You can use plastic lids, too :D They will not wear out when you repeatively trace around them.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q.../100_28772.jpg

Here's the test blocks I made for the first block. I should have pictures for the second block tomorrow.

I still can't figure out why they came out to 8 3/8".

sometimes I have betterluck using a scant 1/4 in in blocks that have so many pieces to it. sometimes even with a perfect 1/4 in you loose a little in the pressing, you might try it on another test block. those look really great! perfect points in the center! give yourself a pat on the back cause i cant reach you!!

Good Job Flying_V!!!! :D :D 8) :D :D As long as all of your blocks come out to the 8 3/8 you will be fine! Did you use the same ruler to cut out all of your pieces and measure the completed blocks?

my machine has many needle positions and i just set it over 1 notch to the right so it is just a tiny bit less than a 1/4"

I was told that it is 2 threads short of a 1/4" :shock: Not a good thing for me and my old eyes :lol:

i think that is what i heard too

you might measure your templates cause sometimes these things dont always print out exactly right

i made some storm at sea placemats once and one section of it i cound never get to measure out right,I ripped, I resewed and I ripped some more finally i checked the templates and sure enough they measured too small and of course I had already cut out all my pieces and it was one of the few times I didnt buy extra fabric.

They look great flying V.

Keep up the good work.

Kyia

Your blocks are beautiful! I've never gotten that many points to come together so perfectly! I'm impressed.

I'm with the others on the scant ¼". I just try to get a couple of threads closer to the edge and it seems to work pretty well. I'm surprised the one that you pressed with the seams open didn't come out a little larger though. I've heard that pressing to one side is the reason we have to go to a scant to make the blocks come out the right size.

Hope you get it worked out Flying_V because it's sure going to be beautiful when you're done!!

Lin was right, those are Perfect Points!!!!!! You should be proud of that! Hey, why don't you just call the hardware store and ask about how much the plexiglass would cost before you dismiss it, they might even have some scraps of it or something, you never know! Also, you can buy template sheets at Walmart or a quilt store very cheap, have you checked that out yet? Good luck your doing a great job!

This happens to me when I do woodworking - with wood, it's called kerfing, from the width of the saw blade. Your mark from the template will always be off by the width of the marker you use. Even if you cut and sew directly from your mark, it starts a whisker off. Multiply this by the number of parts you have used templates for, and over the width of a quilt you can be off a couple inches.

Strip cutting allows you to cut with only a margin of error equivalent to a razor edge. I would figure out the size squares I need to cut in half to produce 2 triangles at a time. I think for the long haul, it would be easier than trying to guess how many thread-widths you need to be over from your 1/4"

I've heard that many hospitals will give away xray sheets, and they make great templates. You can even see through them if you want to fussy cut!

Flying_V, do you use a rotary cutter and mat?

I think Lowe's cuts plexi glass for free, but I can't say for sure. Our Lowe's has the poorest customer service. I bought one of the knives to cut the stuff myself (I have not cut it or done anything with it, yet). That's what I bought it for, quilt templates. It really wasn't expensive. I can't remember how much it was bc I've had it a while. I think one 8 x 10 piece was around $2. The larger the size, the more it costs...BUT if they will cut it for free, you might be better off (and save money) having a larger piece cut into smaller pieces...more for your money. Maybe have leftovers for templates for another project...???
Call your local hardware store and see.

Oh, and BTW, your blocks are great! Nice work!! :D

I had Home Depot cut some plexiglass for me about a year ago. The cost was very minimal and it was free to cut the templates I wanted. The young man helping me looked at me like I had two heads when I gave him all the sizes and shapes, but he did them :) Like someone posted before, call and find out how much a sheet of plexiglass is. Oh and there might be a coupon off in your Sunday paper.

Here's the other block.

I have pictures of the two sets of blocks sewn together, but the internet is running really slow tonight so I'm having trouble getting these pictures up. I'll try to get the other two put up tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy the one I was able to upload. :D
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q.../100_28782.jpg

Very Nice! I can't wait to see more! :D :D :D

Better than okay!

Yes, you done good! I can never seem to get my blocks the exact size. Hopefully I can improve on that since I signed up for a block swap :oops:

Looking great though..your points are beautiful!

they are looking great Flying V!!

PERFECT POINTS! You do great work. I can never get my points that good :( can't wait to see the quilt.

Beverly

Way to go V...looking better than excellent!