Question about sewing from alternate sides when making strip sets
#1
Question about sewing from alternate sides when making strip sets
I know when I'm making strip sets or sewing rows that I want to alternate the side that I sew from to keep the strips from getting bowed. But what I'm confused about is the exact pattern, I guess, of the sewing.
Okay: so I have 8 strips that need to become 1 strip set. I start from side A and sew 4 seams making 4 pairs, all starting from side A. Now I want to alternate, so I go to side B and sew 2 seams making 2 groups of 2. Great, no problem, no confusion. Where I'm confused - now do I sew from side A or side B? Since starting from side A would make sense, since I alternated since I just sewed from B. But since the ones that I'm about to connect were sewn from side A initially, B would be the side to start on to make them alternate in their final placement.
I included a picture to illustrate the question
Do I want to lay out the final strip set and have each strip from 1 to 8 have started from opposite sides when I sewed? Or do I want each pass through the sewing machine to alternate? Your help is appreciated, since this is something that's been bugging me for many a time.
Okay: so I have 8 strips that need to become 1 strip set. I start from side A and sew 4 seams making 4 pairs, all starting from side A. Now I want to alternate, so I go to side B and sew 2 seams making 2 groups of 2. Great, no problem, no confusion. Where I'm confused - now do I sew from side A or side B? Since starting from side A would make sense, since I alternated since I just sewed from B. But since the ones that I'm about to connect were sewn from side A initially, B would be the side to start on to make them alternate in their final placement.
I included a picture to illustrate the question
Do I want to lay out the final strip set and have each strip from 1 to 8 have started from opposite sides when I sewed? Or do I want each pass through the sewing machine to alternate? Your help is appreciated, since this is something that's been bugging me for many a time.
#2
Join them from side B. The fact that you just sewed from B doesn't matter since you didn't just join the seams next to the one you are doing next. (it's the fabric that cares about direction, not the machine)
I leave thread tails on the start of each row so I know which direction it started. Helps me out sometimes, especially if I take a break.
I leave thread tails on the start of each row so I know which direction it started. Helps me out sometimes, especially if I take a break.
Last edited by ghostrider; 02-26-2012 at 11:08 AM.
#4
#5
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Northern California, Sonoma Co.
Posts: 2,814
I learned this the hard way...I sewed a whole bunch of 44 inch strips together, one to the next. I did notice that they weren't ending the same, even though they were the same length, but I was new to quilting and just forged on. When I was done (sewing all those expensive batik flannel strips), I had a big curve in the middle, and the piece was unusable. I think, after tossing it aside for some years, I finally cut it into a big fish shape to make a big floor pillow, but I don't know if I even finished that. So depressing.
Good for you for thinking this out and asking about it!
Good for you for thinking this out and asking about it!
#6
I learned this the hard way...I sewed a whole bunch of 44 inch strips together, one to the next. I did notice that they weren't ending the same, even though they were the same length, but I was new to quilting and just forged on. When I was done (sewing all those expensive batik flannel strips), I had a big curve in the middle, and the piece was unusable. I think, after tossing it aside for some years, I finally cut it into a big fish shape to make a big floor pillow, but I don't know if I even finished that. So depressing.
Good for you for thinking this out and asking about it!
Good for you for thinking this out and asking about it!
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Small town in Northeast Oregon close to Washington and Idaho
Posts: 2,795
I never thought of alternating sides. It makes complete sense. Thanks for the advice even though I didn't write this thread I need to know this for my own use.
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