Dampening/Steaming to Make it Fit
 

I wonder if any of you dampen, or steam your blocks to make them line up and fit together more easily. I've tried to use this technique a few times, but it's like a double-edge sword. Once the fabric is damp, I can get it to stretch more so that the seams line up, but then the rest of the block tends to get a little wonky. Any good tips for using this technique?

Thanks,
C

Yes! Stop it. Try to be more accurate and mindful in your cutting. I never dampen or steam to line up my blocks. I cut so they do. Sometimes make the block a little larger then trim it down to size. Many videos demoing cutting and piecing.

OK...will do. I don't do it allllllll the time...just once in a great while. :)

~ Cindy

Yes, I have used this method but I dampened the block, laid it out on my ironing board, which has an accurate grid cover, and pinned it down, stretching or easing as necessary and making sure everything was square and every piece was the correct size. Then I left it to dry. After it was dry, I sewed it to its neighbours.

I should also say that I haven't done this very often but sometimes those bias edges get away from me.

Yeah...it's those biased edges that do me in too. Good idea to dry it in place first.

Thanks, C

Sharon Schamber has some Youtube videos that show how she does this for blocks that are too small, too large, or wonky. Here are links (not necessarily in order):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-3RIWhBvcA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6aplw_tVZc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIjZqABo2NY

Yes! That's where I originally got the idea. What a down and dirty little secret! I've used it a few times and it does work, unless, of course, the block is really off. then, it's better to just make a new block. I'm always amazed about how fluid and moldable fabric really is.

~ Cindy

I had some respect for Sharon Schamber until I saw this. My personal opinion about stretching blocks - same as tessagin's. What about the neighboring blocks in the item?

There are those that say that when the item is densely quilted, the batting will keep the pieces stable. I don't know if it does or not - I have not personally tested it.



One can stretch fabric when it is wet - I do it with my Big Board cloth cover every time I was it - in fact, I put it back on when it is quite damp - when I totally dry it in the dryer, it is about two inches too short to go on.

I have blocked blocks on several occasions as GingerK describes, only I do mine on a cork board that has a true 12 1/2" square marked on it. I line the out of shape block up on the square using loads of pins to stretch or shrink it then thoroughly wet it with a spray mist bottle and leave it to dry overnight. It comes in very handy with block swap blocks where not every block is a uniform 12 1/2". There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing this. However, I limit it to blocks that are off less than 1/4" max plus or minus. Anything over that I won't use the block. I only do this to completed blocks, not units to get the block to fit together. Blocking a block and then a whole quilt when it is done is a very common practice.
Additionally I have known many longarm quilters who use starch and or steam while it is on the rack to help draw up fullness in a wonky quilt so they can quilt it without getting unsightly tucks or puckers. I have never done it myself but I have definitely had quilts on my rack that could have benefited from it.

Edited to add, I can attest that the quilting will stabilize a block this has been done to. Actually, in my experience, once the block has been blocked and dried, once I unpin it it keeps the shape so the quilting only enforces that.

I prefer to oversize by an 1/8" of an inch the outside parts of the block I am making. You just have to be on your toes when you do this. You are right it is a double faced sword.