Newby - question about block size
01-16-2010, 05:23 PM
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Madison WI
Posts: 323
Hi all, I am making a quilt that is comprised of 6.5 inch blocks to start with. They should measure 6 inches once put together...right? Mine is only measure 5.5 so I am assuming my scant quarter inch needs fixing...right? Thanks!
01-16-2010, 05:30 PM
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
Posts: 1,547
Right, they should be 6 inches after they are sewn together. Sounds like you might be using a scant half-inch seam. I put a piece of blue painters tape about 3 inches long at the quarter inch mark and just let the fabric almost touch it as I sew.
01-16-2010, 05:40 PM
#5
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Location: New England, USA
Posts: 2,969
Kim -
The scant .25 inch is troublesome for new quilters. It sounds as if you are correct that you need to work on that. The biggest thing, I think, is that you want ALL your blocks to finish the same size. So if you are making a wall hanging or table topper where size is not critical you can continue with your construction the same way you did with your first block.
If you are constructing a bed quilt or something that size is critical, then you may want to use some scrap fabric and make a few trial blocks and figure out where that scant .25 inch is on your machine. Just a note - many .25 inch feet generate a larger seam than that scant .25.
The scant .25 inch is troublesome for new quilters. It sounds as if you are correct that you need to work on that. The biggest thing, I think, is that you want ALL your blocks to finish the same size. So if you are making a wall hanging or table topper where size is not critical you can continue with your construction the same way you did with your first block.
If you are constructing a bed quilt or something that size is critical, then you may want to use some scrap fabric and make a few trial blocks and figure out where that scant .25 inch is on your machine. Just a note - many .25 inch feet generate a larger seam than that scant .25.
01-16-2010, 05:47 PM
#8
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Hon, if your blocks are 6 1/2" and you sew two of them together, this piece should measure 6 1/2" X 12 1/2" a 4 patch should measure 12 1/2" X 12 1/2" If you are sewing the blocks in a row, all BUT the beginning and ending block should measure 6 inches across :D:D:D
01-16-2010, 09:22 PM
#9
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Location: Home town: Rehoboth, MA Now living in OK
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Originally Posted by charmpacksplus
Right, they should be 6 inches after they are sewn together. Sounds like you might be using a scant half-inch seam. I put a piece of blue painters tape about 3 inches long at the quarter inch mark and just let the fabric almost touch it as I sew.
01-16-2010, 09:32 PM
#10
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 329
Originally Posted by charmpacksplus
Right, they should be 6 inches after they are sewn together. Sounds like you might be using a scant half-inch seam. I put a piece of blue painters tape about 3 inches long at the quarter inch mark and just let the fabric almost touch it as I sew.
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