PP problem with finished size
08-26-2012, 06:33 AM
#22
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
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, 05:40 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 560
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
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
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 560
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
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 2,633
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.
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.
08-27-2012, 05:59 AM
#29
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.
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