HSTs and Squares -- good enough, or start over?
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,896
I feel your pain, I did the same thing when starting out. I solved it by making the HST's larger and squaring them up. Also make certain your seams are the same on every sewing. Whether it's a large 1/4 or a scant 1/4, as long as they are the same, it should work out.
#13
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
Floating is better than buried. But just a little buried is not earth shaking.
You can sew all of your seams perfectly some of the time, you can sew some of your seams perfectly all of the time, but you can't sew all of your seams perfectly all of the time!
Be sure to trim your HSTs as Jan suggested, and pin each intersection. Then let come what may and be happy.
There is no way I'm going to flip my piece each time to get the larger piece on the bottom. Just use a stylus, seam ripper, pin or something to ease in the top where the excess is.
What I do is stretch the seam from the front and back as it is going under the needle, then let the feed dogs show me how fast to feed it. I've actually seen someone else do this, too.
You can sew all of your seams perfectly some of the time, you can sew some of your seams perfectly all of the time, but you can't sew all of your seams perfectly all of the time!
Be sure to trim your HSTs as Jan suggested, and pin each intersection. Then let come what may and be happy.
There is no way I'm going to flip my piece each time to get the larger piece on the bottom. Just use a stylus, seam ripper, pin or something to ease in the top where the excess is.
What I do is stretch the seam from the front and back as it is going under the needle, then let the feed dogs show me how fast to feed it. I've actually seen someone else do this, too.
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,818
I can only commiserate. I'm working on my second quilt and having some of the same problems. (Thankfully, they are all squares and rectangles.) I'm really looking forward to the next quilt, as this one is better than the last one. I have only had to redo 2 squares, but had to rip out and resew several to minimize the seams so they would fit well. My "mentor" will look for the matching seams. Of course, she's 86 and has been quilting all of her life. She's really good. Her hand sewing and quilting is so even, you would think it was done on a machine.
Thanks, Ladies, for all the tutoring.
bkay
Thanks, Ladies, for all the tutoring.
bkay
#15
I've been sewing a long time. Corners don't always match up. Usually, mine are because some of squares or HST's are slightly smaller than others. I realized that I didn't always have my rulers in exactly the same place when I cut every time. Also, if you are using two different rulers, some times that is a small difference in the measurement. What to do now? You can ease in 1/8". I know that the better way to ease in is to have the oversized piece on the bottom and let the machine help. I don't trust this method. I would rather have the bit extra on the top so I can see if I am going to sew in a pleat or pucker. This is a good video that may help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh7_zvHcIio
Edited to add: if you sew over the pins, sew very slowly. Hitting a pin at speed can cause your needle to break and you never know where the point is going to go.
Edited to add: if you sew over the pins, sew very slowly. Hitting a pin at speed can cause your needle to break and you never know where the point is going to go.
#16
Like some of the others here, I've been quilting a long time. With that said, I still goof on the HST's.
My biggest downfall is that I tend to IRON instead of PRESS.
Yes, I know how it's supposed to be done, but my brain still wants to IRON. The best tool I've found to help ME is the StripStick ( http://www.thestripstick.com/ ). Yes, this does press the seams open, and some ppl will scream about that, but as I said, this is what works for me. IMHO, the only time the open seams really matter is if you plan to SITD (Stitch In The Ditch, for you newbies). SITD truly requires both seams pressed to one side.
As others have said, I also make my HST's "oversized" and then trim them; I especially ignore anything that says "7/8", "5/8" and so on. I always up-size to the next 1/4 size - 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4. You can ALWAYS trim down... adding on after the fact is impossible (too bad the same can't be said for my body, it needs to quit adding on!! )
Don't beat yourself up over this small of an imperfection. One of the "quilters' sayings" that I like is "If it's not noticeable from the back of a galloping horse, don't worry about it"... or something along those lines.
Only another quilter is really going to notice your imperfections - and then it's usually to commiserate and say "I mess that up too" or "Here's how I got better at this".
Good luck, we will want to see your finished quilt!!
My biggest downfall is that I tend to IRON instead of PRESS.
Yes, I know how it's supposed to be done, but my brain still wants to IRON. The best tool I've found to help ME is the StripStick ( http://www.thestripstick.com/ ). Yes, this does press the seams open, and some ppl will scream about that, but as I said, this is what works for me. IMHO, the only time the open seams really matter is if you plan to SITD (Stitch In The Ditch, for you newbies). SITD truly requires both seams pressed to one side.
As others have said, I also make my HST's "oversized" and then trim them; I especially ignore anything that says "7/8", "5/8" and so on. I always up-size to the next 1/4 size - 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4. You can ALWAYS trim down... adding on after the fact is impossible (too bad the same can't be said for my body, it needs to quit adding on!! )
Don't beat yourself up over this small of an imperfection. One of the "quilters' sayings" that I like is "If it's not noticeable from the back of a galloping horse, don't worry about it"... or something along those lines.
Only another quilter is really going to notice your imperfections - and then it's usually to commiserate and say "I mess that up too" or "Here's how I got better at this".
Good luck, we will want to see your finished quilt!!
#18
My friend, who is a long time quilter and has won many blue ribbons, told me when I was first starting that if a man on a horse galloping at 20 mph couldn't see it from 2 miles away, it was good.
Although I happen to know that she rips out and re-sews at least 3-4 times. :-)
Useful comments above me. Quilting is so therapeutic; just have fun with it!
Although I happen to know that she rips out and re-sews at least 3-4 times. :-)
Useful comments above me. Quilting is so therapeutic; just have fun with it!
#20
I bought Quilt in a Day 4 1/2" triangle square up ruler and I love it. I just made a quilt with 2" squares and 2" finished HSQ. Everything matched up perfectly and it was so easy. It was a little pricey but I feel it was worth the price to avoid the frustration.
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greywuuf
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
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05-09-2012 04:42 PM