Help With HST and Squares!
 

I am doing the Bunny Patch from Quiltmaker March/April '12. I did the HST's as it suggested in the magazine, with the 1/4" stitch that my machine has.

The HST's it starts with 2 5/8 squares, and the squares I'm joining the HST's to are 2 1/4. But it seems when I join the HST's and the squares that the squares are slightly smaller than the HST's.

Could it be a problem with the pattern? Or maybe my technique? How should I go about compensating for the different width squares when sewing rows/strips together?

How are you sewing your HSTs? It isn't clear from what you wrote. Did you start the HSTs from the 2 5/8" square? Do you end up with one HST from that square? I can't see how you end up with a 2 1/4" HST from that measurement without trimming.

Ah sorry, forgot to mention how I sewed them! Took one of the 2 5/8 squares, drew a diagonal line on the back, then stitched 1/4 in from the diagonal line then cut on the diagonal line

What size is your square?

Duh, never mind I see you said 2 1/4. If you cut your square 3 1/8", draw a diagonal line, sew 1/4" on either side of the line, then cut on the diagonal line, you will end up with 2 hst's that are 2 1/4"

Only problem with that is I've already cut all the fabric and started sewing it together already.

The formula for HSTs is add 7/8" to the finished size you want for cutting the squares. I cut mine at 1" over to give a little space for corrections and trimming. Some prefer 1 1/4". I bet your pattern has a typo, unfortunately, not uncommon. So, on the quilt I just started, I want 4" (finished) HST units, so I cut 5" squares. I will trim to 4.5" for 4" units in the finished quilt.

I agree with the others that you need to start with larger HSTs, but, since you have already cut all the fabric, trying truing up your HSTs to 2 1/4". I'm having the same problem right now, using Terry Akison's quick strip method for HST and some are way off base. I finally figured out that I have to trim them down to 2" and although I still have to compensate a few of them, it is working. I hope this makes sense to you. I do know one thing for sure, I won't be using that methoid again and I will go up to the next inch (ie 2 5/8 will be 3" ) and trim them to the size needed.

I think your only solution now is to backtrack and trim the larger blocks to be the same size as the smaller blocks. It is tedious but you'll be glad you did it, in the end.

If you mean that your squares are cut to 2 1/4" (unfinished size) then that means they're 1 3/4" finished. To make HST's that finish at 1 3/4" you would add 7/8", meaning that you would cut the squares for HSTs at 2 5/8", just as your pattern says. If your HSTs are coming out larger then they should be trimmed. But you didn't say how much larger they are - if it's just a smidgeon then you're doing them right and you'll just be trimming a thread or two. Usually people have the opposite problem and their HSTs are too small. I would start measuring the HSTs and the squares and see if the squares are cut to the right size too. Both should be measuring 2 1/4" before you join them. It's much better to trim them before sewing them together, provided you can trim to the correct size for the pattern. Of course if your pattern only has these HSTs and squares, then you can make them any size and it will come out right, just not the same size as the pattern.

Dunster is spot-on. Prepping the pieces to be the same size makes assembly sooooo much easier. I always cut my HST squares oversize and trim them to the correct size. It is worth it to me. Sounds like you need to trim the regular squares instead. A little annoying but you'll still have a usable batch.

I usually have the opposite problem. My HST are always too small. But now I know to make them an inch bigger and cut them down. I love this board!!!

I hadn't thought to measure the two squares to see the difference. I did try to measure it on my sewing machine last night the difference between the squares when they were already sewn together and it looked like the HST's were 1/4 in wider than the 2 1/4 squares.

Trim your HSTs to the correct size 2-1/4". BEFORE you do that google HSTs, it is very important that you trim them up correctly - here is one that I found
http://quilting.about.com/od/quickpi...squaretria.htm

I got a chance to measure one of the HST's that I haven't sewn to a square yet, and one way it measured 2 1/4, and another way it measured 2 1/2.

How odd!

Another thing you need to think about with trimming HSTs is always to press them right before the trimming.I am doing a modified carpenter's star, which is almost all HSTs. It would make me crazy if I did not press (NOT my favorite activity) and trim before combining the HST units into the finished star.

So true. Be sure to share your finished quilt.