I just requested to be included. Since this will be my first time in this type of swap, I've requested the small one of 35 blocks. I think I should have asked for the 15 block one. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Sweetie you signed up for a large set. The small one is the 15. I did sign up for the 15. Some may actually sign up for 2 large or 70 blocks... WOWSERS!

LOL Yup we do get some who do two groups or more so some people have done 85 blocks. It is sooo much fun though :)
Hugs
April

Just sent my PM for a start of 15. Got some fabric I have been wondering what to make with it - well now I don't have to think on it - will send it out and let you all decide!!
travelinggramma - currently in AZ

I have a question... I've been thorugh hundreds of 12" block patterns and made a couple samples to see what I can work with comfortably. Finished blocks are all 12''. But this calls for a 12.5.

How do you get that extra 1/2" out of a block pattern? I'm confused, becuase almost all 12 patterns, come out 12" not 12.5. HELP?

I was looking at the past boomerang swaps, and I saw the block we made in this months BOM. It's exactly a 12" block. I have it finished laying on my island. "Old Glory"...

This is so puzzling.

Read the pattern carefully - is it calling for a "scant" 1/4" - that can and will throw the block size off ... ask me how I know LOL

Not all 1/4" are created equal. Right? LOL. I do that. I always do that. Still... 12"

But, I think I have figured out how to adapt the patterns I really like to use. I hope.

When I paper piece - I make the pattern a smitch bigger - because I am not very good at "scant"!! This works for me!

Missgigglewings I sure hope your well and sewing fast as lightening, quick as a cricket..it is absolutely NO fun being in the hospital but sometimes a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. Make sure you are well first then zip on back here. You take care not to wind up back in the same old spot. They tend to hang onto you a lot longer the next round. They kept me round two in March til the beginning of June. Yipes. Plan your escape route just in case. Nexxus, I would imagine folding wouldnt be too bad if it fits. If it folded on a seam it would be easier to get the crease out I think. I just received an item folded up twice and it was hard to press out without pushing the shape out. Just my humble opinion. And last I think its hard to decide a block or colors until you get the fabric. I am more a this fabric says.. (they talk honest!) type.

ok is it just me.. when you follow a pattern to make a 12 block it ends up 12.5 inches because drum roll there is the SEAM ALLOWANCE in the UNFINISHED block left hence the 12.5 size request, it will be 12.5 with a 1/4 inch on it until its sewn in. I hope I said that right. A patternfor a 12 incher is 12.5 measured square done if you followed your seams carefully without attaching to another block thus losing 1/4 inch on each side.. try one and see what you get. Or I am screwing up and magically ending up with those. For years. help me someone if I wrote that poorly or am plain wrong.

The blocks are 12" finished, which means when they are sewn into a quilt they measure 12". Before they are sewn into a quilt, also known as "unfinished" they will measure 12.5 inches.

Last time was my first boom, it was great fun! I have been swapping for years and it was one of the best returns I have had.

Lori
in So Cal

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This is my FAVORITE square ruler to use. It shows me how my block squares up. Before I trim them I press them to death! For my own blocks I use heavy starch and it helps me greatly.

If I have a block that has seams that "split" the block into quarters, I line the 6.25" mark on the center seam lines and use the diagonal line to go "corner to corner" then trim off any excess. ( I use 6.25 because your block should be 12.5 or more )

If the block isn't big enough, then I have to add "borders" to all the sides of the block, press / starch firmly and then trim down to 12.5.

I put a piece of blue painters tape on my 1/4" line on my machine...however, I continue this tape down the front of my machine so I have a visual mark to line up my seam well before I get to the needle. I also use a 1/4" foot with the guide on the side of it but I have found the tape is my best method of lining up the seams.

Having a "real" 12.5" block is soooooo very important for your finished block.

As they have mentioned, a "finished" block is one that has been sewn into a finished item. (Pickup a finished quilt top and measure a block) An "unfinished" block is what you have when you do your design layout of blocks before you sew them into a final project.

I need one of those. I changed my foot today and I think my guide is different, I'll be fine. Someone need to develop a feed that is a "Scant 1/4".... or maybe I need to check and see if there isn't one I can get. I really have to catch up.

Prayers going your way Being dehydrated is really hard on your body, so get better and drink your water~

I get a lot of my block patterns from the Quilters Cache, I am enjoying the new things I have learned. this will be my 3 boom swap and I can tell you the first few blocks I mailed out have really improved since the beginning.

Oh I hope I end up in your group. I have some Dr Seuss Fabric that has been looking for somewhere to go. Thanks for the mailing answers

Tip of the day: I was watching a missouri quilt co video and she mentioned setting the block first after stitching the seam then turning, finger pressing and finally pressing. It helps keep the block in shape. I sometimes end up just slightly off and today found that setting press first before flipping makes a big diff in keeping the size. Block was slightly to the left however so I pinned the top to corners to my ironing board, gently pulled one side over to make it square again, pinned, and again in final corner. Sprayed block with starch (never steam if you are worried about perfect seams) and pressed firmly but not moving left or right. Let it cool.. now I have a perfect square not wonky shaped at all. well worth the two extra minutes to get it right. This swapping with other quilters is.. work. I think you guys are GOOD.. this is forcing me to do it right the first time and to worry about those points. I think its simplier with non quilters. A challege is a good thing.

