Do you square your blocks.
 

Or maybe I should ask how many of you out there don't. why and what not.

Yes...it all helps to make a square quilt. Besides, I find the darndest mistakes when I take a second look at each block.

~ C

Yes all the time makes my life easier!

Ditto. Right from the start.

I never did until I started doing small blocks (1 to 1 1/2") and now it's just a good habit.

*Most* of the time ...

I define "squaring up a block" as using an actual ruler to make sure that the finished size is accurate. And most of the time yes, I square them up.

But the quilt I'm currently working on has 221 4.5" blocks. Am I going to take each one of these and plop them down on my 4.5" square ruler and square them up?? Probably not. I will probably *eye-ball* each of them as I am joining them to see if I need to fudge a seam. I'll join them in units of 4 and THEN I'll square them up with a ruler, then I'll join 4 of those units and square that up ... etc. Bear in mind with this quilt I am making 111 of one block and 110 of another - so I'm making 40 or 50 blocks at a time all chain pieced. So no, I am not stopping to square up each little block.

If I were making 200+ Dear Jane blocks ... I'd be making ONE block at a time and yes I would square each one up.

I always square up the sewn pieces of the block before sewing the block and then square the block. I want my blocks to match up perfectly. I have learned if I have to ease or stretch blocks to fit, it never turns out to any good.

Yes, I do square my blocks. I want as few unplanned "surprises" as possible when I go to put the quilt top together!!:D

I usually do. Fabric stretches even if you starch, cut and sew accurately, so you sometimes need to do a bit of trimming (hopefully, you won't need to trim it bigger :D)

Good question! I am really a little surpised at how many answered yes. For me it depends, a lot of blocks you really son't want to square up as you will lose your points. If my block is just a tad too big or too little (I measure when I do the first one) I just go with it and ease it in. However if it is more that just a tad, I take a look to see what the issue might be - a miscut piece, seam too big or too small. Fix that and my next block(s) should be good to go. Now if we are talking a block that doesn't have any points or something like half square triangles, yes I would square them up.

I have read if you do accurate cutting and sewing there should be no need to square up blocks. I usually do not square up my blocks

I square blocks up but it took me a while to cotton onto the fact that this helped make the final product look much better. Like so many on her I'm entirely self taught so each day is a learning day. I'm just glad I had 'that' learning day a few quilts back!

Once I started to I was amazed at how nicely everything would go together at the end :)

I'm new and just started my first quilt. I jumped in way over my head by picking a design with curved borders. I do anything I can to get things to line up as best as I can. I'm certain I'll be doing some trimming here and there to fix my many mistakes at the end.
Rodney

For some reason, after all these years, I don't seem to be able to stitch a 1/4" seam. So, I gave up. Instead, when practical, I make my block, or the little units in the block too, a tad bigger. Then after I stitch the sub unit, cut it to size and square it up, and the same for the finished block.

And without squaring up the blocks, you may not know that your cutting and sewing was not accurate until you get to the point of trying to fit them all togethter...when it's a royal pain to fix anything. :)

I square up at every possible point in the process. In the long run, it saves way more time than it wastes.

Not often, but any time I need to. Generally if something is off sized, I have a seam or two I need to correct.

I think we may have different definitions of squaring up. To me, it means checking the size of the block (frequently if necessary) as it is being built. If it doesn't measure as expected, I figure out what is going wrong and fix that problem. As a result, I very seldom need to shave any fabric from a block (except when I've purposely made the patch larger, so I can cut it down to its proper size after sewing, as with HST's). I think it's much more productive to strive for accuracy in cutting, sewing, and pressing. Then "squaring up" just means verifying that the block is the right size and shape.

I'm with Pennyhal, make it a little bigger and you can square it up without loosing any points.

I square up everything as a go along. Why? Because if I didn't, my quilt would look like an paisley when I'm finished!

I can't imagine NOT squaring my blocks. They just go together so much easier, with seams matching and points intact, etc., when all of the blocks are properly squared. And I keep checking the squaring as I put the quilt together. Then I make sure the quilt is square by putting in the first, exact, border. The more square you keep the quilt, the fewer overall problems you will have.

Yes, I do--always. Accuracy along the way makes a much better finished results for me.

I could NOT have said it any better. I like making my blocks a bit bigger like EB does. I love to be able to trim it down after giving the final pressing. I have seen too many quilt tops that won't lay flat!!

I started out with the attitude, everything cut good, sewed good, creates square blocks. And all was good. It also, helps to have the same amount of seams in each block.

And then, I made some half square triangles. OMG! I had to square those little guys up. They slid, stretched, ran and more. (Wish I had known about the starch it stiff method. Haven't tried it but will soon.) That experience with the HSTs has made me into a person who makes sure everything is square every step of the way. Each part must fit as perfectly as possible, otherwise, some ripply, wiggly, cupping blocks occur. I overcut and stitch scant 1/4" seams and still have to square up.

Some don't square anything and still make beautiful quilts. It all comes down to what works for you.

learned the hard way.... If I don't want wonky... take the time and square them up. Press often, etc

Things work out much better when I square the blocks.

Yes and no, it depends on the fabric as I have had some (yes the good LGS fabric) stretch when I iron and I know to press not iron (sliding the iron). On those I ease in leting the feed dogs do the work as they will shrink back to the right size after the finshed quilt is washed. It always seems it in the corner where it stretches and I know if I square up the block I will be losing that required amount of threads. I haven't had a problem with the tops or quilting when it's been a problem with the stretching and easing it in. Once the top is sewn together and reironed before quilting they seem to fit in sort of unstretch if that makes sense.

I'm am careful with my cuting and sewing the 1/4" so my finshed block are the finshed size they were to be.

Double Ditto......sure saves a lot of headaches in the end.

only when i want to feel badly about myself ;)

aileen

Just like tartan right from the start and right through until the block is finished. It isn't much a sliver here or there, but it makes it all set right when the blocks are finished. I also am a big fan of no steam while pressing.

Rarely...but I usually make very simple square-and-rectangle type blocks that tend to turn out pretty accurate all on their own.

If there are bias cuts in a block, I often need to square up.

Only thing I ALWAYS square up is crazy quilts, because I just sew stuff haphazardly to my foundation and then cut it down to size afterwards. :)

Yes I square my blocks. This makes a big difference when putting quilt all together.

It depends... on how much the block varies from the desired size. If its off a hair or two .. I have done more "damage" trying to shave that little bit off.

I square my blocks as well. I have found things just work out better when I go to sew it all together. It is a pain, but time well spent.

Yes. That is what I do. I ruined a few blocks like that because I squared them. I think if you like the crinkly look when the batting squishes up after washer and dryer, then easing something in a little isn't even noticeable.

True, but I think they only come out right in a perfect world.

Ditto! If my blocks are not the correct size, I correct the problem, usually means taking them apart and re sewing.

Yep! Same here.

When I started quilting, I think I didn't know about squaring blocks. Now, I always square my blocks. My only problem is that I have to be careful not to cut too close to a point.