Is it too late to add a stabalizer?
 

I am making a memory quilt from my Dad's dress shirts. Everything was going great and then....ahhhhh!

There are several types of fabrics in it. A few are slippery. I had decided that I wanted to do something with sashing (a first time for me) that way it would show each block on its own instead of all blended together. I was at the point that I was sewing my rows together. I could not get the downward sashing to match up to the next row being sewn on :( So, for the last week I have been doing lots of seam ripping and thinking on how to solve this without losing those fabrics altogether.

I am stumped. Is it too late to add a stabalizer to those fabrics? Hard lesson to learn as this is only my 3rd quilt.

Thanks for listening and any help! Off to pick some more....

Ayla

It really shouldn't be too late to stabilize it.

Are all your blocks the same size? That darn 1/4" seam can be a pain in the ???? (esp. in the beginner stage).

You say that the fabric are different, how 'stretchy' are some of them? The stretchy (aka polyester) one would be the one I worry about. In making your blocks, did you mix the cotton and polyester in the same block.

IMHO ~ if the blocks are the same size you 'might' not have to stabilize them. My reason that cotton around the 'stretch' fabric will help secure it.

Pictures are always helpful.

Maybe try some spray starch? Do you have any of the sashings completed yet? Otherwise you could add a cornerstone to help line things up.

Thanks for the help folks. Yes, I think there is some polyester in there. All of my blocks are 12x12 when finished. I'm thinking if I add a fusible backing to problem materials only (still in their blocks) and then re-measure and cut if needed, it could work. What do you think?

Sashings are done to the right of blocks right now. I have no shame and will pick them off if needed.

Thimblebug6000 what is a cornerstone?

Ayla

If you haven't done sashings before, here is a simple way to get everything to line up.

Make rows, with sashing in-between blocks. Add a long sashing to the bottom of the first row. Before adding the second row of blocks, turn that first row over to the wrong side and with a pencil and ruler extend the seam lines of the block across the long sashing. These pencil marks become your "virtual" seams.

When adding the second row, pin the seams in the second row with the "virtual" seams you marked in the sashing. Sew, easing or stretching as necessary to keep the pinned seams matching.

If you mark like this, you do not need cornerstones to keep the blocks lined up.