blocking board suggestions ?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Maine, USA
Posts: 33
blocking board suggestions ?
So I've realized that I should be blocking my blocks before connecting them -
My husband made me a great "big board" for my sewing room, about 60 X 30 inches on top of 2
utility cabinets with drawers for storage - it is great and I use it for cutting and pressing.
I would like to add a heat proof grid to it for blocking - but I don't trust myself to "DIY" with accurate
measurements.
Have seen the "Sew EZ" board online and wondering if any of you use that?
Or other suggestions ?
I have a gridded pad with pockets under my machine and don't want to have to pull it out and put it back everytime I want to block - or I may just buy another one, it is pretty handy.
Thank you - I am loving reading all the ideas in this forum !
My husband made me a great "big board" for my sewing room, about 60 X 30 inches on top of 2
utility cabinets with drawers for storage - it is great and I use it for cutting and pressing.
I would like to add a heat proof grid to it for blocking - but I don't trust myself to "DIY" with accurate
measurements.
Have seen the "Sew EZ" board online and wondering if any of you use that?
Or other suggestions ?
I have a gridded pad with pockets under my machine and don't want to have to pull it out and put it back everytime I want to block - or I may just buy another one, it is pretty handy.
Thank you - I am loving reading all the ideas in this forum !
#2
Who told you you need to block a block before you sew them together? I square mine up with a big square ruler and a rotary cutter. I personally don't think blocking will get them any more square and accurate than just trimming them.
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
i've never heard of anyone blocking their blocks- if a quilt is going into a show someone may want/need to block the finished quilt to make sure it hangs perfectly straight- but individual blocks should be just fine being squared- simply use a square ruler & trim the edges so the square is a square.
#6
Okay, I have a slightly different opinion. I seldom square up my blocks. Instead I *try* to check measurements as I sew, to be sure that the block is at all times the right size. It seems to me that slicing off parts of the block after it is finished will mean that (1) I didn't sew it very carefully to begin with and (2) I will be removing bits that are necessary to keep points at the proper places. The exception is that some methods of sewing (e.g. for HST's) call for cutting a little large and then trimming to size for that unit only. As for blocking, I think careful pressing at each step will mean that blocking is unnecessary. (And no, I don't sew perfectly, but I'd rather rip and fix an area as soon as I've done it wrong than try to fix it when the block is finished.)
#7
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Maine, USA
Posts: 33
Thanks for the replies - I had read in several quilting books that squaring, although not necessary, is helpful.
I have been just trimmimg my finished blocks to almost perfect and that has helped a lot also. Guess I'll just continue doing it that way !
I have been just trimmimg my finished blocks to almost perfect and that has helped a lot also. Guess I'll just continue doing it that way !
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