Anyone ever use the 5x5 paks of 100 squares from walmart? wow I got one to try out washed them up
ironed them, sew them together and they so so crooked

I wanted to try a d9p which I did ---I can see I am going to have to square off each and every square.......bummer.

It's not recomended that you wash precuts.

I agree.

Washing and ironing precut squares can cause problems.

ditto

Hi Rita,

You should have made sure that they were square before sewing them together. This is also a time to check to make sure that you are indeed sewing a scant 1/4 seam.

There are several tutorials on You Tube and different web sites about how to get perfect 1/4 seams and how to check that you're using the correct process, machine and/or feet markings, etc. to get your seam to be 1/4 inch. You also have to account for the fabric folding over which is where the scant 1/4 inch begins.

How did you wash them? I would have just used hot water and soap and let them soak in the sink or a plastic dish tub. I would have them rinsed them by hand. You would then roll them in a towel and laid them out on towels to dry. When laying them out you would move or pull them to be in squares.

Since they are now out of shape you will need to spray with water and block them back into squares. You may be able to spray them and steam iron them back into proper squares but you will need to be careful with this process.

Blocking the square(s) back into shape with water and pinning would be the most correct process. But I'm sure you want the quickest process which would be to get wet again and blocking, then carefully steam pressing.

I'm not sure if there is a tutorial here about blocking. I do believe that I saw a really good video at You Tube that I would certainly check out.

Since you have the first D9P already sewed together you are right about getting them squared up. Are you careful about sewing a seam and then pressing your seams before going on to the next seam line area? This may be where you should change your process.

Do you press your stitched line first? Press in your stitched line first, then open the squares, and press open the seam. The process of stitching, pressing the stitched line and then pressing open the seam makes for better results in the end product.

There are times that you can sew sections together before pressing. With most really good instructions these days the pressing is included with the instructions.

Eleanor Burns is good with pressing instructions. She also has a process where you sew sections and then cut the result down to have an accurate squared piece to continue on with the piecing process.

Good luck with your D9P.

Pam M

Were they off before you put them in the wash?

I was cutting out pieces for my new "orange" quilt (thanks to all you great traders and donors!), and was working with a few strips from a jelly roll I'd recently purchased (my first one; moda), and was stunned to see that the strips were cut off weave. I started paying attention; not all strips in the roll were badly cut, but enough to get my attention.

Has anyone else found this to be the case?

-- Jillaine

Yup I press all my seams as I go and I use a 1/4 inch foot..... and Yes I pulled a couple out that was really off .....Thanks for all the suggestions.....I bought two paks of those guess I won't wash the second one *LOL*

So sorry that you had this problem, but it's nice that the D9P is such a forgiving pattern that you can cut the blocks down and still have a beautiful quilt. Check the 2nd pack before you start sewing them to be sure they're straight. If not, WalMart might take them back.