Twisted Quilter

It is so frustrating to try a new block and it comes out the wrong size. I thought I would take the challenge and try a new block, and it happened again. The block was short by 1/4" so I had to play around with the seam allowance to get the right size. My question is: Is this normal? Do I have to play around with the #'s everytime I try a new pattern?

Thanks.

Havplenty

there are usually two things that go wrong if the block sizes come up short and that is proper cutting and correct seam allowance. hopefully you have either tape marked a 1/4" seam allowance on your sewing area or you have a 1/4" foot for your machine. i also keep a seam gauge by my machine when sewing to double check my seams. next make sure you cut the pieces correctly. plus there is the OMG scant 1/4" seam, which is just to the inside of the 1/4" seam mark.

double check your work (cutting & seams) and perhaps you will find where you were off. happy block making. i was trying to find the diagram where it shows the scant seam marker one a 1/4" seam foot. i will post if i find what i did with it.

mary

virtualbernie

I'd also like to add to this good advice. Every now and then your ruler could be off or your 1/4" mark on your machine foot could be off. Double check those too.

Rose L

I don't always think it is us who is off in our work. I recently made a quilt where triangles pieced into squares were used as part of the design and the blocks when pieced were a full inch too small to match up to the plain blocks that went on each side of them. There were numerous errors in the fabric yardage needed also. I sent a note to the quilt designer and much later got a note back saying the corrections had been made on the fabric website (free fabric mfg. pattern). Well they corrected the yardage amounts but never did a thing about the pattern being incorrect. I had to re-draft the triangles/squares and some other pieces as the quilt went along. I also had to end up buying almost twice as much fabric as the pattern stated was needed, mostly because I had to re-cut so many pieces that were incorrect. Never again will I use a free Mfg. pattern!

Tartan

I have a lot of orphan blocks for that reason. I always do a test block before I start a quilt. It is a pain but I don't like surprises when doing a quilt top. It also one of the reasons I don't do exchange blocks. If a block is going to be off, that's when it will happen.

Neesie

Heavier fabrics also take up a tad more space, when seams are turned. It may be just a thread's width difference but over several seams, it adds up.

hopetoquilt

Another little bit of help is to press the seam flat (laying it flat exactly as it looks when coming off the sewing machine) and then press it to one side. I THINK it is called setting the seam. This has helped me.

jacqueck

If you are printing patterns from your computer, your printer might be the culprit. Check to be sure, when you print something that the scale is correct. Many times you'll have to tweek the printer settings to get the correct size. I know how frustrating it is to believe you've done everything right...and then the block not quite be right. Most of us can share how you feel -- having been there too.

Good luck.

gollytwo

I've found lately that I have to do a scant seam allowance for all the parts to match up and the final block to be the right size.
Wouldn't want to try parsing that sentence.

Jackie Spencer

Even books have mistakes in them. Im making Sylvias Bridal Sampler. Before I started I went to the web site and sure enough there it was, a list of several of the patterns and their mistakes. Was glad I checked. I used to make samples for our LQS, I could'nt believe all the patterns that had mistakes in them.