Back to Wool Mats-Blocking
 

Hi Everyone,
After following the discussion earlier on the wool mats I read that someone was also using them to block their quilt blocks. Has anyone tried this and how successful were the results? I bought a 3’x5’ mat so I could do a few things with it, but thought maybe I would try to use it for blocking as well. I was thinking that maybe I could draw a template of the size I needed on it with permanent ink or maybe with a washout marker so I know where to square it too. Another idea would be to use blue painters tape to mark the square. Then I could re-use the mat to mark other sized blocks by simply removing the tape and re-taping. If it works...wouldn’t it be nice to have a full sized one to block an entire quilt. LOL 😝Can you say Expensive!!!

I have never blocked a quilt block. Why would you do that? Just curious.

I’ve heard the term but don’t know what it means...what is it to block a quilt?

blocking is when you dampen a quilt (or block? never done that) and ease it into a squared up shape and pin iit (or tape) to a surface so that it dries in the correct size and shape. Usually one would square up a quilt when you plan to enter it into a show where that matters.

I've never 'blocked' a quilt block. Have done it numerous times with other needle work - cross stitch; needlepoint; knitting. Generally, for me, if I've sewn/trimmed correctly along the way I've not needed to worry about 'blocking' a quilt block.

I chuckled as I read this one. Sorry. Don't mean to offend...I'm still beginner enough just to be thrilled with finishing my quilts, whatever size they end up being! Evened sides and ends have not caused me to lose any sleep, but my quilts are for me, not for quilt judges.

Liking quilting I am chuckling also as I just completed my third top on Thursday and asked for help from others in the quilting group as I just discovered that one side was 1 1/4" longer than the other. These are actually from the first blocks I made. I detoured and made another one first. I was assured that the difference was insignificant and that I would just ease it in. So I guess I will be square!

I am aiming for what NJ Quilter says, if you have paid attention to cutting and seam widths then it should be very close to square already. And if it is that close would blocking it get it any better?