Perfect Points?
 

Try hard as I can but I just can't seem to get perfect points. How do people do it? I'm getting them close, just not perfect..... HELP! Does anybody have a better way?

I’m not sure what you’re doing but I know cutting correct is important and also constant same seam allowances. Keep your needle in same position throughout and your 1/4 inch seam with same foot. Other than that I don’t know what to say. Every step is important, that why I say starting with cutting. Good luck.

Everything Toogie said! There are so many variables too, such as the unit or block being made. I have only ever completed one quilt that had perfect points.

Starch
Pinning
Accurate cutting
Taking your time and willingness to rip and resew a seam or make a new unit.
Being in the right frame of mind.
Try paper piecing the unit or block

I always try my best when making a quilt, but missing points are sometimes unavoidable no matter how much you starch, pin, slow down etc. . If its totally obvious, I redo the offending section, if its just a smidge, I am moving on.

A few more tips.

Make sure that when you place the ruler on the fabric to cut that the line is over the fabric. If you only bring the line to the fabric edge, it's going to be short by the width of the line.

Starch and press the fabrics first. Starching after can cause the unit to shrink.

Make sure the seam line is at 1/4 inch. Use a thinner thread for piecing. It can make a difference.

When the points really matter, I will make the 1/4 inch line and stitch on the line. Try to sew from the side that so you can see the intersection. Stitch right on the point or one thread width past on the inside of the seam. When you flip and press, it should be good.

Don't get frustrated---just keep going!

Check your pressing technique. Press not iron. Don't iron with the pointed tip which can distort the unit also.

The only way I can achieve "perfection" is if I can make the block in question a bit oversized and then trim it...that or paper piecing.

I glue my seams when the points matter.

All your suggestions are so good. Thank you. Here's the 1st block with lots of points. As you can see, they are not perfect. I am using PP and usually points are so much better using that method. It's just that there are so many points to match...... groan.

For me it is something that just came with practice. Good Luck

Thank you for the picture. That is a very pretty block.

Most of your points are really good - maybe you can try to figure out what the differences in your techniques were for the ones that were "right on" and the ones that are "okay from a distance"?

Actually, the only unit I would do over, would be the flying goose on the lower right side in the picture.

A lot of that "imperfection" will quilt out - and when the quilt is washed, the "imperfections" will not be noticeable.

Your points look good to me. I don't stress over my points.
They fall where they fall. I trim using bloc loc for FG and HST's.
If it's slightly off I don't redo. I redo only if I'm way off.
Otherwise, once the quilt is done and washed nobody will notice.
Unless the quilt is for show then that's another story.

If I have a lot of points cut off in a quilt I name it Point Taken.
I'm up to Point Taken #3.

Have you tried alignment pinning? That's what I use when I want really good points.

Here is how I do alignment pinning.
1) Pick up the bottom piece to be joined and put a pin in through the back to the front exactly where you want the seam to be at the point in question.
2) Pick up the top piece and put the tip of the pin (from step 1) in through the front to the back, again exactly where you want the seam. Take you time here and look carefully at where the pin is in each piece to make sure it spot on.
3) Push the two pieces all the way together and position them so they are in the middle of the pin. Make sure the pin is perpendicular to the pieces, not tilted to any side.
4) Use a washable marking pen/pencil to mark 1/4" of the sewing line coming up to the pin.
5) Pin on either side of the alignment pin, about 1/4" from the alignment pin. Make sure the alignment pin stays perpendicular to the pieces during the pinning process here. (Sometimes it's hard to avoid a little skewing of the pin, but a lot of skewing shows that pieces have moved out the positioning you want.) Remove the alignment pin.
6) Sew slowly when you get near the critical area; sometimes using the hand wheel is the only way to get the control needed, especially if there are a lot of layers due to many seams. You may need to sew 1-4 threads to the right of the marked line (step 4) to avoid cutting tips of points off. How much to right depends on the number of layers involved. Be prepared for a bit of experimentation here when you first try the method; you may to experiment with some scrap fabric first to get the exact feel for how to get the exact right placement of the seam.

Using the above method allowed me to get really precise points for a big Lone Star quilt, but I did still have to occasionally rip and resew some seams.

Okay, now you're just showing off. If those aren't perfect then they're pretty dang good.

I needed a laugh today, thanks

I'm not trying to show off. I really am frustrated that the points aren't coming together exactly with each other. Sometimes it doesn't matter but sometimes it really needs to be pretty darn perfect. To get things as good as I could, I was taking out my seams about every other one. Yes, it's looking a lot better now but there has to be a way that I'm not sewing everything twice or more. (The more I take things apart, the worse it gets)

I'm going to try some of the methods I'm reading about. I don't want to avoid quilt blocks with points to match but it took me a day and a half to make this block. The person on the website said it took her and hour and a half. I'm obviously doing something wrong and can use some advice. I appreciate every suggestion.

I hope Bearisgrey is right and the quilting will hide some of the imperfections.

Cluckclucksew.com


No points star. Free patterns

Your piecing looks great. Don't be hard on yourself, and keep on going!

