Quiltingboard Forums - The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt-Along Week 6 Photos for Blocks 11 & 12

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Originally Posted by Quilting Nonnie

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Originally Posted by booklady

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Originally Posted by janRN

Very pretty blocks Booklady. I can't believe you're doing 4 sets of them. I wouldn't have any hair left--some of these blocks have me pulling it out!!

I'm going to have to do some work with the sashing to get them all squared up. Some of them come out short even though I measure everything two or three times!

I have the same problem with my blocks. I have tried pp, rotary cut and templates and all but one have turned out small. I measured the template quarter inch mark at my machine. My seam is actually a little smaller, since I do scant quarter inch. I've never had this problem with any other quilt blocks I make. It is disheartening.

I like doing the templates best. Last night I tried making block 13 with a smaller seem allowance to see if that would help the block turn out the right size. All it did was throw off he seams so much I had to grow it out and start over.

The more seams in a block, th easier it is to get off a bit. I have found that some of these blocks have to be pressed with seam allowances going both ways, instead of to one side or the other...remember all the bulk of seam allowances ALSO eats up a bit of your block, so I just suggest slow & steady, using your scant 1/4" seam allowance, press, and press again (press, NOT IRON) to get the block as flat as possible as you're stitching it. I also use spray sizing to help hold it flat.

Thanks for the ideas! I'll try that. **crossing my fingers**

I have the opposite problem all of my blocks are turning out larger.

Here are my blocks 11 & 12

#11 was an "iron" challenge. I am pressing after every seam and then every row but this one is still bulky in the back. I guess that the quiliting will have to flatten the block.
Here it is; I haven't start 12 yet

#11 Broken Dishes

[ATTACH=CONFIG]127062[/ATTACH]

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Originally Posted by leakus

Something to consider in the future ... press the seams open - - gently, of course, because no matter the technique, that is a bias seam. One of the reasons that older recommendations were to press the seams to one side (I have found out since working with hand stitched blocks) is because of those quilters used less than a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Also consider that we have been receiving instructions for quilt construction from time periods pre-dating much of our modern washing machines ... today's machines are much more gentle in the washing process.
just something to ponder.
As late as 1995, I was finding "modern" quilt books that instructed "use a 1/2" seam allowance". (This being instructed in a time when the factory norm for clothing construction was 1/4" - - we can probably agree that clothing goes through more use, abuse, and washing than any of our quilts ever will) ...
just something to think about <wave>

Hi Omak,
thanks for your comments, I've been quilting for just 10 years let's say and took classes through out that time. Some of the classes I attended were with known quilters and none has ever recommended to press seams open. I am part of the Boomerang 3 and have received blocks from different people, some of the seams were pressed open; I have to agree that for certain patterns it is just what is needed. I guess that experience determins when to iron open or not. One have to stay out of teh box though!

Love your block. I agree with Omak-I had to press the seams open on this one and quite a few of the FWS blocks. I'm a firm believer in "don't look at the back"-whatever works to get the front looking good is what I'll do!