Tried 4 patch for first time they look good but not same size as ones I cut out last week. Had a brain fart I guess. Don't know why the material looks blue but it is purple marble!

Girlfriend, I've decided there is a tricky little devil living under my table. Once I work on a pattern, go to sleep or go do some chores, when I come back it's all off. ** I wonder if I tape over one lense of my glasses if I'll get it lined up again? ** Reckon that is my problem, the center line jumps when I move my head one way or the other? Maybe you got that problem, too????????

Sometimes, when I sew at different times, the seam allowance is not the same. Could that be it? The 4 P blocks are a little smaller than the plain blocks because the seams have taken up some of the material. Are those the different ones you are speaking of, or do you mean your 4P's are not the same?

Your block looks great! Atleast this will be an easy fix for you at this point :D:D:D

Try this site that shows how to make 4 patch blocks from strips of fabric:

http://www.suite101.com/content/how-...blocks-a210739

You might want to try a 1/4 guide foot with your sewing machine.

I love mine. I can be sure that my seams are the same each time I sew.

One of the mystery quilts we did was to have a scant 1/4" seam ... well, I just moved my needle over and then put a sticky on my machine and a note with my pieces. That really helped!

ali

could be using different rulers on same project? That has messed me up before.

yep make sure you are cutting with the same ruler and that it does not move while cutting....next make sure you are sewing the exact seam width....I use blue painters tape to sew my seam allowance...good luck...

I am glad I am not the only one that has blocks change
size. Sometime they grow more on one corner.
Scissors and rotary cutters must run all over the cutting area during the night.
Chop-chop-chop all night long. Yes, the pins hide in places so they can stab your finger.

I agree. Your block is beautifal though. :thumbup:

I'm just going through this, but on little thin strips that aren't very long. yet when I measure seams,lengths,width they all "appear" to be on target. For the life of me, I am stumped right now. I sure don't want to rip 100's of seams!LOL

Again, Sharon Schamber has a free video to help you fix that. Here it is:

http://www.sharonschambernetwork.com...g-Starch-.aspx

There is one to shrink your block if it is too big or to stretch it if it is too small.

Really good idea!!!!!!! Never thought of that. This is why I am addicted to this site now! All these great tips.

I'm not sure what you're doing, but I cut my 2 fabric colors into strips and sew them together, then cut them to make the strips into blocks. Then I cut the squares to size. I also put a strip of painters tape on my ruler so I don't cut on the wrong marking; am good at doing off an inch. Hope that is clear.

I have the same problem sometimes- I know they are the right size to start with & all cut the same but when I sew them - they come out not quite even - even with a 1/4 inch foot.

Wow!!! Great video!!!

Oh, you are not the only one who comes back and makes a wrong cut--I can't count the number of times I have done this. I have found the stuff that sticks on the ruler at the desired measurement, it comes on a roll and is about 1/4" wide. For the life of me can't remember the name and tossed the packaging. Its a bright color though so you can see where the measurement should be. Maybe someone else can help with the name of the tape.

what does the square look like after you press them? I always use starch

Really? Wow! That's good to know. I'm so new to quilting and would have thought a ruler is a ruler. <sigh> I have so much to learn, but finding this to be the perfect place!

This is amAzing! Some people are just genius'. So glad you posted this tutorial, maride. It's remarkable.

I took a double look at your lay out, it looks like you have one on the line, and the other not quite, you may want to remeasure them. They may just look like they are different sizes. But then again I am the queen of never the same size twice or even once. I cut real careful, sew as careful, and never end up with the size block it says its suppose to be so close enough is good enough for me. lol.

Rita

Well, if your little devil isn't under your table, he's under MINE! I've had that problem so many times. Everything looks good when I cut them, then when I get around to sewing them several are OFF! It's enough to make me scream. Even my poor dogs run out of the room! Glad to know I'm not the only one.

