The cream squares on each end of the brown need to be redone. The seam needs to be exactly 1/4", and sewn to a very careful point at the edge that joins to the red. This is where the careful 1/4" seams are so important so that when you do the next 1/4" seam everything joins like it's supposed to. Read the instructions again...maybe it gives the dimension of the brown on the edge that sews to the red. You can check it before you try to sew it again. 1/4" from the edge it should be the same width as the red. You can check it that way. Then carefully sew the 1/4". It should work. ;)

The spools pattern I did had different dimensions. I also made the sides of the spool as a combined piece and the center as a combined piece, where your combined piece is the top etc.
Not sure if my pic will help you or not.
It was also the first quilt I ever did. PM me if you want me to try to explain it better.

The width of the brown fabric needs to be as wide as the width of the side panel of the muslin (both measured raw). Then cut a square the width of the brown fabric. Sewn across the diagonal, it will provide the matching triangle.

Another option is to make the red wider.

draw your pattern out on a piece of paper and make it into a paer piece project when i have had troubles with somthing that is what i do than it turns out the way it is supose to be good luck i know how frustrating this can bee

My experience with points is that they will beat you before you beat them, so just do as Kay Wood says and do them right the first time. I want everything to just go together whoosh-whoosh, but with geometrical points, it just isn't going to happen. (I have that talk with myself almost every day. <g>) One thing you might consider is to take the parts apart and move the red part slightly to the left. That way, the difference between the red and brown will be more even, so it will look like it was supposed to be that way. (See... I'm already trying to fudge.)

Wouldn't doing half square triangles be easier?

Let's check your sizes.

Your half square triangles need to be the same sized as the height of the top of the spool and the width of the white background sides.

Your brown center top of the spool and your red center each need to be the same width (if you are using three patches across the top)

What are the ends of the spools? Do you have two half square triangles or one piece of brown fabric with squares sewn on the diagonal and trimmed at each end?

If you could tell us how the top of the spool is constructed (one piece with two diagonals, or one rectangle and two half square triangles) and the size of the strips you are cutting, and then tell us the size of the background and center pieces. Maybe then we can help you figure out what is not working correctly for you.

Diane

here is the Quilters cache Spool block like was suggested..and it is being done the way you are doing yours..

http://www.quilterscache.com/S/SpoolBlock.html

This is the way i make them..
a short video to watch:

http://www.craftster.org/video/Spool...lock-215075523

Good Luck...

Do not give up! You can do it! It really does seem like your original pattern might be off. Try some other spool patterns with your scraps. You'll get it spot on and you'll learn a lot. There are lots of ways to accomplish that block. You might have to play around and find one you like best. It is a neat block isn't it?

are you doing the 1/4th seam allowance? your top is bigger and thats what I would look at first. but I am just learning so I might be way off. Penny