This is why I only do applique quilts
#71
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,095
Oh My!!! You really need to use a rotary cutter - it will improve the quality of cuts dramatically. And I can see that you need to get a good quarter inch seam. the hourglass unit on the right where seamed to the center unit shows a seam that is over a quarter inch to the naked eye. I would have taken that one out and re-sewn. The good news is that some of the triangles are spot on, so I think you are close to getting this right. Just check each one for size (we call it squaring up) before you join it to the next unit.
#72
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
No. She really means Thangles. It's sort of a pre-printed paper piecing system.
http://thangles.com/howtheywork.html
http://thangles.com/video.html
http://thangles.com/howtheywork.html
http://thangles.com/video.html
#73
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: in front of this dang computer instead of my Bernina!(Naples, Florida)
Posts: 1,653
You know, I had to really look for the errors. If they don't jump out at me, I'd say quilt 'er up and count it as practice. Once it's quilted, they won't be obvious at all. I think it's very nice. I haven't been quilting long, and some of my first attempts were disasters. But practice really does make.. well, at least better.
#74
I am still horrible with triangles. One of the ladies in the guild taught me to cut them so they come out right. It's all about finding a cutting and measuring style that works for you. I started piecing with simple patchwork squares, nine patches, etc - no triangles, just worked on seam matching. Then I moved up to things like shoo fly, churn dash, and friendship stars. I'm just starting to try some of the patterns with more triangles now after almost 6 years of serious quilting.
#75
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6
I have been quilting for 30 years - still not perfect....lol...but, the girls are right. You must double check your cutting - must use a rotary cutter and be sure to line up your ruler markings the same way each time you cut (are you inside the heavy black lines or on the outside edge of them). But the number one thing I have found is in pressing! I use a cut & press board with ruler markings on it - and I actually block the quilt squares as I press with steam. Triangles especially will stretch...so blocking them to the correct size works wonders! Then, just keep doing your piecing...it really does improve with practice! Yours looks fine to me!
#77
I love making triangles with Thangles or other printed papers. Also, I never sew the bias triangles together. Put two blocks together, draw diagonal line corner to corner, draw 1/4" from that and sew. Then cut to make two half square triangle blocks. But your applique boggles my mind. I can't imagine the work that went into those wedding rings or the Twelve Days of Christmas. Wow. You are way too hard on yourself. Enjoy what you do well and practice what needs improvement. It's what we all do.
#79
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: South Africa
Posts: 1,922
As my old teacher always said - practice makes perfect. It is not that bad, keep trying! You should have seen my first quilt. Oh boy, but my quilting friend made me pull out the stitches and do it again! It worked, but I still have mishaps. Don't get dissapointed, keep trying and you will see, in no time everything just works out.
#80
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 601
I saw a tutorial on Thangles and it really helped me. Working with a large square and cutting into triangles after sewing gives much less chance for stretching, etc. I only saw one spot that was really bad, and that should be easy to fix. You can stretch some plain "in between" areas, but those triangle points in a deep contrast are just impossible to hide.
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