Oh, these partial seams!
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: North Idaho
Posts: 1,704
i always leave about half the block size unstitched, I never heard to only leave 1/4 or 1/2 inch. I think that would drive me crazy. you can manipulate things much better if you leave extra space. I like partial seams. they don't bother me at all
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 819
Don't leave a 1/4" unsewn. I leave 1/2" or more and it is so much easier. I learned that in a class at Paducah quilt show. Forgot the name of the instructor but remember it was a pricey class. I ended up not liking the pattern but learning how to do the partial seams with no hassle was worth it.
thanks,
charlotte
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: North Idaho
Posts: 1,704
after the last piece is attached (where in theory it would have met up with your partial seam), you just return back to the first half sewn seam and sew the undone part.
if you only leave the 1/4 inch then you are essentially treating the partial seam just like a Y seam. and I *hate* Y seams!. if you leave more open then, sure, you have one more step to do at the end, but it feels more like regular piecing and without the Y seam headache.
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 2,679
I have seen patterns that I would like to make, but then when it says "partial seams", I decide that I didn't want to make that quilt that bad. I guess I'm just "an old cat that doesn't want to learn a new trick"
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,503
I made a quilt where all the blocks had partial seams. It was my first and only quilt with partial seams too. I found marking the quarter inch at every corner with just a dot or short line helped me to match with the next block. My blocks came out much better than I'd hoped doing it this way. These were 21" x 9" logcabin blocks so lots of stretching occurred. I starched the heck out of them to help them from not stretching while putting them together. I'm also happy to say this quilt has finally been quilted and just waiting for a quilt label to finish the binding.
#18
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,666
Last edited by bearisgray; 05-29-2022 at 05:48 AM.
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Va.
Posts: 5,753
Yes, they do get easier. Especially if you leave enough that is not sewn. I always leave as much as I can. It's also helpful to not press the other seams until you stitch the partial seam, then press them all.
I do a lot of improvisational piecing and have found partial seams to be very helpful, esp. when piecing together multiple size units. Keep at it. Being able to do them will open up a lot of possibilities for your work.
Rob
I do a lot of improvisational piecing and have found partial seams to be very helpful, esp. when piecing together multiple size units. Keep at it. Being able to do them will open up a lot of possibilities for your work.
Rob