Piecing. What am I doing wrong?
 

I square my blocks up, but when I sew them into rows the seams don't always match up. HELP!!!

Have you tried nesting your seams? Or pinning?

When I first started quilting I had the same problem. I (eventually, lol) discovered that as I got to the end of the block I was piecing I let the fabric slip, ever so slightly, to one side and it ended up squint. Then, when I went to put the blocks together, everything would be 'off' just that little bit. Now that I mostly chain piece (and pay more attention to the end of stitching), my blocks are much better.

Also, someone told me, once you've nested your seams, to pin at a 45 degree angle, rather than 90 degree and leave the pin in until the foot is just on it before removing. This has worked for me.

(I don't leave pins in any more - all I'm saying is - I'm glad I wear glasses for close work :eek:)

Good luck!

I will forever and always love this phrase, " ended up squint"

I'm convinced that good piecers are good pinners. Nine years, and 235 quilts, after I started piecing I still use a lot of pins. One thing to make sure of is that you are sewing a true quarter inch seam. Use an index card and sew along a printed line, without thread, until you know exactly where your quarter inch is on your machine. I've taught three people to piece and this is the step I always start with so they will know where a quarter inch is and so they can practice sewing a straight line.

Nesting and/or pinning made all the difference for me.

I have had that same problem some time they line up and sometimes not. i always pinned
but that didnt always work. then i read on here some one basting first and wow had very
good results with that.

I use pins and my seams are actually pretty good, but on the last couple of quilts I've made I have joined the blocks in square or rectangular sections rather than long rows. So like if you have a quilt that is 9 blocks by 9 blocks, I would first join a 3X3 section in the upper left, then the 3 block by 3 block section in the upper right, then lower left & lower right. Doing it this way, you only have to sew one seam that is the whole length of the quilt. I find it much easier to control a shorter seam.
One of the board members (sorry don't remember who) also posted that they add the sashings and cornerstones to the blocks before joining. This also works great.

Hope this makes sense.

I am a fairly new quilter. What does the term "nesting" mean!!

Jmillie

Here's a pretty good video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMFf_lnsr50

It's not always possible to nest them depending on your design, but if you take a minute to think about how your block goes together before you press, it really does help.