Well? What I would do is to just take apart one set of the strips and put it together the other way. If it looks better to you that way, then do them all like that. If not, then go back to the way you started.

I never knew about alternating the strips. Then I read it somewhere and it came out MUCH better. Nothing really got "caddywompus" as you call it. :)

I'm with Terri... In Newfoundland we'd say our strips were starting to go "squish".... SO if you've just started your strip sets, do one the way we suggest and see what it looks like!

So interesting... my teacher/class had never mentioned it. I'm going to have to bring it up at my next class and she what she says. Or i might just go ahead and try it on my own.

"Caddywompus." Do you think that means the same as gollywhockered?

Oh Harmony I think you are discombobulated!!!!

I'd take a tape measure to it before doing anything. You might just be worried and it's really fine. If you do find an error you can check each seam looking to see if the strips were lining up or if you were "slipping" a little. Looking at your work will give you a good idea where the trouble might be, after all it could just be one strip that's not right.

I've never heard that before. I just sew them row by row, but I pin at every seam and have not had any problems.

me, too, but I press, press, press. You've got me wondering though about turning them about.

I do a lot of caddywampus and pickin' so you may find yourself joining me in singing the pick it song.

Sharon

This is off topic, but where in Newfoundland do you live, Terri? My hubby and I spent a wonderful two weeks there (July 7 -21) flying to Deer Lake and then going to Cornerbrook, Rocky Harbour and up to St Anthony before heading back to Deer Lake to fly home. There was so much to see and do, the scenery was spectacular and the weather perfect. We loved it. We live in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario Rita

I would call it like Melisa, "Discombabulated" I never heard of having to alternate the way you piece them together. Before you do anything iron what you have put together already and see if it looks crooked eye to you.
It could be that some of the seam allowences are wider than others or the fabric itself.

One way to avoid this is to work in smaller units and then join the smaller units to make your panel.

If your panel has 24 strips, sew 12 sets of 2 strips. Then sew the strip pairs together in pairs, so you have 6 sets of 4 strips. Then join those so you have 3 sets of 8 strips. Sew the 3 units together. By working with larger, more stable units, you are less likely to pull them out of shape.

i was taught at one of my first classes to alternate top/bottom when sewing long strips together - that way they don't start curling into big circles!

hmmm, when i do strip piecing, i always make my strips an inch longer than they need be, then after i've sewn my strips, i just do a straight trim across the top edge.

For lots of long strips, I use a walking foot. I'd be willing to bet the logic of alternating strips was intended to make up for fluctuations that the walking foot prevents.

abacus, could it be the pressing that is deforming the shape??If you are sure you are sewing exactly or pretty darn close, to a 1/4" seam and all looked pretty good till you ironed it...could be the way you are pressing your fabric. I know, for I had to fight this for a long time...I like to press hard and go from left to right...a big no no in causing the fabric to move. There are many free videos out there to watch w/the proper way to iron. I have to hummm the words in my head still:))In fact, I just might not be very safe w/an iron:))LOL Just a thought on that subject...Skeat
*If you don't have a 1/4 guide on your foot...then use quilting tape to mark your line on the machine itself to give you a guide.

Oh, Barb-I like the way you think!!!

alot of great idea's on here....I sew oppisite ends...seems to make a difference...also could you be pulling or streching the fabric...that's easy to do... keep at it you'll figure it out... :D

lol me too :) :) :)

hee hee ooh how many times have I said the "squish" word to my students!! hee hee nice to know I'm not alone! :)

I have never alternated my strips and have never had a problem.
I have an ironing board with measurements on it and just line up the strip on the line to make sure it is straight before I iron it.
Press dont iron. Set your seams first.
I like using the small travel iron also, its not so heavy and dosnt stretch the fabric.

ME? I'm not in Newfoundland. That would be Quilting Aggi that lives there. I live on Guam.

I was taught to alternate them - to be on the safe side just unpick every other one - you will never be quite confident about it if you don't... and that is the correct way... I learnt this in a bargello class...

I really don't think there is a right way or a wrong way. Everyone has what works well for them.
Some people alternate strips, while others don't.
Some people use quilters safety pins, others use just straight pins.
Some use a walking foot, others don't.
I think it's just what works best for each individual.
Not saying to NOT try the suggestions, but don't always discount them as being wrong.

when my strips get "womperjawed" it's usually because I'm stretching one or the other.

BTW, if your strips are selvage to selvage to be cut to size later, they will not all be the same length, I always start at the same end , it just seems like less waste when you cut the selvage off it's even at least on one end.

Don't want to get into an argument, but I wouldl like to see the work, that has not been sewn alternately, hanging on a wall.... to see if it hangs straight... !!!

joy, my mystery runner is one:))I only sew one direction...don't ask me why....I just do:))I never knew or even thought to run different directions..makes sense though and maybe if I had sewed many, it would have moved on me or something....I think anything is possible..espec. for me:))Skeat

4 skeat - I like the picture of the quilt that you have there.... have you got a name for the pattern at all please?
Regarding our little discussion, I would have sewn them all one way too but the tutor at the class I went to (who is very knowledgeable and has been making quilts for many years) put me on to the correct way... I was very pleased to know about it...

Wow! Not only have I learned new techniques for sewing strips, I have expanded my vocabulary too!!!! Hopefully my work won't get caddywompus,
gollywhockered, womperjawed or squished!!! Thanks!

I only sew in one direction myself. If i make sure i'm not pulling or stretching either of the strips, there is no problem with accuracy for me. I stripped pieced an irish chain quilt for my parents 50th, and they were very small 1" strips, and because they were such thin strips, wonking would have been very easy, but i just made sure it didnt happen. An ordinary bed quilt, wonking doesnt show so much, but on a wall hanging, any inaccuracy with make the quilt look very wonky while hanging. So this is just in regards to the remark, prove it to me lol lol, but, this is not to say that now that i've heard of this technique, that i may choose to use it, if i ever am going wonky, but i just don't allow wonky's to happen lol ... when i did have it happen once, was very mad, and figured out why it happened, that i had been pulling too tight on the top strip while sewing, and well, that strip got a yelling at and disappeared lol, but never again

Too bad! You missed the really NICE part!! LOL I live on the Bonavista Peninsula and my hubby is from the Southern Shore (Irish area). I am so glad you came in July! August hasn't been the greatest weather-wise.

[4 skeat - I like the picture of the quilt that you have there.... have you got a name for the pattern at all please? ]"Paisley Parade", it is the one on the front of the "Quilt Sampler" magazine. Was quick to work up too!! Love the paisleys too!!!Thanks for asking..Skeat Here's a kit at a great visual store at: http://wiki.allpeoplequilt.com/page/Lake+St.+Mercantile-kits

I haven't done anything for a while with long strips but I do remember being told to alternate the direction. Some quilts you can do the small sections of two strips to two strips etc but with a trip around the world I think it would be even more confusing if you didn't stay in order. My advice is to check it and if it's off much take it out. If it's just a smidge off start at the other end for two rows, then start alternating again. When I made mine, and we are really going back here. We sewed the long strips to the next which was two sections shorter but we notched the strips at the place where they would be later cut and I guess that kept the rows straight. I made three right in a row because I liked the pattern t so well and haven't done another since. but it's on my TO DO LIST.