blocks not the same size, what to do?
 

I am doing a block of the month club. Blocks of course are to be 12 1/2 finished. I am on the fourth block and just finished it. Cut everything correct but there are so many seams in this block that obviously my 1/4 seams are off. My block is measuring 12 inches or close to 12 1/8 to 12 1/4. I really do not want to make a new block, this was a difficult one. Is this going to work out OK in the end? I am a novice quilter and need your advice. Thanks everyone.

Wait until you get all blocks finished. Then see if you can cut all blocks down to the same size. If not, you might want to add some fabric to the edges of the smaller blocks to get them back up to right size. If you use the same fabric, the seam won't show as much where you add the fabric. Hope this helps. You are actually doing fairly well if you are 1/4 inch or less off -- lol. Try harder to keep that 1/4 inch seam. I know its hard, but a really good habit to get into.

Put a tiny border on it to make it the right size and pretend you planned it that way.

This happend to me as well. I would move forward with the rest of the blocks, just making sure that you stay as close to your 1/4" seam as possible. Then, after you see how you have to set the blocks then you can determine where you have to make a compensation. For example: You could trim all the blocks to the same size. Or depending on your sashing (if you have one) you may be able to compensate there. You might also try blocking some of the blocks. Sometimes that can help as well. But I would not do anything until all the blocks are done and you see how they are to go together in the quilt. That will help you to determine how to correct the blocks that are off.

Is the pattern online anywhere so that we can see what you are working on?

No the pattern is not online. I joined a quilting guild (neighbor convinced me to join) and one of the ladies is designing the blocks herself. I really think I have gotten in over my head. I keep thinking things will get easier as I proceed but I continue to rip out and resew as nothing ever seems to work out. Maybe quilting is not for me.

after all of your blocks are finished measure each one- then either trim them all down to the smallest- or add narrow border/sashings to bring the all up to the largest- or you can (adjust) your setting's to bring them all up to the same size....don't stress too much until they are all done- just strive to get better with each new block- it is kind of *fun* to look at my very first one---see how the first blocks compare to the final ones & how it all compares to (now)---'i;ve come a long way baby! :D

You may be able to "block" the block by using starch and a steam iron. I have pressed some blocks into submission and pinned them to the correct size on the ironing board. Not sure what the fudge factor is though. Sometimes the only option is a do-over. Like the other comment said: Wait until all of your blocks are finished. By then you will have gotten more experience too and it may be clearer why the block is off.

With only less than 1/4" difference that can easily be eased in the won't cause any problems.

Hang in there! I'm not kidding that you are doing really well if that is your biggest problem. You will find that as you continue to quilt, piece, whatever that you will rip out less often. Don't quit. You will be so proud when it is done.

Thanks so much ladies for the advice. I sure hope things start to work out better. Gets very frustrating.

Go to Utube and search "Sharon Schambers Stretching a Block" very clear and it works. She also shows how to shrink a block. These tutorials will help you solve any descrepencies in block sizing.

Don't give up!! Just enjoy the process, and all things can be adjusted when all the blocks are done. Perhaps your neighbor can help you at that point

When I was trying to sew together a lot of swap blocks I had this very problem. I cut freezer paper the exact size the unfinished squares should be. I ironed the paper to the back of the block. I could then line up the paper instead of the block edge to sew. If the blocks were off by more then 1/4" then I took it apart and re sewed it. If it was cut to small I used the block in the backing.

I would give them all a good press with Mary Ellen's Best Press. Sometimes, the problem isn't in the seams, but in the pressing.

No, don't give up. If you are just 1/4 off, I would say you are almost perfect. Just read these ladies helps and you'll do just fine. It is so much fun on here, I don't get much quilting done. I read and read.

This could work really well if you use sashing and alternate block. I did a quilt set on the diagonal with sashing and alternate blocks, and it worked very well. The blocks appear to be floating. Keep going with it and don't fret about blocks already done.

I have done this often. No one knows the original intent. As long as the colors or patterns are incorporated in the quilt elsewhere, no one would notice.

