I do because a long time ago, I made a throw & nothing matched in size.Had to cut the blocks down,add sashing etc.I prob had to cut the sashing down too, as I was pretty new.
There are several reasons for making a sample square.With blocks that all have to be turned/sewn in a certain order,you check each against the sample.Think pinwheels & log cabins.
Checking the block size can save hrs of work.
If the sample is good to go...it's stuck right in front of my machine.If not, it goes into my pile of orphan blocks :-)that will someday be sewn together & given away.

The main reason being sure I want to spend the time/work /fabric making that quilt.When it comes down to the nitty gritty,often times the answer is no.The block speaks to me & that alone has saved me buying a ton of fabric.You would think just seeing a pic of a quilt would work..& sometimes it does, but making a sample block works best for me.

It depends on how complicated the block is.

I will from now on... If I had made a sample block of the ugly quilt I am making, I wouldn't be making it. It is all cut out, so I don't have any other option than to finish it. I know the reasons it is ugly to me though. #1 It is too dark for my taste. #2 There isn't enough contrast for my taste. I just hope someone will fall in love with and just have to have it. HOPE! HOPE! HOPE!

Think every quilt is loved by someone, sooner or later.I can hardly force myself to work on a quilt I don't like,for whatever reason.If I make 3-4 blocks & don't like it,that's my limit for sure....but took too long to learn it.:-(

I always do a sample block/s so I can determine whether I like the colors and look of what my quilt will be when finished. It saves a lot of frustration/heartache if I decide I don't like it.

I do but not for size. I do it to decide how to press seams - especially in a complicated block.

If a pattern looks to be quite challenging, I will make 4-6 blocks first....enough to get the hang of it and see if I like it enough to finish a full quilt and then go ahead and cut more or if I'm not really in love with it, I can make those few blocks up into a small dolly quilt or a table runner.

Jodi in Leavenworth

Sometimes I'll even piece a complicated block by hand to figure out how to press the seams.

I don't make fabric samples.
I draw the whole quilt onto graph paper with colored pencils.
I can try out block sizes, color placement and shades this way.
I assign a measurement to each sq. of the graph, such as all red colored sqs equal 1", all yellows equal 3.5" etc.
This is just easier for me.

Sadiemae, I am laughing as I read this! You're so cute and funny :D
To answer the question, no I don't but probably should!

I love your ideas Nadine and Jodi!!

As a newbie it is always nice to hear of tips and ideas ... I will add these to my notebook ....

I never thought of making a runner or anything like that ... that I didn`t think I would like my blocks on a quilt and also love the idea of using graph paper ...

Thanks for sharing. :)

Always - helps to figure out the pattern - and then I save the sample for use later with the other samples for a crazy quilt...should be interesting to put together...

Never

I may draw out on paper where I want colors to be on a difficult block, but for the most part.... I like to jump in by the seat of my pants and let the Quilting gods do what they want. More fun that way.

I don't draw it out or make a sample, I tend to fly by the seat of my pants and usually regret it later. My logic has been at 1) I can't draw and have trouble visualizing from the graph paper and 2) didn't want to 'waste' the time and fabric. ha! I lost count of the yards of fabric I've wasted doing it my way! I never thought of using the sample blocks for table runners or toppers. Duh! thanks for the tip!

I like to sew out sample blocks, they can always go into a scrappy sampler quilt :wink:
I like to have all of the kinks worked out, pressing issues, etc.. before I start a quilt :D:D:D

I fly by the seat of my pants and just MAKE it work..... I'm too disorganized to plan ahead and make sample blocks!

Been there....Done that

I am still a newbie, I thought I would make a sample block of Maple Leaf to see if I could get the stem right? may have to change to a Bear Paw lol I want to enjoy making my blocks, not go crazy doing something more advanced..tried that once and it was a heartbreaking.

It depends. If it's a complicated block - definitely. If it's a block I haven't done before, and there are HSTs - generally. If it's a pattern I have done before and I want to test a new color combination - often.

Doing a block helps test out if the instructions are correct, if the fabrics go together, and if the instructions give a good process. As fabric is getting more expensive, bad/incorrect patterns should be eliminated.

That's for sure :thumbup:


As fabric is getting more expensive, bad/incorrect patterns should be eliminated.

