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can somebody please help me?

can somebody please help me?

Old 07-12-2009, 04:14 PM
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I am getting so frustrated. First, I have checked and double checked my measurements, they are ok. I hope I can explain this right and I hope the pics show up in the right order. Im making the quilt I asked about a few days ago. Im trying to add the sides to the triangles ( bottom is 5 1/2 inches, 5 1/2 from middle bottom to point of triangle and 6" on the sides, not an even triangle to start with) It said to cut a rectangle 3 x 6 and cut it corner to corner to get the triangle sides. With me so far? lol My problem is this, when I add the sides to the triangle, I dont know how. If I line up the edges even (at the point of the triangle) when I open it there isnt a seam allowance at the top but there is at the bottom. Heres the pic for that problem. If I line it up leaving a seam allowance, when I open that up I have the 1/4 seam allowance at the top ok but not at the bottom..AAARRGGG!!! I just dont know what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions? I dont have a whole lot of material to play with and Im thinking just make some more sides but make them bigger, then cut it down to the right size after? Oh and in the pics, I folded the tails back to show you better what I meant. If I decide to make the sides bigger should I do 4 x 7? I really did not think this would give me any problems, looked easy enough and wanted to get it pieced tonight, ha, that aint happening.

seam lined up evenly
[ATTACH=CONFIG]12815[/ATTACH]

opened up, no seam allowance at point (left corner) but one at right corner
[ATTACH=CONFIG]13096[/ATTACH]
Attached Thumbnails attachment-12815.jpe   attachment-13096.jpe  
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Old 07-12-2009, 04:18 PM
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Ok, heres the other one, I left the seam allowance (bottom corner in pic) and when I opened it I have the seam allowance (top corner pic) but not at the other end. I should have rotated these pics, I hope you arent confused cause I know I am!

I left seam allowance (bottom)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]13606[/ATTACH]
Attached Thumbnails attachment-13606.jpe   attachment-44157.jpe  
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Old 07-12-2009, 04:36 PM
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I *think* that one of the triangles is not big enough. Couldn't tell you which one though.

You need dog ears showing at both ends, that's your seam allowance to make sure the point is in the right place in the finished layout.

You have what looks to be the right seam allowance at one end, and none at the other, so you are missing an entire seam allowance in your measurement.

Cut another square a 1/4 inch bigger, and try again. Maybe do it with some scrap fabric first till you're confident it's right.

Good luck! :-)
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Old 07-12-2009, 06:22 PM
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It's looking to me like the triangle isn't the right size.
What does your pattern say?
I would start by making a triangle at least 1/4" all the way around, sewing it to the desired pieces and then checking if they measure correctly.
Also, have you emailed the pattern designer?
I know patterns can become misprinted...so maybe they have a correction some place.
Also, use some scraps or your ugliest fabric to test this since you have limited amount for the quilt.
Kirsten
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Old 07-12-2009, 06:37 PM
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How much do you have cut out?

If not much, then I think I can give you some measurements that would be a lot easier to work with and still give you the effect you want.


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Old 07-12-2009, 06:37 PM
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The trick to remember is, you can always cut it back to size, you can't add bits on so easy. Let us know how you get on. :-)
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Old 07-12-2009, 06:49 PM
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What might help -

Draw 1/4 inch seam lines on your triangles.
Then match up the corners at the top and bottom. The edges won't be even. There will be ears sticking out at both ends. Kind of a long one at the pointy end of the narrower triangle.

Then maybe it will make more sense.

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Old 07-13-2009, 04:59 AM
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I wish I could help, but can't even wrap my brain around the problem. But, i was thinking you need to find some practice material rather than using your good stuff. Find an old shirt you can cut up or something!
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Old 07-13-2009, 06:57 AM
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Nothing is wrong, be sure that the extra is at the tip ...
I just checked my Victory Quilts (Eleanor Burns) book, where I ran into a number of those blocks ... Signal Lights was one of the blocks ... bride's bouquet was another.
you want it to reach the tip at the bottom, but the top will be longer ...
Is the block you are making actually a "spikey and pete" block of some type? I am not even sure of what the angle is supposed to be ...
but I might offer this tip for your quilting experience. Complete the block the way you started your first sample ... since that seems to be the correct way according to the book ... sew on both sides before you say it wont work ...
If the block isn't the way it is supposed to be, then put it aside in a box for "seed" ... it can be used in another quilt somewhere along the way ...
SOmetimes, when we are working through a pattern, we can't "see" where the instructions are going ... I have struggled many times on a step because I couldn't comprehend that later down the road I would be trimming something ...
If there is no trimming to be done, and you follow the directions and it doesn't come out the way it is advertised, then go ahead and cut the bigger rectangle ... oh, did I mention that the overhang of the center of your block is about a quarter inch at the top?
anyway ... I am not sure that a bigger rectangle (as in longer) won't create a different angle, but until you try, you will never know ... and, again ... do the complete block before you decide it won't work ... oh, wait!
you have limited amount of the fabric for that particular quilt ... then take some other colors from your stash ...
so, don't use your current colors .... go into the stash ... if the bigger rectangle doesn't work, you will have another block for a "surprise" quilt down the road ...
what do you think? Did I help? :shock:
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Old 07-13-2009, 07:14 AM
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this is what the triangles will look like pinned together - the edges don't match -

HOWEVER, the seam lines do match.

It's very helpful to put a dot at the ends of the seam lines.

triangles put together
[ATTACH=CONFIG]19459[/ATTACH]
Attached Thumbnails attachment-19459.jpe  
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