As long as these blocks are for yourself -

Do like the other responders said - finish the series and then worry about what to do next.

There are a lot of ways to 'make it work' - that aren't always shown on the pattern!

I have one quilt that I started and it was a really hard quilt...It really was turning me off from quilting...I stopped going to the class and I packed away the unfinished top..I will finish one day...I then started doing easier quilts and loved it..I have slowly been doing harder and harder ones..you may just need to put that one in the closet for a few years.

Sharon Schamber has some great videos on Youtube that show how to block a square to the correct size. If you search on her name there, you will find them (mixed in with a lot of other great Youtube videos she has there!).

My suggestion as well. But wait till the end & see how they all turn out. They might all need borders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQkF02vpVuw this is the one to stretch a block

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3keKl...eature=related squaring up a block

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIjZqABo2NY shrinking a block using starch

If they are only 1/4 inch off then it is probably not you or your 1/4 inch. It is probably because she is giving you the exact measurements of a mathematically correct block and you need to use what is called a "scant" 1/4 inch.

The exact figures do not take into account that ironing the seams takes up space, so your sewing line needs to be just a little bit less than 1/4 inch (hence the name "scant 1/4 inch"). If your machine lets you move the needle over, move it one or two positions to have that slightly smaller space. Don't forget to set it everytime you make one of her blocks!

If your machine doesn't do that, you can eyeball the smaller seam by going over to the right just a tiny bit (say, two threads or so). You can still use all the blocks you've made using the methods other people have mentioned. Hope this helps.

If you were swapping blocks, I would be really concerned. If these are only for you, chances are, they will all end up close to the same size, and thus, will fit together ok. As others have said, keep trying to perfect the 1/4 inch seam, and indeed, practice makes perfect... good luck! Don't give up.... can't wait to see the finished quilt

Don't give up.....sewing/quilting/piecing is a HUGE learning curve....you are just at the beginning...I have been sewing for 60 years, quilting/piecing for 40 years....and I still will look at some thing I made 20 years ago, 10 years ago, last year and last week and be amazed at how far I have come....everyday I try to learn something new, try something new....My goal this year has been to try a new quilt pattern every month, so far so good, and with every new pattern I learn something new, I get better with a technique, I learn to do something a different way.....I especially enjoy watching, the PBS quilt shows. Quilt in a day, Eleandor Burns, Fons and Porter, even Sewing with Nancy all have something to share....How to pin, how to sew triangles, the uses of spray starch, with kinds of thread....
My best advise is not to give up....keep at it....walk away when you get frustrated, time for a glass of wine....
Don't worry so much about ripping things out....just move on or do another one....
But keep on plugging along

Have you tested your machine to see if where your needle is to make a 1/4" seam? Just because you think the edge of the foot is 1/4" could be wrong. Get a ruler and measure from the needle to the edge of the foot. Lower the needle to the ruler and look at the line it lands on. Adjust your needle to make 1/4" from there. It take practice to sew 1/4". Good Luck.

I do 12" blocks all the time and I have yet to hear of a 12-1/2" finished block. Mine are always 12-1/2" unfinished and 12" finished. That being the case, that may be why your blocks aren't right! Check that one out. It may be it should be 12-1/2" unfinished, 1/4" off for seams, you have a 12" block.

Edie

It's for you. If you have the interest you can do it. I can't tell you how many failures I have turned into dog blankets. They're so forgiving. They never say "Mommy, your block is crooked." The kids will walk by and look and say why did you give that to the dog? When I make all my blocks I measure and see if I need to shave a bit here and there. A lot of it will "ease in" once you sew the sashing on. Don't be too hard on yourself. the only person who might see your booboos is another quilter. None of those around here so I'm in good shape. Bless you. Don't give up.

Been there.
I would just wait until you've done them all then cut them to match the smallest.
Another alternative would be to sash them.
MaryKatherine

Oh, don't give up, my first quilt I cut completely wrong, and honestly there was no way to save it, well that I know of anyway, but I did set it aside and started another. It came out really great. Not perfect, but alot better than my first try. I think as new quilters sometimes we bite off more than we can handle! I found a nice simple pattern, that was pretty mistake proof for my 2nd attempt. I can move on to those fancier things as I get the concepts better understood. Best of luck and I hope all the blocks end up working out for you.

