Latrinka

Just what everybody else said!

Happy Linda

The pattern I had told me to measure frequently to prevent this from happening. I did and it turned out good. It was a "QUILT AS YOU GO" pattern.

kberry

Well I haven't done a strip quilt but I think I just found some of my problem for a few of my quilts that come out unsquared! I am ironing instead of pressing!

Good thing I read this!

BuzzinBumble

Carla, please tell your friend this: My LAQ told me that it is completely normal to get between 1/4 and 1/2" of inward curve (hourglass) in the middle sections of large quilts. You can be the most exacting person and get everything accurate and it will still happen. It has something to do with the build up effect of all that piecing having less of a total effect on the corners of the quilt. She told me that almost all quilts come in with some amount of variation. Once she quilted it and I put the binding on it wasn't noticeable.

BellaBoo

I press 95% of my seams open. Using the Steady Betty board and the wooden clapper my seams are flat and as straight as I'll ever get them.

I got the Steady Betty at Joann's online with a 50% coupon. The June Tailor clapper is not made anymore. A block of wood will work if you can't find a wooden clapper.

1screech

When sewing strips together, if you sew them all with the stitch starting at the same end, it can cause a crooked area in the middle. If you sew two strip starting at the first end and then add the third row sewing from the other end, it will not curve this way. It could be pressing also.

Latrinka

That's what I was thinking!

ms sewer

I have heard that strips should be sewn in alternating directions. That is first row from the top down, second row bottom first, third row-top down. It prevents the strips from "bowing". In other words keeps them going straight. This is especially true with batiks. Hopes this helps.

Cookie68

If I have a "bowed" strip caused by cutting, I cut that part out and am able to use the rest of the strip. Also, if I use say a 2 1/2" strip of Kona for my first strip I will fold it in half and finger press so it lines up exactly at each corner. Then when you trim your blocks and sew them together it will come out the same width where the kona strips come together.

Grace MooreLinker

found that when I am prepressing fabric before cutting , make sure the selvage edges are kept straight and together. this solved my dog leg shaped strips. good luck