Help! Square (Diamond) in a Square
 

I need help! Just attempted to make 12 of these for a quilt and they turned out terrible! I actually ordered more fabric and am going to discard these. Could not get them to square up correctly so that I had 1/4" on each corner of the diamond. Then, of course, when I sewed the blocks together, none of my points matched. They look terrible. I read every tutorial I could find on the internet with no luck. Can anyone give me any tips on how to sew these correctly? My scant 1/4" seam is accurate. At wit's end. Thank you for any help!

I have not used it, but a friend uses the Deb Tucker ruler that does this - can't remember the name. But if you go go Studio180 or key in Deb Tucker rulers, you might be able to find it. She says it uses a little more fabric, then you trim the squares down to size, but she swears by them.....says they come out perfect! If nothing else, maybe you can view Deb Tucker videos for some hints.

Are you matching center points on both the inner square and added triangle section before sewing it? and Are you sewing opposite triangles first, then the other opposite triangles?

How are you measuring your quarter inch seam? You don't measure the seam, you measure the resulting patch. Here's how to check:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ce-t89997.html

also, make sure you are not pressing a tiny fold into the seam. When making these blocks I usually over size the triangles, then cut down. This is also called an Economy Block. If you google this you will find more tutorials and maybe one of them will 'click.

I'm currently working on a quilt that has about 100 of them - what I've found, you must make sure your starting square is the correct size - right now I'm doing 48 that are 2.5" (finish at 2") and the start block is 1 7/8".

For your triangles, cut a square and then cut diagonal so that your finished edges are not on the bias.

Press so you have the center marked (I finger press) and sew apposing sides, making sure you have point of the triangle at the center - press and repeat for the other two sides.

When you go to trim, find teh center on your ruler and line up the inner block. Since mine will be 2.5", I find the 1.25" line and put it so that it lines up with the corners of the INNER block. Then adjust it up/down and sideways so that you get 1/4" allowance past those corners. I've found if the inner block is slightly larger or smaller (like less than 1/8") I can adjust the ruler so that I've got the 1/4" seam allowance, and it's still OK. More than that and I have problems.

When you square it up, ignore where the points of the outer triangles are - concentrate on keeping the inner block centered. If you lined up your points, there should be enough fabric for easy trimming. If there is not, then cut your squares for the triangle a bit larger.

My number one problems I had at the start was not being extra careful to get perfectly straight seams, and then my inner square would end up not being quite square. I had to slow down and pay attention, especially at the ends of the seam, as that is where I'm most likely to let things slip a bit.

Also, when you press, be careful you don't stretch the ends. I find trimming the dog ears off the first set of triangles BEFORE I press helps a lot in keeping them from getting stretched in the pressing process.

A picture of your botched blocks might help us help you. If we see what / where the problems are. Sometimes I cut my triangles over sized then trim down but it depends on the block how well that works.

For prefect ones, paper piece them. These blocks look so simple but can become wonky by looking at them.

I agree with Nora. I am sold on anything created by Deb Tucker. She has two sizes. The big one is expensive, but it does blocks that finish in whole inches from 1 to 12, and can do nested SIS units. The smaller one will do 1 to 6 inch blocks but I don't think it does the nested.

https://deb-tuckers-studio-180-desig...square-squared


Paper piecing is also a good option if you don't want to wait for a ruler.

Thank you - attached a photo at the end of this thread.

Oh - I didn't know that! Thank you!

I would look at the deb tucker rulers. They do work well

Jodi Barrows rulers are my suggestion. She has the square-in-a-square ruler as well as a diamond-in-square ruler. These rulers are for multiple sizes, not just one or two sizes. They can be a big help.

Thanks for posting the link to Deb's ruler. I watched the video and if I were going to be doing very many of those SIS, I would certainly order it. I have made a few of them and think I just got lucky that they came out right.

I've also been REALLY struggling to get this block right. I have decided to paper piece them instead! It will save my sanity! ;)

USE DEB TUCKER'S DIAMOND RECS TOOL!!!!! Every one of your diamonds will come out perfectly!!! Watch her video on her Deb Tuckers Studio 180 design website, and watch how that tool works.............I made a Storm at Sea using her tools and it came out perfectly............

OOPPSSS....did not see the picture first! You need her square squared tool............the diamond recs tool makes a rectangular block, and not a square in a square.................watch the video, and I am sorry I did not see the picture before I posted originally.

One of the easiest and most accurate ways I do it is-

http://sewquickly.com/quick-cut-squa...t-quilt-block/

http://videos.hgtv.com/video/super-f...-cutting-62245

I flip my cutting mat over and drew lines on it with permanent markers.

Looking at you pic......when you sew two blocks together I take a pin and put it right at the point of each block, then pin it down with just a tiny "bite". Sew and when you reach that X intersection, sew carefully just one thread to the right of that X and when you are thru and flip to the right side, those points will "kiss".

Annaquilts that video was great, I need to try that.

Thanks for the Alex Anderson video. Very helpful.

Can you salvage them by making pot holders? They are always useful. You have gotten great help from others so I won't add to it. Good luck.

Thank you Annaquilts for sharing that wonderful HGTV video...I can't wait to try it.

I am a big fan of paper piecing. I could not get my flying geese to come out for the life of me. I have the Triangulations program that allows me to print whatever size I need. I had perfect flying geese after having no success with all the rulers and all the different methods. Good luck!

Have you tried paper piecing? I love that supposedly simple block but have such a hard time with it I had to do a few for a wall hanging recently and I ended up paper piecing them and they turned out pretty well. I've tried the Deb Tucker ruler and didn't have too much luck but that's just me. Good luck

Could someone describe what the process would be for paper piecing this block? The only paper piecing I've done is string blocks, but maybe that is foundation piecing rather than paper piecing.

Annaquilts, I just watched the video! This looks so much easier and faster, too. Thanks for posting.

Thank you for recommending the Deb Tucker square squared ruler. My square in a square block turned out first time!!

If you are going to scrap these blocks, make a charity quilt

I got 3 of Deb Tucker's rulers for Christmas! I definitely agree with cutting the triangles bigger so you can square up. That was part of the key for me. I've done a number of quilts that use a 'square in square', but the patterns I was using wer much better at hiding minor imperfections. A bunch of 'square in square' blocks all lined up definitely sounds more challenging!