I did my first quilting course a week ago and we started the log cabin block in class and had to do a courthouse steps block for homework. I've now finished them both. (Don't worry, I will share pictures as soon as I put the pictures on my memory card onto a CD so I have room.) They've both ended up 12.25" square rather than 12.5" square. I'm not too bothered by that--can't even figure out how it happened on the courthouse steps block as I was so careful with my seams. But, on my log cabin block, on one of the strips, you can see where I've "veered" into the inch strip. There is no easy way of redoing it, short of unpicking the whole thing or starting a whole new block. Do I leave it and just acknowledge it is there and live with it, realising it is my first ever attempt, or do I redo it? Knowing me and my drive for perfection, it may bother me, but a new part of me is saying to leave it and move on. I quite like this partof me. :lol:

If it was yours, what would you do? Acknowledge it as a beginner's imperfection and move on or fix it?

The important part is not the final size, but the fact that they are the same. Since they are the same then you have been consistent. you have done nothing wrong and i would leave it just as they are. Strive for consistency not perfection. Perfection is not possible. Consistency is.

That is very good advice. I like that! Thank you.

No prob. Glad to help.

Plus, when you go back to the next class, the teacher will give you pointers on how you might improve, to aim for more accuracy. But I agree, consistency is all - it doesn't really matter if your quilt comes out a tad smaller, but it would be harder to get different size blocks together in any easy kind of way.

I agree that consistency is very important, and that you see what is happening so you can get better! If you keep going back to the first piece, you will never get to move on and get better. I have learned to use a SCANT quarter inch seam to get the correct size. The thread takes up space, so moving over a thread or two will make all the difference in the world! Also pressing well helps with the size. There is a thread here on the board that mentions POUNDING the seam into submission! All of this contributes to the ever shrinking block! :?

I'm off to find one of my husband's hammers then. Those seams will submit to me. :lol:

Use a wooden or rubber mallet rather than a hammer.

It should be possible to simply unpick and re-sew that section of the seam. If it's a one-inch long "veer", for example, unpick 2 or 3 inches and then re-sew the line. When I do this, I start and end the sewing on top of the previous thread and am careful to make the change in the sewing line subtle. There would be no need to re-do the entire block. Or am I missing something major? (Quite possible with my senior moments!)

I have also learned to cut my pieces just a thread or two larger than the size called for. Live and learn. I have been quilting for 20 years now and am just now learning to leave "imperfect" seams alone. I have spent way too much time redoing things that were perfectly ok, no one else would have seen a problem with, trying to get it perfect. Don't go there! There are too many quilts I want to make still, to spend so much time going after perfection.