The pattern said to cut 1.25" strips from red and white fabric. Then to sew alternating strips together. Once this was completed...and I never got this far...cut the strip sets into 1.25" strips so that I'd have a strip of red, one of white etc. Then sew two of the the newly-cut strips together to create a checkerboard pattern.

Exhausted yet???

After my elation at sewing together my first strip set, I decided to measure. The pattern didn't tell me the measurements of the resulting set but did indicate that two checkerboards sewn end to end should be 18.5". Ah, I said, then each set should be 9.5".

Imagine my frustration when I found I was quite short even though I'd ensured a good 1/4" seam. I realized - with help - that I had cut the strips just shy of 1.25". And since the seams were to be pressed toward the red fabric, which was of heavier texture than the white, the turn of the seams "used up" more fabric than might be expected. I was advised to purchase more fabric since picking out the seams and repressing would likely cause distortion. Sadly, this was a kit but I was able to locate the fabric on line.

Anyway...long story short...here's what I learned: when making strip sets using such narrow strips, calculate the measurements after each strip is added and measure with the addition of every strip. Took LOTS of time but I have some lovely strip sets now. :)

Anyway, hope my experience can help others.
Cathy

Always good advice.

another thing you can do on narrow strips, is use a seam guide, but measure not the seam, but the fabric remaining.

Buy a June Taylor Shape Cut to insure each strip is exactly the same. I just cut 32 strips 1.5 inches x 3 colors of fabric. Stacked them and they were perfect. Love it!

great idea, thanks for sharing

When I use my strip cutter I 'mark' the correct cutting slots with blue painters tape.

Now that sounds like a really good idea. Measure what the strip needs to be, not the seam. Why didn't I think of that???