Are instructions wrong??
 

As I had previous posted, I am working on a quilt pattern called Blueberry Cobbler from the F&P Mar 2004. My question is, they call for a 9.25" cut square and 5.25" square cut from the two fabric to make the quarter triangles. I made a mistake and cut 5.5" squares and the smaller 4.5" unfinished quarter triangle came out perfect but the larger one came out 1/4" short of what was to be an 8.5" unfinished square. I know that when making HSTs, you add 7/8". Did they print the wrong size to cut??

I can use the shorter ones and take the seam out and use them as the setting triangles. I am naming this quilt Wild Cobbler. Here is my progress so far:

I'm curious as to your steps in the construction of your quilt. Did you make a sample block first? Or, did you cut ALL of your 5.5 inch blocks (Black and White) before you began to sew? Was there any instruction such as "trim to size" to assure the proper sizing of the SMALLER X blocks, so that they would align perfectly with your multi-colored strippy pieces?

When there is a case of errors in Printed Instructions, it is the responsibility of the Publisher (whether a magazine, or a company printing & selling commercial Patterns) to publish and "ERRATA" in their magazine or on their website. Have you tried to go to the website of Fons & Porter and seek their published information? The place to look in the magazines would be a month or two AFTER the date of the issue showing the pattern in question. I hope this makes sense. You might try a google search.

When making HST's, the theoretical amount to add to the the "finished size" of the cut square is 7/8 inch. Adding one inch works a lot better for me.

They usually end up "really close" to what I want when I add that extra 1/8 inch - and they almost always end up "skimpy" when I add only 7/8 inch.

When making QST's - the theoretical amount to add to the "finished size" of the cut square is 1-1/4 inches.

Adding 1-1/2 inches works better for me when cutting a square into fourths than using the exact 1-1/4 inch theoretical amount to add.

If you cut the 9-1/4 inch squares (what the pattern says) to 9-1/2 inch squares and then trim down the finished units, I think it will turn out better. And then trim the quarter square units like many trim the HSt units.

My theory why I end up with "skimpy" units when cutting a square diagonally into halve or quarters -
When I cut around a template - my piece is a teensy bit larger than when I cut a square up - the "extra" when I cut around a template is taken up by the turn of the seam. Or to put it another way - my unit ends up skimpy when I cut up a square because fabric is taken up by the "turn of the seam"

That may be the reason that the squares that you cut at 5.5 instead of 5.25 inches ended up being "perfect".

I don't know the answer to you question as I am not good with triangles, but wanted to say I love your quilt!!! Brights with black and white is always so dramatic.

Thanks Jeanne. I haven't made quarter triangles since the late 80s. I prefer being a stripper like Jenny mostly using strips for my quilts! :) I fortunately just cut two strips 9.25". I did check the F&P website but the oldest correction was from 2005. Most of the quilts I make are on the fly using EQ but this time I made a mistake in trusting the instructions were correct. :(

I'm sorry the instructions were wrong, but I too love the colors. I just love the dramatic look of black and white with brights!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLNMcZXwro4

I made a quilt like this using the Missouri Star Quilt company. I was super easy. I am not sure if you can find any help in this video.

Your final squares are 8" and 4" finished, so 9.25" and 5.25" are the correct sizes for cutting quarter square triangles. The pattern is correct, but sometimes it's easier to cut a bit bigger and then square them off.

I don't want to steal this thread, but it brings up a problem I had recently. When making pinwheel blocks I cut them a little larger than needed and when I cut them down, I lost the points and the 1/4 inch allowance. What did I do wrong?

probably a case were the smaller unit (the HST) blocks should have been squared before sewing into a pinwheel--when you square after sewing together you are squaring up the larger block which already has 4 HST that are little too large--which means the seams &points for each is not where it should be. I'm often lazy about doing this unit squaring detail and ALWAYS pay the price--best reason for doing a sample block first.

I, too, had checked the site for corrections but, as you said, only goes back to 2005. You probably already found this out but, if not, if you go to the very bottom of the Fons & Porter Love of Quilting web site there is a number for Customer Service and a place to "click" if you want to send an email in the event they are unable to help you.

There are different variations on the pinwheel block. These instructions may help you for the basic type.
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/03/...aby-quilt.html
I do oversize my half square triangles and trim them down so that the pinwheel block will be a perfect size. Not sure how you lost your points without seeing the block.

For all the reasons you stated, l always cut just enough for one block out of scrap or cheaper fabric & sew it up as a test block. Sometimes l find the results are a bit off, and l can do an adjustment before commiting to cutting up my "good" fabric. l once cut squares 2 3/4 when they should have been 2 3/8 ! Saved messing up due to missreading.

I like your quilt so far. Another idea for using scraps.

Annaquilts - love your rendition of crosswalks. Just watched the video again, so quick and easy...forgot about this one....

It was fun and easy to make. I had one jelly roll and no idea what to do. I will do this pattern again as I like how it whipped together and how it looks. Maybe the next one will be with civil War fabrics.

Thank you. This makes sense, that is exactly what I did.