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    Old 02-09-2010, 08:06 AM
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    I am making a heart block for a wall hanging. I cut 10 1" strips and sew those into a strip set, then subcut into blocks the depth of the set. I sewed my strips in sets of two, then sewed those together. I pressed carefully, I thought, so as not to distort, but the set came out so wavy that I couldn't cut my smaller blocks. I know that one thing to do is to change direction when sewing strips, which I thought I did. These strips are skinny though. Maybe I don't iron so well ! Any tips for getting it straight.
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    Old 02-09-2010, 08:08 AM
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    STARCH.. probably before you ever made the 1st cut would have been best that way the fibers are sort of locked in place.. this is the only thing I can think of.
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    Old 02-09-2010, 08:18 AM
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    Pressing the seams open when sewing small strips works for me. I was told at a class it was impossible to not have some curve in a strip set. Pressing the seams open, starching before sewing, reverse directions when sewing and using a larger stitch length will minimize the curve.
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    Old 02-09-2010, 08:21 AM
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    Thanks for the tips. I don't usually starch, but maybe I need to start!
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    Old 02-09-2010, 08:26 AM
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    Hi Joan. I'm not sure how long your 1" strips are, but if they are not too long, try to avoid cutting on the bias. I have found that my strips do a lot of waving at me if I cut them on the bias. Good luck. Pam
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    Old 02-09-2010, 08:29 AM
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    Hi Pam,
    My strips were cut from a fat quarter in the usual way. I really think I need to use starch. It seems a number of people here on the board use it.
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    Old 02-09-2010, 09:28 AM
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    When you sew the strips together, start from opposite ends--that helps eliminate a lot of the waviness. It's especially helpful if you are sewing strips together for Bargello.
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    Old 02-09-2010, 01:17 PM
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    I have just recently started using spray sizing and it really does help keep the fabric straight.
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