As long as they are all squared the same size before piecing the quilt top you should be OK. :D

It is my theory that 'no two quilts are (sew) the same'. Sometimes I just have to say "ummmm".

Yep, enough to make us all go ummmm.

Could be the bias. If you sewed two bias sides together they tend to srink. Pin two of the blocks together (one shorter, one larger). The stretch will work and the larger block will keep it from shrinking back.

Just a thought.

Just wondering did you use the same ruler and same cutting board, some times the measurements differ from one to another :-D

I had a mismatched - in size - project. I had used different rulers and also different sewing machines.

I won't do that again. Now I have 'projects to go' for when a group of us sew together and 'projects for at home' for my heavier and better sewing machine. Now that I have a Featherweight I have 'FW projects.' It does sound confusing but its not really.

ali

I've found it's really worth the ten minutes or so it takes to cut test strips, sew them, and press them, to see if my cutting and sewing with that particular set of equipment is going to have my pieces end up approximately the size I'm hoping/expecting them to be.

Always use the same brand of rulers on the same project. I learned this the hard way. I mainly use Omnigrid rulers, but also have an off brand and was using them on the same project, the Omnigrid was accurate; the other was 1/16" off. Never again! I can't recall the brand of the other ruler, I don't have it anymore.

Well, now I really feel stupid. Pretty new to this. THANKS, don't know WHY I didn't think of this.

Sometimes the problem might be in the pressing rather than in the sewing. . .

Color could be playing tricks on your eyes. You know how realtors use light colors in a room to make it look bigger. This is the same principle.

It could be that you are using the wrong mark on the ruler when you cut. If you cut on the inside of the line or right on top of the line, your block will be off. You always want to cut on the outside (waste side) so that your block is just a couple of threads bigger than the measurement. This will help compensate for the few threads that are lost when the seam is pressed. (Yes, it is a minute amount, but it plays havoc with your stitching.)

You have to be absolutely diligent about cutting the same way each time, and stitching an accurate 1/4". Take the time to determine where you need to feed the fabric to be absolutely accurate. A little time spent to get this skill down will pay you big rewards later on with less time spent unpicking.

Remember, if it is perfect, it is not art. And good luck trying to believe it.

[quote=clem55]I'm just going through this, but on little thin strips that aren't very long. yet when I measure seams,lengths,width they all "appear" to be on target. For the life of me, I am stumped right now. I sure don't want to rip 100's of seams!LOL[/quote




WOW! Sounds like the two of you are having visits from the Halloween Goblins...LOL Some wee litlle ones are sure giving you both a hard time. The full moon has past so it must be Hob Goblins playing tricks on you. I'm sure you both will work out these problems after a good nights sleep.

Andie :-D :-D :-D

Maybe just a trim. This happens to me to.

I think my problem was using different sewing machines, plus, I know that cutting with the rotery cutter made a difference. My eyes aren't that good, and some strips were not exact. I worked with the problem, and after some ripping, and re-sewing those, most things are lining up. May have to do a little trimming, but expected that since I used different fabrics , and cut in different grain lines. This is a scrappy pattern. I now know to stick with the same ruler, mark ruler with tape, and use the same machine. PS... I also know I don't want to sew 1 1/2 x3 1/2 strips anymore!!LOL

hi,

had problem like this too.
to find out one of my rulers I cut along when roter cutting,
was 61/2 inches wide. my other one that iI use is only 6 inches wide.

don't give up keep going.

My very first quilt was this size of strips!! That was in 1971. I wonder what ever happened to that quilt. It was made from scraps from my trunk, from the clothes I had made for myself from about the age of 9 and the doll clothes I had made.

If you are put a one patch with a four patch, I always make my 4 patch first and then cut the one patch to match whatever size it comes out. I still have a hard time get my sewn patches to come out at the right size. They always seem to be just under the correct measurement. I use a scant 1/4 but it doesn't seem to always work out like it should.
Find the smallest block and square up everything else to match. We won't tell that it was supposed to be bigger.