I am in the process of making a quilt called "Fairy Steps", from Pam and Nicky Lintott's book , "Two from One Jelly Roll Quilts. I am having trouble putting the units together so the angled sides are even. I have ripped out at least three times :-( . I really don't want this to become another UFO. I have included some pictures of what I am trying to put together. I have tried placing right sides together so the sides are straight, marked with a chalk line, but when I sew the pieces are not straight. HELP! I have included pictures.

I am confused, too. Your pictures look like diagram 3 in the book. What do they tell you to do next? I think that you just have to drop the left side down and make your sides straight. That will give you the diagonal strips.

could it be as simple as straighteng the edge, and the inside blocks would be slanted like the pic? never did that one so I'm not much help

Are you pinning as you go? these do look right according to the book. You will have those little dog ears on top and bottom, those will be trimmed off AFTER you sew them. Look at the pic right above the number 3. I hope Im helping.

I don't know if it is the way the pic looks or are the triangles on the right side crooked ?

The strips in the finished quilt are at a much sharper angle than the way you have yours laid out or the way she shows in the book. Does it give you an angle for setting them to get a straight line. It doesn't seem very clear

If your pieces are cut straight and you are still veering off at the start and finish of the seam, try using leaders and enders (or chain piecing). That should keep your seams a constant ¼" from beginning to end.

I must agree, it isn't very clear. I guess I didn't read the book close enough before I started the quilt. I will have to get my strips out and make sure there are straight. I thought they were, but in the pictures it doesn't appear that way.

I will have to check my triangles on the right. In the picture they don't appear straight. I thought they were. Pictures do tell you alot. The instructions weren't very clear. Maybe if I take them to my LQS they may be able to assist.

Thanks.

My seams are straight, it is just when I open up the pieces I have sewn together the side are not straight as shown in the instructions. I was wondering if I need to off set 1/4 of an inch. Guess I will try that and rip that out if it doesn't work. Very frustrating :? Will just have to keep trying

The way I would do it is to sew solid squares on the rectangle
pieces and sew the three pieces together staggered then use a ruler cut the angle.

that does sound easier - for the next one. I went ahead and made all the pieces prior to testing it. What was I thinking!!!

Forgot to say stagger the rectangles before sewing.

Yes, whenever joining a straight edge with an angle, you always have a bit of hangover. The pieces should NOT be sewn together tip to tip...each side should have an equal amount. Actually, EXACTLY like it's shown in the picture in your book.

What would help you is this the corner/dog ears ruler.
http://www.softexpressions.com/softw.../mmcrn.php#cor

I'm sure you can find a template...it makes sewing these types of shapes together really easy, until you get used to eyeing the distance.

How were the yellow triangles cut? HST or QST?

I am looking at your pieces, what they tell you to do, and the picture of the quilt.
If you look at the finished quilt. The middle pieces are put at the top of the left triangle causing the pieces to start angleing upwards, then do the same with the right. I wish I could draw a picture, but, look at the finished quilt closely and look how the center is placed on the top of the triangle, rather then where you have it

Be sure all seams are a accurate 1/4 inch, then be sure the "dog ears" stick out 1/4 inch each. I think that might help.

Stitch two together and right or wrong - take a picture and let us see what you have. (Before you rip anything back out)

looks to me like you are not allowing for the seam allowances. The pieces need to be moved 1/4" to the left so that a little triangle sticks out.

I will try to do that tonight, take a picture and post it tomorrow.

thanks.

Someone, I think did a tutorial on this recently.

Someone, I think did a tutorial on this recently.

You need to stagger your pieces to the left a little bit, so that the triangles on the left and right side peek out a little bit. It looks like the way you have them lined up, you're trying to get a straight edge *before* you stitch them together, when you have to get a straight edge *after* stitching them together.

Look at the diagram just above step 3 and see how the dog ears stick out on the left & right.

I just found this pattern in their book and I wondered if you ever figured out your problem. I thought it was really cute for my granddaughter who is 4 but don't want to try if it is hard to follow. Barb

Unfortunately, I have not worked on it anymore. I still want to finish it, but haven't taken it to my LQS to see if they could help. If you do it, good luck. I love the look of the pattern and was looking forward to having it in my guest room. If I get it figured out, I will add to this post.