Done a Dumb thing...
 

I have done a dumb thing. I have been working on a BOM this year. I missed a couple of months and finished the blocks up today. Problem? About 2 months ago was going to start a new project and decided to check out my 1/4" seam, make sure is was really a 1/4". It wasn't, it was smaller. So I adjusted the needle so that it measured to the right 1/4". Now the two blocks I made came out 1/2" smaller. Instead of 12 1/2" square, they are 12". Not sure how it happened and makes me think I better check the measurement again. Now I think the easiest thing to do is trim all the other blocks down to 12", or buy more fabric and make the 2 blocks over again. Any advice on this dumb thing I've done???

Either way way should work unless they have points... if you cut down you will cut them off.. in that case remake them..

way not just add a sash to your block that is too small?

or better yet...I forgot the name of it...but you take a 1 inch strip and fold it in half and sew like you would a border. its will make a really nice frame on the block.

I'd just take the 2 blocks apart that are to small and check the seam on the blocks that are 12 & 1/2 and reset the needle and resew the blocks. Just my 2 cents.

I agree with framing the smaller blocks with a delicate 1/2 inch sash. Lovely! Call it your design detail.

I would just undo the 2 blocks and do them over using the OLD setting!

Unless the two blocks have a "million" pieces, I would remake these blocks. If not, add a border. I don't believe I would cut the other blocks down to smaller size. But that's my own opinion.....

Just for future use: when I am on a project I put a sticky note on my machine to let me know my needle and other settings if not default. Also, if it is a BOM I might put down which rulers I used too, so I use the same rulers each month. Then I keep the sticky with the project when I go to do something else. I need lots of notes!

ali

Either idea, which ever you can live with. Welcome to my world of oops, still I am sorry for your problem.

Alicat what a great tip, as I like to work on a two or three projects at once this will be a great help, thanks.

Thanks for all the feed back. I think I will add the small border carolaug suggested. I think I have enough fabric from each block to do that.

I think I would take the blocks apart and re-sew them. If that doesn't work, I would re-make them. I had this problem when I used 2 different machines one time. Lesson learned, whatever machine you start with, use it to do the whole project. I would think that that rule would apply to rulers as well. Good luck!

I would probably sash them too, but depending on the block, if that looked weird, i would redo them. If it were the other way around and you were trimming just 2 blocks, I would do that, but I would hesitate to trim so many blocks.

Good luck!
Rachel

I would redo the blocks , if you must do a " fix" make at least one more block match the " fix"..they will fit into the finished quilt better..uneven always looks better and will not stick out as much...hope this makes sense..:-)

I also need lots of notes because I adjust the needle to get the correct seam width but since two adjustments are so close to the same size it is sometimes hard to remember the one I used.

I put a border on them and they look fine. I will do one more like that so that I have the odd number as suggested by nyleve. Hope I can find enough fabric to do one more. Thanks all.

Ditto! It was probably your re-setting of your needle that threw off these 2 blocks.

I have a same problem and haven't decided how to fix it. I probably won't be able to sleep at night unless I do over two 18" blocks. :(

I have a book on setting orphan blocks that suggests framing every block to a universal size. Some will have a frame a quarter inch wider than the others, but in the quilt, you won't notice it.

If the sashing idea won't work, I'd remake them. I'm always concerned about the 1/4 setting when I'm making my quilts too. I hate to take a break away from a step untill all elements of a particular step are done, for fear of having the seam allowance be off a bit.

I like Jacquie's idea, sounds like the solution to me.

I would undo the 2 smaller blocks and redo them with the same size seam allowance of the others.

I would pick out the sewing and redo with the correct seam allowance. You would be happier in the end

I agree with Valleyquilter, take them apart and resew.

That is a really good idea....sticky notes! I always think I will remember, but truth be told...I don't...

Oh my goodness, I have done the exact same thing, except it was my first BOM, from a couple of years ago, and I just got it out 2 days ago to finish it up. Even though I probably should have blocked the blocks, I just trimmed and stretched. I am SO ready for this project to be over with. I don't even like the quilt anymore!!

Be careful cutting down blocks. I got a bunch of blocks in an exchange and some were 12 and others 12.5. I cut them all down to 12 inches but that cut the corners off of some of them. You don't want that to happen.

just did the same type thing-- except I used two different machines--- argh- quilt friends said for me to take apart the new rows about 30 blocks and cut them to size-- it will work and cannot ditch the project--sigh!!!!!!!!!!!

I put small borders on them and will do one more that way so that there's an odd number like that. Thanks for all the advice. This is a BOM from the LQS. I picked brights, instead of batiks or CW, and I've never done brights before. Now I know why. Just a little too bright for me.

Yes, I would do the same make the 2 blocks over at the old setting.

I think that would work too unless they are trimmed.:)

Bummer, hope it turns out okay for you.

Remake two blocks using correct setting seems easiest to me if you have enough fabric. Otherwise, you and Mr. Ripper can go at it...good luck.

Take your blocks apart and redo, had to do that when learning to quilt. My teacher was THE QUILT POLICE !

Great idea!

I worked on one BOM on two different machines. That is when I realized that 1/4 inch on one machine does not mean the same as on another. I trimmed the larger ones down, but in doing so the points did not come out correctly. Now I use only one machine on one project.

I have a friend that did the same sort of thing. She was a new quilter then and it was only her second quilt. About 1/2 of her blocks were smaller than the others. We just added a little border of the same color background to the blocks that were to small. Then when we were laying out the quilt, we made sure to alternate the large and small blocks so it looked like she did it intentionally. I call little boo boo's like this a DESIGN OPTION.

Me too. I have had to do that on a swap where the guidelines for my pattern required the infamous "scant" 1/4" It's not such a big deal for only 2 blocks.

You can cut them all down unless They have points that you will end up cutting the points off if you trim them down and you wont like that I would redo the two blocks that are the wrong size and use the two smaller ones for something else.