I'm having trouble already. Usually when I cut pieces they are cut exact. These directions are confusing. Cutting rectangles, then sowing on the diag and cut. I'm stumped on page 2. Setting squares on the rectangle. First time I aligned on the 2 outsides and they overlapped too much in the middle so I aligned toward the middle. It looks better but comes to a perfect point. I know when I sew the next piece on I will lose my point. HELP!!!!!! What am I doing wrong.

I know I said I needed HELP but what I should have said was
HELP

Debbie, I feel your pain, but I do not as a rule do much piecing, mostly appliue so I am at a loss as to how to help you. I just wanted you to know that someone is listening even if they are unable to help. :-)
If that's any consolation.

the only things you're doing wrong are (1) assuming it's your fault and (2) letting this get you into a panic.

the illustrations at the web site are beautiful but they are not accurate.
assuming you cut everything accurately - and i'm sure you did - it should go like this:

do as the instructions say in regard to lining up the outer edges of the squares with the outer edges of the rectangle.

also, do draw the diagonal line at the proper angle to "divide" the square into two triangles.

do NOT - i repeat - DO NOT sew exactly on the line you drew. instead sew just a teeny bit (about 1/16th of an inch) inside the line. Because if you sew right on the line, when you fold the triangle back it will not line up perfectly with the rectangle. By sewing inside, you can fold and press it to match perfectly BEFORE you trim away the excess fabric from behind.

although it doesn't look that way in the illustration at the website, the second triangle is supposed to overlap the first. to check your accuracy, use a ruler to check where everything is in relationship to the 1/4" seam allowance. (see the illustration below. the dotted line marks the seam allowance) i'll bet your triangles weren't as far off as you thought they were.

did you see the picture i posted (page 2 of the BOM topic) showing how to lay it out using half-square triangles? only one set of measurements and one technique. if you'd prefer more help fighting with the block the way you've started, send me a PM.

I knew she'd come to the rescue. Our Guru never lets us down :!: :lol:
What a nice person you are Patrice. Almost makes me want to give up applique :!:

Thank you. I thought I was reading it wrong. I did it right the first time. I'll do it again, only sew 1/16 inch shorter. I only bought fat quarters for this. If I don't get it this time I'll have to buy more fab. Off I go.

thank you for the kind words. you have made my day.

PLEASE don't give up applique. who would i turn to for questions about that?
:D

I tried it again and it still didn't look right but something clicked in my head and I went back to the first one I did and really looked at it and lo and behold it hit me. You do match it up on the outside edge and you do sew on the diag line but before you apply the other side you have to trim and fold the first one back and press. That's what I did wrong. I didn't fold it back over. Let this be a lesson to all of us. When doing something new and you have step by step instructions. Read, read and read it again before attempting to do it. And do every step cuz if you miss one step you will #*&% it up.

Patrice,
Okay, I question "inside" the line. I sew just a tad to the outside of the line, towards the outside corner, so when I fold the inside triangle over I'm folding on the line. Is this just a matter of semantics? Are we saying the same thing? Or not?

Anyway, Debbie, when you go to sew your flying goose onto the middle square, be sure to put the goose on top. That way you can direct your seam right on the edge of the point and when you flip it, it'll be perfect.

I made the same mistake you made, many,many times, until the light finally dawned, "oh, I need a seam allowance!" Like, DUH! I can be taught. :roll:

I may try it in a hundred years or so when I get tired of applique. I have 30 pansies done, fused together, not to anything but to themselves and 30 more to go for my lap quilt. But its going to be pretty. I like the BOM, but I'll watch for a while longer :!:

Glad to know I'm not the only one, part of mine was ok and part was a disaster, I threw it in the scrap box , go thru the stash find some more fabric and try again. I'm not to good with all these little pieces, I have only done simple paterns so far. I think Iam going to need a month to make one good one. :oops: :hunf:

yes, we were saying the same thing. your outside is my inside. although you lost me with the goose on top thing. what goose on which square? the geese go on the rectangles. and where else would you put them if not on top? (oooooooooooo, i just made myself dizzy. LOL)

yet another reason to stick to chicken and skip the goose. LOL

and when i'm explaining something i should remember to mention the steps i do so automatically i forget they are steps. i'm sorry. bad habit. i do the same thing to the folks at work when i'm trying to help them over the phone with a compute problem. if i show them, they get to see everything. but i'll often leave out critical details if i'm just describing.

don't be so hard on yourself. if either set of instructions had been more clear and to-the-point (me and my puns! LOL), you wouldn't have made the mistake.

