Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2017 - En Provence
#1032
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,257
Has anyone else had a problem with their tri-recs blocks being a bit on the small side? I thought I had my scant quarter inch seam scant enough when I started but something must have changed. I keep moving that need needle over. Normally I sew at 3.8 for my scant and with these I am doing 4.4.
I was watching a quilt in a day show the other day and she was using her triangle in a square rulers. That got me to thinking that I just might have bought a pattern with those rulers a few years ago in Houston when I saw her. Sure enough I have them! Too bad I have already cut out all my triangles that I need for both of those clues. Eleanor Burns cuts hers out oversized and them trims them down (which is a pain) but at least they wouldn't be too small.
I was watching a quilt in a day show the other day and she was using her triangle in a square rulers. That got me to thinking that I just might have bought a pattern with those rulers a few years ago in Houston when I saw her. Sure enough I have them! Too bad I have already cut out all my triangles that I need for both of those clues. Eleanor Burns cuts hers out oversized and them trims them down (which is a pain) but at least they wouldn't be too small.
I had the overwhelming urge to see what the quilt will look like in the alternate colorway I was considering before being seduced by Bonnie's photos of lavender fields and sunsets. So I have been working this week on cutting a second version of the mystery units. Clue #1 will be scrappy, and the rest will be constants. I think I should get to my original clue #5s today or tomorrow.
#1033
Pam I found with the trirex and companion rulers I need to see the sliverest of slivers of the fabric on the left side of the measurement. I hope that makes sense.
#1034
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Central New York
Posts: 507
Pam - It's been a while since I used the Tri-Rec, but I think I had to keep moving my needle over to get the correct finished size. I am using the Accu Quilt for this mystery and even with that, I am moving the needle over more than I normally would. I am sewing on my HV Topaz 50 and using a quilting foot. With the 4-patch, I moved the needle over 1.8. And with Clue 2 and 4, I moved the needle to 2.5.
Maybe it's just something with the shape of the pieces. ?
Maybe it's just something with the shape of the pieces. ?
#1035
I was using my Accuquilt cutter then gave up when I kept getting them too small. So yes, I am having the same problem and am now using the Tri Recs and cutting them larger and then trimming them down. It is saving me a lot of frustration.
#1036
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 230
I normally have the same problem with blocks being slightly different. I even have a 1/4" pressure foot, so you'd think they'd all be the same.
For this mystery quilt (since Bonnie said measurements needed to be exact), I'm making all the blocks a teensy bit larger then trimming down so they all end up the exact same size. I don't have the tri-rec ruler, but my V-block ruler does make the blocks slightly larger for trimming down.
For this mystery quilt (since Bonnie said measurements needed to be exact), I'm making all the blocks a teensy bit larger then trimming down so they all end up the exact same size. I don't have the tri-rec ruler, but my V-block ruler does make the blocks slightly larger for trimming down.
#1037
I used the Tri-Recs rulers. I cut from four strips stacked. I used a scant seam. I felt my end result was suitable.
If yours are just slightly too small, you might consider using starch when ironing, sometimes that helps.
Or, if the size is too big or too small at the top or bottom of the seam, try re-ironing. If you are cutting from WOF strips, or anyway, from strips that are straight of grain, then the seam allowance that you'll sew on both triangle pieces are on the bias. How you iron a bias seam can make a big difference in size-- because you can stretch it one way or another, and sort of 'heat-set' it wacky with the iron.
If yours are just slightly too small, you might consider using starch when ironing, sometimes that helps.
Or, if the size is too big or too small at the top or bottom of the seam, try re-ironing. If you are cutting from WOF strips, or anyway, from strips that are straight of grain, then the seam allowance that you'll sew on both triangle pieces are on the bias. How you iron a bias seam can make a big difference in size-- because you can stretch it one way or another, and sort of 'heat-set' it wacky with the iron.
Last edited by givio; 12-26-2016 at 08:02 AM.
#1040
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,122
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