Need some help with an EQ7 design
 

I designed this on EQ7. It's called Stepping Stars. The four big blocks shown are not sewed together--just on my design wall. I've worked hard at getting it together the easiest way. I love it, but there are some frustrations I wondered if someone could help me with. The biggest issue is accuracy--no seams need to line up until all four blocks are sewed together, but one side of a block will be longer, and I just feel it should come out closer. The blocks should be square. One 1" piece by the red square will always come out crooked--I had to rip half of them and make the seam less than 1/4" for it to be even. I've double/tripled checked my accuracy in cutting pieces and I'm using the 1/4" foot--which I never use and have never had a problem with 1/4" accuracy in all the patterns I've made. I checked EQ7 for the directions closest to 1/8" and 1/16" and they are the same--so it's not that. Ideas anyone?




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So right now you have only the four squares and need to sew them together??

I would measure all four of them to determine their exact size. Put post it notes on each side you measure so you remember. Then I would trim the squares so they are all the same as the smallest measurement (or within 1/8" which you can "ease in" with pins). Then sew.

Well--the small four blocks that make up the big four-block piece are the ones that differ. I trimmed so they match in the big blocks, but it makes me crazy they are off more than 1/8". I haven't sewed these four together yet because I wanted to check to see if the grands needed a wall hanging--which would be two of them. lol

Is there any chance that they are getting distorted when pressed? Most of the time when I have a problem with blocks not being right I can trace it to my pressing technique.

Rob

This one sentence made me sit up. Let me make sure I understand - you've not had a problem with quarter-inch seams until you started using this foot? Have you checked to see if the foot helps you sew an accurate quarter-inch seam? Don't measure the seam allowance - cut two 2-inch squares out of scraps, sew them together, open and press (don't iron, just press). The patches should measure 3.5" across. If they don't, then your seam allowances will be off.

You need to draw the one block in the your EQ block sketchbook. Then when you put your 4 blocks into the quilt sketchbook, you can rotate them or flip the block to get your desired layout. In your block sketchbook, you draw the finished size of the blocks. But you can print out the block rotary cutting instruction (must be in the block sketchbook) and that will give you your cutting design for one block so just times 4 for each cutting instructions.

That certainly could happen with the spot I was having trouble with--that 1" strip by the red block. And I thought of that and checked it--I pulled it out and measured and it was still not even, so I ripped it out half way then resewed with a smaller seam and it looks perfect. But--it should be perfect without having to do that. Plus--my Sharp iron went last week, so I bought a Rowenta and it has a nice pointed tip for pushing those seams out.

I added all the sides of the pattern up last night too--but they are all the same. I was thinking maybe EQ7 goofed on one size of one piece. Nope. It has to be me--somewhere.
Such mysteries this pattern--although so simple--is creating!

I did sew the four big blocks together last night. It went together fine because I trimmed the blocks when small. I'll add some 2" borders in white--and get her done.

Thanks for the ideas.

That's how I created it. ;-)

I've never used a 1/4" foot until putting the last 8 blocks of this together. After checking everything I decided to switch to it to see if it made a difference. It didn't. I've been quilting for 20 years and have mastered the 1/4" seam--I draw lines on my machine to get it exact--and my patterns have always gone together nicely, so I've never worried about it. I measure it now and then just to be sure. This pattern was making me wonder--so I made the switch. No difference--blocks still off.

Have you considered resorting to old-fashioned graph paper to recreate the design - and then add seam allowances?

Hmmm. Would you be willing to send me the EQ file? I can print it out and sew some test blocks and see if I get the same problem. :)

It looks more like an optical illusion than an error?

I often use it--but EQ7 is supposed to make things easier! ;-)

I didn't take a close up of the problem--and I agree the over pattern hides this issue well--like curly hair covering a bad cut. lol But I know it's there. lol

I was hoping someone would say "Oh, yes--I've had that problem with EQ7 and this is how I fixed it...." But--it has to be me somewhere--either cutting or sewing. I've never had this issue before.

I often trim fabric--then lay a ruler on the right side to measure with a 2nd ruler--rather than flipping the fabric to cut from the left side. I even did both to see if that could be the issue--but nope--both were exactly the same.

I sewed two 2" pieces together--and then even 1" pieces together and measured--the 2" one was a hair under 3.5" but the 1" one was nailed. Maybe it's the overall seam allowance, but the weird part is it's always in the same places where the problems happen.

Sigh--I'll finish it up and follow a nice easy pattern next. lol

I appreciate all the suggestions!

Sure! :-) I tried responding to your blog, but got an error message. Let me know where to send it via personal messages...