lab fairy

I'm fairly new to quilting and doing a BOM with a LQS in my area. I should know better than to trust the cutting and measuring instructions by now. They haven't been right yet. But here goes...

If I want a 4 1/8 square block made from 4 quarter sqare triangles how big should the squares the QST's come from be? My instructions told me to cut 4 QST from 4 3/4 inch squares and sew them together. I'm supposed to get a 4 1/8 inch block from that? I only get a 4 inch block. What am I doing wrong?

texas granny

you need 7/8 and it will finish to 1/2

texas granny

4 7/8 will make it 4 and 1/2
I hope that made since to you

ktbb

Are you making your seams a scant quarter inch? That could make the difference of an eighth inch...and are you pressing well?

texas granny

when I started quilting and doing 1/2 Tringles the 7/8 was hard for me so i would go to the next one up and then trim them down

bearisgray

Are you aiming for a 4-1/8 inch size finished or unfinished size block/unit?

(That does seem like an odd dimension for a unit)

lab fairy

I measured the seam, it is a scant 1/4 inch, and I did press it well. I would be less concerned if this only happened to one of the blocks but ALL 4 came out to the exact same measurement of 4 inches. If nothing else, I'm consistent.

My inclination is to cut down as well and I think this is another of this person's poor directions. For a nine-patch block she had us cut 4 inch blocks and told us the final block would make a 12.5 inch square (really? She's been doing some fuzzy math). I really hate it when someone is obviously using a computer program to make up these things but doesn't take the time (or knows less than I do and this started out being my first quilt) to get it right. Frustrating.

Sorry for the rant. I just hate wasting the hour on something that will never be right.

lab fairy

Odd is right. This is the size that the pieced square should be so I can then add it to the rest of the block. This person is in love with the 4 1/8 inch thing. My theory is that she doesn't even know what it is because her sample blocks never measure to what the directions say. GRRRR

My second theory is she uses this measurement so that no one can actually square their blocks accurately (you need a 1/16 and 1/32 mark for some of them) so if they don't work she blames you.

Last time I asked for squaring information she told me it should come out to whatever. She LIKES wonky blocks. This is one of the reasons I will never take a class from this particular place even though it is close to home.

bearisgray

When cutting a square into four triangles - QSTs - theoretically, add 1.25 inches to the finished size. (I would add 1-3/8 inches for a bit of wiggle room)

When cutting a square into two triangles - HSTs - theoretically, add 7/8 inch to the finished size. (I would add 1 inch for a bit of wiggle room)

It's easier for me to trim off a smidge than to try to work with skimpy square units.

lab fairy

This is good information to know. My directions for my block told me to cut my QST's from a 4 3/4 inch block. I now am seeing that once again I should have trusted my instinct and made the block out of paper first to check her directions. After 9 months you would think I'd learn. In my defense, I made this pattern before in "normal" measurements so I knew how it went together. Silly me for trying to give the benefit of the doubt.

Finishing this darn quilt is now a matter of pure stubbornness on my part. Most of the other people quit months ago. December is the last block.