Hi - I just registed and tho't maybe someone here could help me with my problem.

I'm making a small quilt top that looked to be a really simple project. The rows across are made up with 3 1/2" pieces followed by 8 1/2" pieces - it alternates those two sizes all the way across the row and ends with a 3 1/2" piece.

I sewed all my rows as instructions stated, and pressed seams to one side.
The problem started when I stitched row 1 to row 2 etc. The blocks /seams were not lining up properly - I've heard the term "wonky" used for this and it really seems to fit.

I'm completely baffled - I have gone back and checked, rechecked and checked agaiin to make sure my cuts were acturate - they were, but yet the pieces in each row are not lining up the way they should.

I'm not completely new at quilting, but by far no expert.

If anyone has a suggestion why this is happening I would really appreciate your help.

Thanks in advance

Whenever working with seams, I always pin them, and then if there is any extra , work it in , in between. Does that make sense?

Hmmm, do you mean you're attaching the 3.5" piece to the next row's 3.5" piece? Or are you going in your first row - 3 8 3 8 3 and in your second 8 3 8 3 8?

Assuming you're doing the latter - that's an easy problem! Each row has to start with a 3 and end with an 8, or vice versa. By having it go 3 8 3 8 3 = 25", with a 3 on each end, it won't be even with your 8 3 8 3 8 = 30 "row, unless you cut parts of the 8 off. And if you stop at the 3 in the 2nd row, it's too short :(

So as long as each row starts with one size and ends with the other size, they'll line up :mrgreen: Or, if you don't want any seams to line up, just make sure that the rows add up to the same number, after you take out seam allowance (like what I did in the 2nd paragraph)

Happy sewing!

Sometimes when I have a long row of matching seams, I glue the seams exactly where I want them to match up. If I'm off too much to fudge 1/16" or so then something is not right with my piecing. I start sewing a long row together from the middle out. That helps keep the row from ending up short on one side.

You might have stretched the pieces when you pressed? Did you possibly "iron" instead of pressing, and push the pieces around and out of square?

I press the seams in one direction on the first and all subsequent odd rows and press the seams in the opposite direction on the second and all subsequent even rows.

That way, when you put row 2 on row 1, the seams should nestle. If you pin the seams, then you can adjust (fudge) the fabric to fit.

Don't worry too much. It's one of those things every beginning quilter has to get through. Shoot, sometimes, it still happens.

Can't help you with your problem, but wanted to welcome you to the forum.

MadQuilter - I think you might have hit the nail right on the head! When I tho't back on it I do belive I ironed back and forth instead of pressing with an up and down motion.

I don't see any way to fix this mess other than take it apart and start over again. aaaaggggghhhhhh

A big thanks to all of you who responded.

To LucyInTheSky - All the rows are 3 8 3 8 3 8 3

try spraying them with a little water and letting them air dry...they may shrink back up to the correct size...or maybe not...but it is worth a try :wink:

Either that way or block them with starch. That works well for blocking.

Sometimes I have found that my seams are off just a hair. You may need to check to see if you have an accurate 1/4". Thread size will make a difference also, especially if you change in the middle of the project.

i'm VERY lazy about such things. too much easing (that is ... squishing the extra to fit the less and vice versa) could create a lot of unattractive ripples and puckers. fixing your seams will take forever. for me, that's too much time, effort and stress. life is too short.

my solution would be to attach the strips to each other so that they are deliberately offset. by that, i mean i'd sew them together so that none of the seams from one strip intersect with any of the seams from the next strip. don't worry about how evenly spaced things are. just put them together any-old-whicha-way. there will probably be bits of strips hanging off the ends of each set. trim off the excess from each end. (whether you do that as you stitch each set or after the who top is assembled should depend on how handy you are with a ruler and how much workspace you have.)

when it's all together and trimmed, it will be smaller than intended. either settle for a smaller quilt, or add some border strips.

THEN i'd get some new fabs and use the lessons i learned from this attempt to make the quilt i wanted in the first place.

if you need the intended quilt right away, just put the wonky one aside for later and start over now.

You can work them in by placing the piece with the most fabric on the bottom so that the feed dogs will help to ease it all in.