I do, unless it is something I have made before, a special request by someone, or a block for an exchange. I too really like to know if I want to bother with something before I reach the point of no return.

No. I'm not patient enough. I just want to GO! On the other hand, the first block is always a sample by definition right?

Wish I had thought to do this. I started a quilt that has appliqued hearts on twelve of the square centers.. so I prepared all 12 of them so I would just have to sew on the finishing pieces of the square. Doh... I centered them squarely and they all turned out really beautiful..only they were suppose to be centered on a vertical diamond.. so all the hearts will be laying on the side. Bleah.. gonna have to make a trip back to JoAnnes to get more matterial and the fusible stuff to remake them correctly. I will have to figure out how to use the bad ones some other way they just to beautiful to toss.

Baby quilt? tote bag,table runner ?
I bet if you made it as sewn, no one would even notice.

Its a youth quilt and it has a definite top and bottom so the hearts really would look funny laying on their sides. And Im really trying for once to stick to the pattern..haha. :roll:

If it isn't finished, can you remove the hearts & put them upright? Sounds like a job to me!

Not really..it will just have to be a lesson learned for this newbie. If I go off pattern I could make them work but then I will have a lot of precut pieces that won't fit either way I will have to purchase more of the material. Just need to buy the fusible stuff and a 1/4 of material and I will be back in action. However this is a great lesson learned and in the future I will make a sample block out of leftover material so I have a better understanding of what is going to happen prior to cutting up all my pretty material. This will be my third quilt project since beginning. The first two I didnt use a layout pattern. The second one is my avantar and is made up of Dresdan squares and Card Trick which I have learned at quilting classes.

Looks like you're doing great for making 3 quilts. The avatar is striking.Classes are a great way to learn.Learning is what it's all about.You can keep some inexpensive fabric for practice & you'll soon have scraps too.Practice blocks can be used for pot holders,tote bags, runners etc.Saw a dress with quilt blocks used as pockets.

Thanks :)

Love your idea. Will be doing it from now on.
Thanks

I always make a sample block to make sure that I will like the final result. I have often changed my colour placements as a result. It is also to check that the instructions are correct. I also make an extra block from every quilt I make. Someday, I will sew them all together into a sampler which will be a wonderful record of all of the quilts I have made! It is also a great way to decide which way to press my seam allowances.

I do complete one block before I do any production line piecing. Last week's was a simple block, but one measurement was wrong. I'm glad I discovered it early. The previous quilt was made with a unfamiliar block with more complicated directions. I had the sample of that one pinned to the drapes in front of my sewing machine. The visual was helpful.

I always make a sample, and I complete it with batting and a boarder and binding. This way when I give the quilt away, I will always have a reminder of what I made and who I gave it to. Then I hang it in my quilting room as wall art. Makes me smile to see them and know they were all completed! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving to all!

Yes, that's what I usually do. I tried back in the summertime to make a table runner by graphing it all out. I couldn't get the design to suit me and ended up never making the runner. Kinda glad I tried graphing it out; but also feel I wasted a lot of time. I guess I should have known it wasn't going to work out to begin with. I haven't tried making anything too complicated yet; haven't had the nerve to try HST's or anything with a lot of triangles. I guess I am afraid of getting discouraged half way through and not finishing. I hate UFO's.

I don't call my first square of a quilt a sample, because after I press it, I lay it aside, Make a second block, make sure it matches the first one and on down the line until I have all the blocks I need for a full quilt. There are still some irregularities, but it would take a practiced eye to find them. If one comes up really "off" I throw it into my potholder bin and another pot holder is born.

Last January, I started a BOM from class, 3-4 different materials, and always had to make a sample first as it never turned out right unless I did, now I am totally bored with the material and doubt if I will ever make a quilt out of it. The worse part is that I started making two different quilts and now can't stand either one...bored of the material and blocks. Nice waste of money huh? :oops:

Great idea to make a table runner or something small with block samples - I need to do some smaller projects anyway

I don't make a sample block. However, I do graph out the design and/or play with my fabric for a while before I decide exactly how I want it to look.

Has anyone tried Electric Quilt? I can't draw worth a darn, but I can color blocks, so I think EQ is going to be great. So far I've only made 1 quilt I designed with it, but I've only had it for 10 days. The quilt came out great. We'll see if I'm still in love after another quilt or two.