This is why I was scouring blocks to see 1. which ones were my skill level or that I would enjoy doing. 2. Blocks that highlight the one main fabric for the sender I will be making blocks for. I challenge myself to do it right. I have made three since last night with my own fabrics to find them. Only one wasn't 12.5, but a perfect 12. Eleanor Burns also always sets the seam when pressing. I did that too. I loved the second and third blocks I did. Each different, but more about the fabric then my sewing skills. Accurate cutting, pressing, pinning and sewing... makes for a lovely block. Even the simple block becomes a welcome addition to your quilt when it's done right. :thumbup:


I think I did see in the rules not to use starch or majic or anything like that because of allergies? I use it on mine, but I don't think I can on those I am shipping back home to their momma's.

Count me in for a small group, info sent

Worst case, if you consistently end up with 12" instead of 12.5", when you do your cutting, add an extra 1/2" to the pieces. Maybe it's more if you have a lot of seams since each seam reduces your size by 1/4". I'm not really sure how you'd do it exactly - I'd probably draw it out and do some mathy-maneuver to decide how much bigger things would be. But off the top of my head, increasing everything by 1/2" makes sense to me.

there are hundreds on quilter cache, but where it says 'block size' 12" '... is that not 12" finished?? it should make a 12.5"
i've used their patterns lots of times, and not had problems...
best thing maybe to do is find one you like, make it, and see what you think :)
happy sewing!!!
hugs!! xxx

Jaba.....Thanks for sharing your block pictures. Gives me, a newbie here, a good idea of what to do.....

Thanks Kensington, I redid my request and am now in the "small" group.....I will be making 15 so see you there....:) I agree, "WOWSERS" for those that will do 70!

Oh! cound me in...thanks :)

When you all sent your PM's to sign up, did you hear back right away (or within a few days)?

I want to do this and I'm hoping my PM didn't land in neverneverland.

Im in too already PM her but no answer at this point! and ask for
large group!
Donna

Hanging head in shame.. Kensington you are absolutely correct. Those blocks make exact 12" blocks when finished correctly and hell with scant they would have to be made with 1/8th inch seams to make a perfect 12.5 which I think is not realisitic at all. Who sews with that kind of allowance so those who have done this before where did you find blocks that are 12.5 inches after you have sewn them? I cant find those patterns. My blocks are perfectly 12 inches just did two. Its great they are perfect in size BUT where is that .5 that I need? GRR just found a pattern I like too. It was fun to put together and is a nice block. One would think a person does not need to do mental math to change up the patterns so I think there must be another answer.

Hi I am in for the large group. I am so excited. I can't wait. I am so looking forward to all the beautiful material you all send for me to play with. LOL. I have used patterns from the quilter's cache and they have always come out with 12.5. So I am very confused on how some of you are only coming out with 12. when i am finished with my block and i do the finally squaring up.....I square up to the 12 1/2.
Another lovely part of this swap is that I am challenged to try new patterns and I really want to get those darn points perfect because I truly love to see them. This gives me an opportunity to practice on them.
I have several materials that I am debating on to send out. Decisions decisions. Oh I can't wait.

Barb

Actually, I have always used my footfeed as my 1/4 guide. Someone posted a link that said to move your needle one notch... I wasn't sure what she meant, so I went and looked. My simple machine had a "left, center, and right" position on my machine... So I moved it to the right. That was all I had to do. I've made three more blocks, using it that way. Worked everytime. Go figure. It is just like sewing right between 1/4 and 1/8". Not quite one, not quite the other. LOL

So, you might try that. I just had to put in a footfeed with the wider needle space. The one for button wholes or zig zag.

I think I am going to try to find a machine that comes with a scant 1/4 guide foot when I gey my new machine... this is a delima for Eleanor Burns... LOL

Hoorah for Booms
 

Here is the quilt made by my friends in Boom 6, expertly quilted buy Sue Baddley. This came out so well, I did 2 small groups for Boom 7 & I signed up for 2 small ones for Boom 8. I am sharing this to encourage those who are not sure ,about joining our fun!

I'm going to give this a try. I have a few yards of one fabric that is just sitting doing nothing. When is the start, hopefully soon so that the swapping is done before the hassles and mayhem of Christmas. I'll be doing a small group (15).

The very reason I picked a small group, the mayhem of the holidays. LOL

Thats a nice fun quilt.

Here are two fabrics I have already gotten ready to mail for this swap and need to pick two more since I will be doing 2 large groups I hope. So I've got to find something else I need to use up.
Donna
I've gotten 12 F8 for this one
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And 10 F8 for this one
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That's awesome Dotty!
Donna

ok Kensington, going to go try setting the needle to the right instead of straight down. That should give some extra room. Heck, I draw the 1/4 in line on the back to make sure double that I get that 1/4" down so either its this machine or I am just not seeing it right now in my head. A major possibility. I will try that same pattern AGAIN this way and let you know my results. Sounds like that should do it just thinking of it in my head. I don't need to change the foot however to do that it wont hit the plate on this dinasaur.

Good luck Elisabrat. I hope it works for you too.

I am answering PMs now..please do not worry I have you :) I just have to respond when I have a little bit of time and that seems to be lacking lately.
I am so glad we have so many people joining in :)
Hugs
April

I want to sign up for the Boom 8.. Sending a PM now...

Here's mine from Boom6-Winter
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Top is finished -- See all the variety :)