Making a group of squares and triangles into a big square
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4
I am piecing together a Storm at Sea pattern and find it is quite tricky to get all the parts together and end up with a reasonable square :hunf:
Are there any hints for this? Does it matter how the grain is oriented in the individual pieces? I cut them rather randomly, but the grain is parallel to one of the edges.
How square do the squares need to be before it becomes an assembly problem? Is there a point when I should consider trimming the blocks to make them square?
Thanks
Are there any hints for this? Does it matter how the grain is oriented in the individual pieces? I cut them rather randomly, but the grain is parallel to one of the edges.
How square do the squares need to be before it becomes an assembly problem? Is there a point when I should consider trimming the blocks to make them square?
Thanks
#3
Are your 1/4" seams consistant and accurate? Is your cutting accurate?
Yes, it will matter if your blocks are not square, and consistent in size. Each time one piece/block/place is off, it changes something all the way down the line... or in this case row :wink:
I would be extrememly careful with the bias edges, measure and square up carefully as you go...
Yes, it will matter if your blocks are not square, and consistent in size. Each time one piece/block/place is off, it changes something all the way down the line... or in this case row :wink:
I would be extrememly careful with the bias edges, measure and square up carefully as you go...
#5
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
accuracy is a must, you have to cut very accurately, sew accurately, press accurately and i trim carefully as i go so that every step is kept square and neat. it sounds like you may be rushing the process, sometimes we have to slow down in order to speed up.
#8
If you do not do it paperpieced, and rather go with the cut pieces of fabric, then look carefully to your 1/4" seaming. You do not want to have to do too much trimming of the edges in the squaring up process, or you pieces won't be good rectangles or good squares and the result will not look "squared up."
#9
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4
Thank you for responding to my question. I created templates to rotary cut the pieces.The templates are made from 1/4" acrylic and are very accurate and square. I glued sandpaper to the back so the template doesn't slide all around. The pieces are cut well.
As for sewing 1/4" seams, that is a little tricky. Most of the seam is pretty good, probably within 1/32" of being 1/4". Occasionally I make an error. I noticed last night while sewing that the first sign of trouble comes when I press the seam. Apparently I'm stretching the corners more than the middle and it is distorting the shape.
Being new to this, I have not heard of paper piecing before yesterday, perhaps I should read into that a bit.
As for sewing 1/4" seams, that is a little tricky. Most of the seam is pretty good, probably within 1/32" of being 1/4". Occasionally I make an error. I noticed last night while sewing that the first sign of trouble comes when I press the seam. Apparently I'm stretching the corners more than the middle and it is distorting the shape.
Being new to this, I have not heard of paper piecing before yesterday, perhaps I should read into that a bit.
#10
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Alturas, CA
Posts: 9,393
Definitely check out paper piecing for this particular block. Quilter's Cache has that pattern, she has a tutorial on paper piecing. There's also a lot of good tutorials on paper piecing, one that I can think of, is Carol Doak. On my printer, Quilter's Cache paper piece patterns, I find that I need to adjust the size to get the test square to come out to 1", so you might need to do that. Best of luck, and please don't forget to show us your block. We love pictures.
Make sure that you leave the paper on until you're ready to get the top ready for quilting, and don't forget to shorten your stitches.
Make sure that you leave the paper on until you're ready to get the top ready for quilting, and don't forget to shorten your stitches.
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