Long live applique :!: :D

shhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

Debbie,

Are you clear? If not, I'll take a stab at explaining it also.

tim in san jose

she's already having a hard enough time. leave the poor kid alone. LOL

Debbie!!! Run!!! Run Fast!!! Run Far!!! Don't look back!!!

:mrgreen:

Just in case you all wanted to know I finished it and it's BEAUUUUTIFUL. Seams are straight and points are exactly where they're supposed to be. The solid is a very light lavander and the print is a dark purple with small lavander roses, green leaves and white little tiny baby's breath flowers. I'm so proud of myself. I figured it out . Sorry we figured it out. I just wish there was someone here I could show it off to. Hubby doesn't count. As soon as my tax refund comes in the first thing I'm going to buy is a digital camera so I can post my pics.

i can't wait. :-)

Congratulations, Debbie!! Hooray!! Hooray!!

Debbie, 2 tips when you get that camera #1 don't leave it out in the rain..#2 don't take pictures that make people made enough to "drop" your camera several times untill it falls to pieces! I'm on my third so far I've taken pretty good care of it, had it a whole month now! Can't wait to see your block it sounds beautiful.

#3 - buy a memory card to go in it for easier transfer to computer and printer
#4 - READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS
#5 - PM Kathy if you have any problems. she knows what to do.
:wink:

you're sharp as a broken quilting needle today Patrice
they all know i'm in charge of the "what not to do " list

HOWEVER, i'll bet everybody rolled on the floor laughing.

nanner, nanner, nanner

Okay younguns stop fussing and play nice :D :!:

OMG! :shock: I'm terribly afraid to start mine, now! I know the directions looked confusing enough to me. I'll get it, though ;)
I got the cake made and delivered yesterday that I had been working on. THe kid gave me a challenge with what he wanted on it, but I pulled it off. It was a hit! SOrry about getting off topic, but I can get started soon on the block now that I've got the cake over with. I have to go soon and get ready. My little girl has a program at school this evening. Tomorrow, I will have both little ones home...doubt I'll get much done, but we'll see. I've got my fabric picked out.
Anyone interested in seeing my cake?

Would love to see your cake.

killjoy. :cry:

hey ... will you give us cake and ice cream if we behave ourselves?

No, I'm on a diet. Sorry.

me too :wink :)

So where is this pretty cake? I wanna see!!

I wanna see it!!! I used to do that many moons ago.....don't any more due to arthritis ...just ones for family now.... show me, show me, show me!!!!!

Well, I don't know about "PRETTY", but here it is.
Boy, this really fits under BOM help, huh?!

If you all wanna see more of my cakes, I have 11 (including this one) in the gallery at www.cakecentral.com
To be able to view the pics, you have to sign up at cake central, but it is free, just takes a minute, and you can browse all the hundreds or thousands of pictures there. Might get some new ideas for a quilt block! :D
after you become a member, you can probably click on the link below and view all 11 of mine. It won't let you look of you're not a member. :P :roll: my ID is the same there as here.


http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-photos-by-ButtercreamCakeArtist.html

well Miranda I'm impressed. I used to do cakes and I know that like quilting even what looks simple to others takes a lot more time and talent than people realize. I gave all my stuff to my daughter when I couldn't finish a cake without my hands cramping so bad I had to stop every 5 minutes. That really makes it take a long time to finish. I did a dragon once but he was animated and cute. While yours looks like a meany, you did a fantastic job.
kathy

I thought your cake was great! You do nice work.....is that a special recipe you made the dragon out of? I did alot of piped cakes when I was into it... the shaped pans like santa clause, darth vader, dora...etc. I still have most of my stuff but like Kathy I cramp up so bad I don't do them as a money maker anymore...just for special occasions for family....

The cake looks fantastic! Great job! I know the kid was pleased, it was a lot of work. :D You are a lady of many talents.

No, it isn't a special recipe, it's the technique that makes it awesome. I love doing these. They are called frozen buttercream transfers. I got some clear plexi-glass (acrylic sheets) last night, so they've been hard for me to see what's going on on the right side until I put it on the cake...good thing I'm good! LOL! You can check out how this is done:
http://sdbytracy.com/frozbutter.htm

Thanks to all of you that've posted positive words on my cake. I love making things!

Buttercream...YES! I would love to see your cake. Randy

Wheeeew! You ARE GOOD! It's a great kids cake. Randy