Baby loves poetry quilt
 

I am having such a hard time with this pattern. I have cut all my pieces exactly as specified and am using a scant 1/4" seam allowance but my blocks are not even and are 1/2" smaller than they should be. What am I doing wrong? I am new to quilting but this was supposed to be an easy project. I am getting so frustrated and disappointed. 😣

here's one finished by one of our members http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...ne-t57915.html
perhaps you want to send her a PM to see if she has any advice for you

here's a link to the pdf instructions http://www.bomquilts.com/FQS/FQSBaby...oetry-Set2.pdf

Three basic things can make your block come out the wrong size.
1) make sure you are cutting accurately. Use the same ruler (or at least the same brand ruler) when cutting the whole quilt
2) You said your seams are the correct width, it's always good to double check. Here's a good tutorial:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ce-t89997.html
if you use a different thread or different weight fabric, you may have to adjust your seam.
3) finally, you need to press your patches carefully. Sew the seam, press the seam to set it, then carefully press to one side from the front. Make sure you don't press a tiny crease in your seam. I press each seam as I go.
The only other thing I can think of is an error in the pattern. I would second the suggestion to PM the other member who made the quilt to see if there was a typo in the pattern.
Good luck!!

I agree with PaperPrincess.

Whoo.... I got dizzy just reading those instructions :D
I hope you can experiment with your seam allowance to come up with a scant ¼" seam. I've been piecing since 1993 and really don't enjoy cutting quilt pieces with the 1/8th fraction in them. Maybe take some scrap fabrics and practice until you can get that size right? Or recut the outside strips larger than required & cut them down if you have all your blocks already made?

I have had the same problem with this quilt pattern, and now I am stumped trying to figure out how to make those triangle borders. The directions are strange.

Did you add the 1/2" for your seam allowances? The instructions I looked at on the site only list the finished sizes of the pieces in the block. If you add 1/2" to W and 1/2" to L for everything, it should come out the proper finished size.