More than 30 years ago I tried to do a Bear Paw block because that's what my husband liked. This was before the days of specialty tools: rulers, rotary cutters, cutting mats. Well, I haven't tried one again. Go to a simple pattern you like and try that. P.S. Some guilds get ridiculous with what they expect. Just sayin' it may not be the quilting that's not for you, but that particular guild.

I have been quilting about 18 months. Initially I would become very frustrated when I had to redo something that I had pieced and would find that I became anxious and did not enjoy what I was doing! After a few talks with myself, I decided to make the seam ripper my friend! Now, if I need to remove a seam or something I find that I am more exacting and do a better job, consequently less rippin out as well - It is amazing how you can turn a negative into something positive. Just don't be so hard on yourself, rather, note the improvements that you make as you go along!!

When I have blocks that aren't the same size and they are going to have sashings I cut the sashing fabric 1/2" larger. Say you want your sashing to be 2 inches. Cut the strips 2/12 inches then after they are all sewn cut the sashing to the same size. This happens to me a lot and I have never had a problem with this method.

I hate when that happens!

Don't quit. I have torn apart many blocks and when I got finished with the quilt I was happy with the work. Just use the suggestions given, to fit the quilt. Quilting is not perfect, and you may have some boo-boos but if you don't tell anyone they will assume you meant it that way.

A Youtube tutorial says the fudge factor is 1/8". I've just finished 20 blocks for a red and white sampler quilt and when measuring and squaring up, I realized I had some problems, too. Two had points with not enough seam allowance so I replaced a square on one and completely remade the other. When I discovered most of my blocks were 12 1/4, I trimmed the others down to get in that ball park. I'd never thought or heard of adding a tiny amount but it's something I'll keep in mind.

Sharon Craig did a lecture at our quilt guild and introduced me to coping strips. See if your library has a copy of her setting solutions book. Basically, when she is gifted a bunch of blocks made by various quilters and they are different sizes, she "floats" the blocks by adding coping strips to all the blocks. These coping strips then become part of her design and it is no longer noticeable that the blocks are slightly different sizes. I tried to post a pic of one I did this way but guess the file was too large. Guess I will have to figure out how to post pics.

blocks not the same size, what to do?
 

Oh Boy! Do I know how you feel!! I was trying to take part in a block swap on one of my sm lists and it was a Disappearing 9 patch block, using Civil War repros. And it HAD to be the right size because it would be put together with other people's blocks. Try as I could I could NOT get it right....it would end up 1/4" or more off. I finally gave up but I loved the block I'd made so kept it and decided I'd just make enough blocks for my own little quilt! I also got a couple of things online that are supposed to help make SCANT 1/4" seams.....but haven't tried them yet. That was the last swap I tried on that list. I'd done other swaps earlier but they were simpler blocks and didn't have so many seams.

Most times the block cannot be trimmed a smaller size because points will be cut off and if a border or sashing is sewn on, even a coping strip, there is not enough seam allowance to keep the points. This is what frustrates me. If you have points on the edges of the unfinshed block, there has to be a seam allowance to allow the points to stay sharp. I have taken blocks apart in the middle and adjusted the size that way.

Forgot to say many times when a block has lots of pieces I will sew using a 1/8 seam allowance on every other seam. It works for me to have the fudge room.

If necessary, until you gain more experience, draw the 1/4" seam line on each piece. Tedious, I know, but when I was a rank beginner, I could not eyeball the seam allowance and 1/4" piecing feet were not available. Also, are you hand piecing these blocks, or are you machine piecing? Pin every little interval to keep those pieces in order and starch if you have to. Use a little piece of fabric to start sewing on (Fons and Porter) and then slide your seam underneath. This helps to guide the small pieces smoothly under the needle and don't forget to use a skewer or pointed tool to guide the pieces under the needle.