First, I didn't notice any missing points in your block either! I think it's very well done.

That said, I also agree with platyhiker's pinning suggestion (except I do the alignment pin in reverse - start with top piece then do the bottom piece). I do not mark the 1/4" seam line but do put stabilizing pins about 1/4" on both sides of the stabilizing pin. Another trick you might try is if your 1/4" seam is great and consistent on any given unit in the block, when getting to the 'point' of said unit, stitch 1-2 thread widths into your seam allowance over that specific intersection. Your point should show up and no one will ever notice that you seam 'wiggled' a thread or 2 in any given spot.

narrowing the seam allowance by the points gives the extra fabric bulk by the points "room" to lay flatter.

Doing the pin on either side of the point is the way I've been doing these but I've never planned on the 1-2 threads into the seam thing. That might help a lot. I'm learning so much about points and I need these lessons. I've stayed away from points for way too long. The quilt I'm starting will have quite a few I'm afraid. It's a mystery quilt so don't know what's to come next. Thank you everyone!

Often the problem is the way the seams are pressed after the block is made. The point is on the bias and can be easily stretched out of shape. No steam and straight up and down press and ho scrubbing of the iron. A clapper can help "set" a seam to stay put. I have heard of some hand piecers using a eighth on a seam to elliminate the bulk at the point or pressing the seams open for the same reason. All things to think about when points are intersecting with many seams.

Haha! I love this https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

Points are certainly not the easiest for me and I've been making quilts for a long time.
However, I only see one of your points that is a bit off. Your block looks great.

Lots of good suggestions but honestly, your block is great.

A slight aside- I was working on units yesterday (not points but still about accuracy) and I found 2 pieces that wouldn't go together properly. On closer inspection I noticed my seam was too small on one middle piece, throwing the end result off. When I restitched it was fine.

I use an Elmer’s school glue stick…just a little at the point. It helps me to press the seam open so I can see exactly where I need to sew.

Jean, you did a great job.
I think you need to use spray starch or best press before you start cutting your fabric., and remember to press you seams, not iron, because half square triangles and flying geese are primarily bias edges. Even now, I would starch your block, wait a few minutes and PRESS (lift up and down) your seams and squares.
Very pretty block.

well, dang! I think that's just beautiful. I would certainly consider that up to my "perfection" standards.

I think your block looks real good.

Before I knew the correct way to do lots of things my points would come out very good. Trying for perfection was not a good thing for me.

For perfectly perfect points...paper piece.

Past that I find it is ALL in the pinning. When I am doing points that I really, really want to come out right I use the Clover fine Patchwork pins (they come as half yellow headed pins, half blue headed pins), which are so fine you can sew over them.

If I am in doubt about my seam allowances being entirely trustworthy, I put a pin through the point and the opposing fabric, which keeps the layers in place before I pin on either side of it.

Extra insurance: BASTE. Baste the seam with a long, easily removed stitch. That way you can see if you are getting your point sharp before committing to the tighter stitch width. That basting step shows you where you might be off and making adjustments are easy after that.

In some projects you just have to have those crisp, sharp points. Just takes time and practice.

That's exactly what I do..when you first apply the glue stick, press the pieces together, then flip back 1 piece 1/4 inch..the glue will still be wet so you can wiggle the pieces or remove and reapply. Until you get used to this method, it's helpful to have a piece of fabric with a 1'4 in line sewn on it to use for comparison.

I think your points are great! I am not a person that can pick out flaws easily. If I want perfect points I paper piece.

I think you points are great!!
Often times I will pin the row together and then baste the points where the seams meet and take a look at it. It it's off I can quickly remove the basting threads and try again. Once it looks good I can stich the entire row. When you have a lot of seams coming together in one spot it's hard to get things right with all those "ridges" there.
I find my main problem is that my cutting isn't always perfect; it it were things would line up more more precisely. But hard as I try my cutting never comes out perfect (or even close enough so that things line up as they should).

Your sample looks good. Mine actually get better each time. I try really hard to do the best I can and try equally hard to accept imperfection. When I started quilting three years ago a friend told me that I could stress and take out every imperfection but that could lead me to give up quilting. I try to remember that.

From Don- isewman
 

I make sure everything is cut correctly and then i pin everything im a heavy pinner

I did not see your imperfections I thought it was very good

Thank you.

I starch my fabric with heavy starch.....was in a class once when the instructor ridiculed me for making my fabric so stiff. My seams turned out perfect......it washes out, so don't know what her problem was. I also use a scant 1/4 inch...just a few threads less. Beautiful block!

“Practice Makes Perfect”. Old saying but still true.

Accurate cutting and squaring pieces up and then pressing your seams. I usually press to the dark side, though sometimes it is necessary to press the seams open so there is not so much bulk. Nesting the seams and pinning if necessary also help. Once you get the hang of it you can do without the pins. Let the seams meet each other and you should be good.
I have gone to using the Accuquilt system for cutting my pieces perfectly every time and that too has helped a great deal.

No one has posted this yet, so I will ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBbkoYOEecI&t=3s

I've never seen that method before, DJ. Thank you for sharing, and I will try it for sure.