singalong

So, I have been trying my hand at this piecing, quilting craft. I have pieced a few tops under careful guidance of a friend and had them quilted by someone else.

I have tried every thing possible to get my blocks to measure correctly but I still seem to end up with wonky blocks that are not the same size as required.

I have marked my machine with 1/4 inch...
bought a special plastic piece to attach to the bed of the machine ( which is stupid because I have a drop in bobbin and have to realign it after I replace the bobbin thread.
I have moved my needle over in order to get that SHY 1/4 inch that everyone talks about. After doing there's various things I am at my wits end. I am really ready to give it up!
Before I do.... Any suggestions?

ckcowl

Try for awhile drawing your 1/4" lines on the wrong side of the blocks. Sometimes a little prep work makes a world of difference. If you take the time to do this after awhile you will be so used to stitching that straight 1/4" you will not need to anymore. Careful pressing as you go along constructing your blocks helps with keeping them from becoming wonky. If you stitch a seam, press then find it is (off) it is much easier to fix right then instead of trying to fix the completed block

Tartan

My favourite piecing thread is Aurifil. It is thin but strong and takes up less space in the piecing. As long as your whole quilt top is sewn with the same seam allowance it is usually fine. The overall quilt top might end up a little smaller though. It is only when doing a block exchange that I try for a perfect size.

Terri D.

Maybe it's not your seam allowance. Maybe the wonkiness you're referring to is happening in the cutting stage? This was my biggest obstacle when first starting out. Just a thought....

Cathy77

Tartan is right! My quarter inch seam for example is a little fat, but it's always the same and as I'm only piecing stuff for myself, it doesn't really matter! I'm using a 1/4" presser foot with a guide; it's quite easy to get a consistent seam that way.

Also, are you sure your sewing is the problem? Might just as well be the ironing (instead of pressing).

Gannyrosie

Try heavy starching starching your fabric before cutting. Mine were wonky too, until I've read about the starching. It helps to keep the fabric from stretching.

ManiacQuilter2

There have been many posts regarding the thickness of the thread. You may want to check into that. I marked my sewing machine with 6 layers of painter's tape. There is also the hump that is formed when pressing the seam to one side. To resolve that problem, I cut my strips letting the thickness of the line be on the side of the fabric strip I am cutting. I use Omni rulers. My friend showed me this and even if that line is 1/32" if an inch, it has worked for me. But the most improved system that works best for me is EB method of over-sizing blocks. Can't be used with ALL quilts but over the years, I have been amazed with HOW MANY quilts it can work with. As LONG as your seam is consistent, that is the most important issue. If you do a Bargello or a Trip Around the world, if your seams are all consistent, your seams will fit snugly together. Good Luck

Rodney

A very good point.
It was true for me. Basic stupid question: Are you using a rotary cutter and a good ruler? I started with scissors and my accuracy improved tremendously just by switching to a rotary cutter.
Does your machine have a straight stitch throat plate and if it does are you using it? I'm assuming you have a newer zigzag machine with a front opening door for the bobbin. I know others here have reported better results by using the straight stitch throat plate on their machines, at the very least it prevents the fabric from being sucked down into the feed dog opening. I use an old straight stitch machine so it doesn't apply to me.
I use a seam guide too and I line it up by setting a ruler under the needle at the 1/4" mark or just a tiny bit narrower and butting the guide up against it. You just have to be careful to keep both pieces of fabric just touching it.
I also use a sewing stiletto to guide the last part of the fabric thru the machine to keep the corners from drifting.
Rodney

PaperPrincess

Also remember that even though we talk about a 1/4" seam, you don't measure the seam, you measure the resultant patch! here's how to check:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ce-t89997.html

athomenow

I have the same problem and then decided this is my quilt and I'm not going to worry about it. I trim all the blocks to the smallest size I have and go from there. My quilts look ok to me and to the people I give them to. Now if you're going to enter a quilt show then you have to really be precise. I don't let this one thing make me crazy and damper my love for the craft.