Please help me understand pattern
 

The first picture is of the block assembly instructions for the Brothers and Sisters quilt.

The book says that if I sew together four 9" blocks it will create an 18 1/2" square block. Using a 1/4" seam allowance, it seems to me that sewing four 9" blocks together would create a 17 1/2" square block.
Is the pattern wrong or is there something I am not understanding?

Next the book says that sewing nine 6" blocks together will create an 18 1/2" square block. I would think it would make a 17" block.

The second picture shows the quilt blocks sewn together. How do I make the 6" and 9" blocks into squares that are the same size?

I am so confused. :thumbdown:

Elise

9 & 9 will equal 18 with a 1/2 inch for sewing blocks together. 3 six inch blocks sewn together will equal 18 plus the 1/2 inch for sewing them with other blocks. hope this helps. Darlene

i can see where you would be confused. the pattern writer refers to the block size as the finished size of the block without the seam allowance... so the 9" blocks are actually 9.5" blocks, so two rows of two sewn together results in 18.5"

see explanation above with the unfinished blocks being 6.5"

now we are talking about the finished sizes of the blocks 3 x 6" blocks = 2 x 9" blocks

HTH

I'd check on the book publisher's web page to see if there are corrections posted. If 2 blocks start out at 9 inches each, sewing them together with a 1/4" seam is going to make them measure 17.5" across.

Thanks for your replies.

The pattern's cutting and piecing directions make a 9" block. I have no idea how to make it into a 9.5" block.

I could not find any corrections online.

When you receive lots of block from different people, always, a few don't have a true 1/4" seam.......so the easiest way to fix that is to frame your offending blocks out with a strip of fabric that goes with your other fabrics. You have the ability to turn your blocks into larger blocks without destroying the design. This book should have made it clear they were talking about finished sizes vs unfinished sizes. My best guess is they did not have a good proof reader.

I don't see the cutting directions for each block but looking at the pictures, and splitting each block into it's individual pieces it looks like the blocks should come out at 9.5 unfinished and 6.5 unfinished, then they would go together as shown and both groups would be 18.5 unfinished. Check the cutting directions again.

How some pattern insturctions are written is often confusing to me. When this happens, I individually draw the blocks out to size, cut them out, fold the seam allowance under, tape the blocks together and then measure. This gives me a clear picture of the block before I cut out my fabric.

Any time I try a new pattern, I use some specially set-aside inexpensive kid's fabric. I make a few squares, then measure them to see where I am. I sew them together to see if there are any tricky bits (that's a technical term--"tricky bits"), then when I feel I've a handle on it, I use the fabric I have planned for the quilt. The trial blocks then become a kid's donation quilt, and I feel I understand the pattern much better having actually put it together.

Oh and by the way, I love the look of that pattern!

I use copy machine paper to create the sample block so I don't waste fabric or time sewing. Just mark the 1/4" seams and see where you end up.

Two 9" blocks together will give you two side by side 8,5"blocks will will be 17" finished.

Apparently, the writer is intending for the 9" to be the finished size.

Thanks so much for your help. I appreciate all your ideas.

:) Elise :)

Give us the original cutting instructions for one of the blocks otherwise we are all guessing. Without that it is difficult to correctly answer the question.

I'd toss that book in the trash.

What is the book.