Ok all you wonderful experienced quilters i have a question, its probably a dumb one but here goes, i have a pattern i printed off line and it has the templates for a 9x9 block, my question is above the block it says (key block 37/100 actual size) does this mean i have to enlarge the templates to get it to the 9x9 size block if so how do i do that? Thank you for any help i can get..The pattern is Going to Chicago from quilt block library.com
Denise

I will be interested in seeing the answer. I would have initially thought that I would have to enlarge it. Maybe you just have to measure the pattern and see how it looks on a 9X9 square. If it is too small, enlarge it. If it fits, leave it alone?

Looking at the block, each of the squares would need to be 1.5" finished to make a 9" block, which means that the squares would be cut at 2". The 1/2 square triangles would be cut at 1.5" + 7/8" or 2 3/8" and cut on the diagonal. I usually cut the 1/2 square triangle pieces larger (2.75) and trim after pieceing. I use the draw a diagonal line and sew on either side, cut apart and press then trim to proper size (2").

huh?

This makes sense to me. . . and I agree, but I have had so much trouble with marking my fabric, that I have picked up this tip: take your 2 3/8th's square, iron it in half, then sew a quarter inch on each side of the iron line, and volia! HST's!

Isn't that neat?

June

I am only a newbie quilter, however, I have been exploring drafting and designing quilts using graph paper and grids and all . . . That being said, please take this with a grain of salt - what size template did you down load from Quilt Block Pattern .com?

If you downloaded a 9 inch block in total, then the finished block nine patch equal components (squares) have to equal 1.5", which leads to the cut strip (or square) must equal 2.0" Two inches minus seam allowance of .25" is 1.5".

Does this make sense?


June

Going to Chicago is a simple Jacobs Ladder/Railroad type pattern. As previously posted, you would cut all the little squares at 2 inches and all the triangles (HST's in quilter speak) at 2.5 inches before cutting in half diagonally. There is a simpler way to make the HST's, though. Cut 1 light and 1 dark square 2.5 inches. Mark a diagonal line on the back of the light square and lay it face down on the "right" side of the dark square. Now sew the 2 together by sewing a smidge less than 1/4inch away from each side of the line. Cut on the line you drew & press your now 2 little blocks open then trim to equal the same 2 inches as the square blocks. When you sew all the little 2 inch squares together, you will end up with a 9.5 inch unfinished block. When that block is put into a quilt, it will be 9 inches finished.

ok i think it just sunk in thank you all so much for the info. i'll give it a try..Denise

I don't have any experience with this website, so I'm going out on a limb here....

You are saying that "above the block ... (key block 37/100 actual size)". Let me ask you: is there a little picture of the completed block next to, near, above or under that statement? If so, then I think the "key block" is the picture, which is 37/100 of actual size. The pattern should be appropriately sized.

But that's just my guess ...

Odessa

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