PP problem with finished size

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08-26-2012, 05:42 AM

#21

Tweety2911

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Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: New York

Posts: 17,564

I have found that using a thinner thread such as a trilobal polyester thread has made a difference. The tiny thickness in thread can make an overall difference. Hope this helps you. Beautiful block!

08-26-2012, 06:33 AM

#22

Petey

Junior Member

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: NYC, NY

Posts: 160

Dog House Mom - you explained what always happens to me when joining regular pieced (scant 1/4 seam) block to a paper pieced block - I think the solution would be to use a 1/4 seam on all the blocks. Thanks for thinking about this and yes your block is lovely but some of us need the center to match up. What can I say LOL

08-26-2012, 09:15 AM

#23

Termi

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Connecticut

Posts: 412

Your block is very beautiful! I know what you mean about the points in the center. I'm very critical of my work too. But with paper piecing I've learned to cut what will be the outside edges of the block about 1/16" bigger. That's helped when my block turns out a smidgen too small.

08-27-2012, 04:32 AM

#24

Latrinka

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Slidell, Louisiana

Posts: 6,951

Wow, love the block! I can see the small gap in the close-up pic, but it's close enough to perfect to me!

08-27-2012, 05:40 AM

#25

Johanna Fritz

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: Menomonee Falls, WI

Posts: 560

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogHouseMom

If you DON'T sew on the 1/4" seam line - you lose your points in the center of the block!!!!

How can I fix this???

I have made pinwheel units that are paper pieced, where 8 quarter units are all meeting in the middle. I always sew on the sewn line. You never sew past the sewn line (back tack or spin the unit North to South, facing you, so you are sewing back over the stitch line without having to use the "go backwards" switch. If you sew this way, you should be fine.

Also, when you join units at the center, (as in your example) - you join 2 units together to make 1/2 of a square. Start sewing in the center, where pinwheel is, and sew outwards to the edge of the block. Join the other 2 in the same way to make another 1/2 of your final square. Then join the 2 halves together, making sure to sew right on the line, and start from the center. I have a mini light on the side of my machine, shining at the needle. June Tailor makes "Perfect Piecing" (at JoAnn's). It is a very thin, almost interfacing like material, that you can leave in if you like. You don't need to flip it over to see thru it. There is also "wash away" paper that disappears. Both of these work with my mini 4" and 6" pinwheels. Good luck.

08-27-2012, 05:49 AM

#26

maviskw

Super Member

Join Date: May 2012

Location: Central Wisconsin

Posts: 4,391

I looked at the link provided by nativetexan for the perfect points. The directions may be very good, but there is not even a picture of perfect points. If people think the block shown in this thread is "perfect", maybe they never saw a perfect block. I know I would be upset, too, if my points turned out this way. Not all of mine are perfect, but I try.

08-27-2012, 05:50 AM

#27

Johanna Fritz

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: Menomonee Falls, WI

Posts: 560

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tweety2911

I have found that using a thinner thread such as a trilobal polyester thread has made a difference. The tiny thickness in thread can make an overall difference. Hope this helps you. Beautiful block!

FYI, might want to try a #50 cotton piecing thread, like the 1200 yard spools ("Coats and Clark" I think). Polyester thread is really not made for piecing. It can stretch and break on a larger quilt. This cotton 1200 yard spool is $5 at JoAnns with a 50% off coupon. I have light grey, dark grey, tan and black. That will cover ANY color you need to piece. Save money trying to match when piecing different colors and save that for the poly, decorative thread. Remember, the higher the number, the THINNER the thread...50wt cotton is thinner than a 40wt poly.

08-27-2012, 05:55 AM

#28

amyjo

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: North Dakota

Posts: 2,633

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogHouseMom

I am in a boomerang group and I chose to make a block from QuiltersCasche for one of the boom members. I choose the block called "Checkerpins". It's a gorgeous block with a paper pieced pin-wheel in the center and 6 patch checkerboard in each of the corners (which is strip pieced). Here's a link to the pattern.

http://www.quilterscache.com/C/CheckerpinsBlock.html

I LOVE the block!!

Because I've never made this block, and I don't have a whole lot of experience paper piecing, I decided to make a practice block first - wise choice! My block came out just shy of 12.5" - too much shy for my comfort, especially since I'm sending it to someone else.

I remember reading a piece of advice that Hollice gave. I'll paraphrase - when something doesn't work, find out WHY.

I had measured every step of the way so I was perplexed as to why the finished product was off. This morning I de-constructed the block into it's 4 sections, measured them, and all of them measured the correct 6.5".

I know why now.

I sew a scant 1/4" seam. I set my needle to the right and then measure the seam after it is sewn and ironed. When you join two blocks and one of them was PP and you sew on the PP seam line ... you lose that 'scant' seam. So I reconstructed the 4 sections and used my scant 1/4" seam and the block is now 12.5" ... but I discovered a new problem.

If you DON'T sew on the 1/4" seam line - you lose your points in the center of the block!!!!

How can I fix this??? Will it work if I add a smidge to the long straight edge of the PP pinwheel block which will make that piece a bit longer and allow me to use the 1/4" seam marked on the pointed edge of the block?? I think it might ...

Oh. Here's a pic of the finished block. The size is correct, but I've lost the points in the center.

Is one of your blocks in the upper left on my picture turned or is it supposed to be that way. Not knowing what the whole quilt will look like throws me off?

08-27-2012, 05:59 AM

#29

Chay

Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: Montana

Posts: 372

Ditto ditto what Farm Quilter and JudytheSewer said. The upside of wanting something perfect is that you get a great end result. I would appreciate perfectionism if I got a swap block. The downside of perfectionism is that you can drive yourself insane, but it does teach tenacity and patience. Johanna Fritz thanks for the time about the June Tailor product. I will look into that, I didn't know about it.

08-27-2012, 08:23 AM

#30

MimiBug123

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: Southeast Georgia

Posts: 2,526

If it really bothers you, but a button or a yoyo over it. Maybe even a small embroidery design. It just looks like a beautiful block to me. Nothing is ever exactly perfect!