long time ago this tip about test blocks was passed to me. Pick a selection of fabrics from your stash or buy a coordinated set that work well together and set them aside for the task of making test blocks. Only use these fabrics for this purpose. After a while you will have a collection of blocks and you will know what to do with them. A coordinated sampler quilt of course.