maybe this will help - the last seam sewn is NOT touched

(or not)

When I did a Giant Dahlia where 8 wedges meet in the middle the directions had the last 1/4" of the pieces unsewn. When you join them you press all of the seams going one direction and it just swirled around the center. No bulk at all and I was very impressed.

A big hammer to bang them down flat usually works wonders for me! ;)

:lol: :lol: Terri!!! I was studying all the comments and photos so seriously--and then comes your comment. :lol: :lol:

But, but, but--won't it rip out if not sewn to the bitter end everywhere? :shock:

just stitch in the ditch where the seam is supposed to be and MAYBE it will hold????? :?

I'm pretty sure the dahlia said to lock it. I used the LOCK on my Viking. It was only used in a few areas so it wasn't time consumming. Might be a whole lot different using that method all over a quilt.

They actually sell a gadget just for this! http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...erfect+tool.do

There are pictures and directions of the same technique pictured above on greenfairy's blog http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com...lat-seams.html. It's the same, but the display is lighter colors and might be easier to see (it is for me anyway). I haven't tried it yet, but do plan to!

I swirl mine all around in the same direction, then beat them into submission :oops:

If you leave the last quarter inch open, you can take a pencil eraser and turn it and it swirls the seams and spreads out the bulk a bit. Then whacking it with a mallet is a truly acceptable and worthwhile suggestion. I know it brings me to giggles when I read it, but it works! And whatever works is WONDERFUL! :lol: