Points or partial points question
 

I'm in the process of making this quilt in a Calif. King size (which I started a long, long time ago). The instructions were unclear if the finished blocks were to be 12" or 12 1/2" square. I started making blocks way before I realized the importance of measuring & trimming your blocks as you make them. Now that I'm getting it out & working on the blocks again I see that most of my blocks are less than 12 1/2" unfinished (& untrimmed) and some are "almost 12 1/2" unfinished & untrimmed. It looks like I am going to have to trim them all to 12" but that will mean I will be cutting off points ... big time. I don't guess I really have a question as it seems I have no option unless someone has a suggestion for me.

Also, this quilt is going to be for my personal use & will probably be using the quilt as you go method on it since I won't be able to stuff it all under my little harp on my domestic machine. QAYG will be a first for me. I want it to be as light weight as possible so what batting would you suggest? I'm thinking a very thin polyester but I'm certainly up for options.

Thanks in advance!

I have no answers for you - sorry. But I will be watching because I am dealing with points getting cut off too :) so I feel your pain

Other than reworking your seams in the blocks, I have no options for you to fix them. As for the batting, I might be tempted to use a flannel sheet (or two sewn together and trimmed to size).

Sadly I don't think there is anything you can do to save the points unless you made each element larger from the beginning. I do that sometimes so I don't lose my points. As for the batting I use 80/20 blend for summer quilts or for someone who is warm all the time. You don't by any chance have enough fabric to redo your blocks or maybe you could take it down to 11 1/2" block? I have had to do this when the fabric frayed more than I thought it would. Good luck with your dilemma! I actually think with the hourglass unit and the hst cutting it down will probably be your best bet.

A couple of suggestions for those pesky points.

Check the 1/4 inch seam to make sure it is accurate.

Sew with a thin piecing thread. It doesn't take up as much space in the seam allowance.

Draw the 1/4 inch seam line if needed.

Check the block after pressing and be sure there are no folds in the seam allowance.

Make sure you are cutting correctly. Try the cutting mark lined up over the edge instead of right on the edge. That line counts and will add up if you start with a piece that is cut short.

If you are only a little bit off, I would try easing them all in to fit. https://www.generations-quilt-patter...too-small.html

I would use the thinnest batting you can and start sewing the blocks together in rows, matching everything that you can. I am making the assumption that you are going to quilt one or two rows at a time. I would think about at least 4 rows sewn together, then doing your regular quilting on those 4 rows, being careful not to quilt into the seam allowance area. Then sew the different parts together, still matching and easing in the blocks. It will look good.


Edited to add: What is the name of the pattern? I like it.

I can't help you but, that quilt is beautiful, love the colors.

Question ... they were stitched as is, would the points be cut off?
Meaning ... do you have a 1/4" seam allowance for each block, even though they are different sizes?

If so, what you could do would be to add a strip around each of the blocks, then trim all blocks to the same size, such as 14" or whatever size you wanted. I would keep those add on strips to about the same size as the strips in the log cabins. They'll be inconsistent but would blend in.

You didn't mention your log cabin blocks ... are they all finishing out at the same size?
Or do you have the same problem to deal with them too?

I like the idea of adding a strip around each block. I think I would be able to save most of the points that way. The log cabin blocks are the same....some just under 12 1/2" (untrimmed) & some just about 12" (untrimmed). I'll have to go back & see just how QAYG is done but if I remember correctly, I think you use a sashing (strip) between each block to connect them. By adding the strip around each block & then trimming all to the same size, that could be my connection strip for QAYG...right?

The name of the pattern is Got the Blues by designer Karla Schulz. The pattern is in the June, 2010 Quilter's World magazine.

There are different QAYG methods, but yes, that is one.

My thoughts with the add in strip was that you could keep your points ... and the strip widths being different may not be so noticeable as a bunch of pointless points!

Take some time to draw it out on paper, and see what will work and look the best.
It's a beautiful pattern, but switching to QAYG will change the look of it some.

For me, I would sooner do the thinking of adding in the extra strips,
measuring and calculating with each block ...
... and have it all sorted out before I got to the actual QAYG step.

IOW Less thinking ... when working with the bigger pieces.

I agree with JustABitCrazy on a flannel sheet/squares, I've found that poly batting doing a QAYG is a real pain.

I would not cut off the points. Can you add a narrow strip around the smaller ones (like a border)? The one star block in your picture borders up to a navy and looks fine. How is the size of the log cabin blocks? Can you change the outer strip and make that wider if needed? Good luck.

I once did did a sampler quilt and some of my blocks were not square. They were 1/4” smaller in height. I was able to put them all in the same row and it looked fine.

Oh, forgot, as far as the batting, I would use Dream request. It’s all cotton, thinner, lightweight. Nice product.

Oh, thanks for that info! This is why I like this board so much....I get the information/help I need in times of trouble. So, flannel sheets sounds like the way I should go.

I'll check in to that Dream Request batting & see how it looks for thinness. Thanks!

I'd just chalk it up to the confusion of the pattern and your inexperiece with the process very long ago. I'd finish it up, enjoy it, and move on with life.

Cut all the points off making the block smaller. Call it Point Taken. There is a pattern with the points deliberately chopped off called this. LOL

I like the point taken idea. Trim them all to the same size. Also for your next pointy project glue could be your friend. I have stayed away from piecing for years because of lost points till I found this solution. Elmer’s School glue, some small glue tips from http://Www.purpledaisys.com. I now have points. I glue and heat set each seam then stitch no pins and no stretch. It works great and washes out. Also I starch all my fabrics. Hope this helps.

First I would iron all my blocks and make sure that they are laying flat with no tucks. Then measure all of your blocks. Choose the block size that you have the most of. Then work with the other blocks to see what can be done to get them to that size. As suggested it might mean using thinner piecing thread. It might mean sewing a smaller seam or a larger seam. When you quilt the quilt use an overall pattern that goes over the seams to stablize them.

My blocks almost never measure exactly what they should, yet I don't have trouble sewing them together. Before you trim everything to 12", I would assess just how many of the blocks are too small to work with. If the majority are within fudgeable range, maybe re-do the blocks that can't be used, or make new ones.

You might try to frame each square with a neutral color, sewing from the back of the block to follow close enough to just miss your points. Then, when all the squares are framed, measure and trim to the same size. then, you either have a
double sash between all the blocks, or you can sash with a whole different color. I think the tiny size difference between each of the blocks with points will not really be noticed that way, but all your points will show.

My sister and I did that quilt and we live 3 hrs. from one another. When I received her star blocks my LC blocks did not size the same. So I remade all the LC blocks and some of the logs had to be trimmed down. Some of the logs in the blocks were a different size. We won a blue ribbon on that quilt and the judge was very complimentary. So it was worth my time to redo those blocks even if some of the logs were of a different size.

I understand the quilt is for your personal use and the on;y advice I have to offer is to frame the blocks. I wish you luck on your decision. It is a pretty quilt when all assembled.

My personal favorite for summer batting is 100% bamboo. It is silky soft, does not beard and is very light weight, but still gives more loft than flannel (besides, you do not need to preshrink it).

I would see if I could get by with a more narrow seam allowance so you didn't lose your points rather than trim them all down. No one will see the uneven seam allowances as they will be on the inside. If they are quite narrow then double stitch or stitch with a smaller stitch. Nothing says you have to have perfect 1/4" seams on the back. It's the front you see.