These look really beautiful, and when you start them for 2011, I may need to try it. I am wondering this though. When I look at the completed blocks, I do not see where you would connect the blocks to each other because there is not a lot of room around the edges. Won;t you lose the pattern when you attach them?

I've also wondered the same thing in a lot of different blocks that I was going to try. I just made a pretty star block and it is right to the end, so I know I will lose the tips of the stars when I join them, so decided to just make it in to a potholder. Hope someone can answer this for us.

Generally, when one does a BOM, you then use a pattern of some sort to 'set' your blocks. In order not to 'lose' any of the pattern of the block, generally you will add sashing strips.

If the points on the stars go straight to the edge then there is a problem (either with the sewing or with the pattern). There needs to be a 1/4" edge to sew the blocks together (or to sew a sashing strip to the block).

My BOMs generally have an 1/4"-ish seam. They're not perfect, but it's my sewing, lol. I pin them to keep the points, sometimes sew 1/8", sometimes 3/8", but I make it work. There's an issue with the pattern or how they were put together if you're not getting 1/4".

If you post the pattern(s), we can take a look!

Thanks much... Now I know its not me, but the pattern. Is there a way to tell from looking at the pattern if when it is put together it will have that 1/4 inch, or should I cut it out of paper first, lay it together and see if it does? Since I've just started quilting lately, its new to me. I know this block I made, came right to the edge, so its not one that I would make again.

It might be that the seams used to sew the pieces together are wider than 1/4". This could easily cause the entire block to have the stars right to the edge. I don't know of any star pattern that doesn't allow for the 1/4" on the edges, so it's possible this is the issue. I do know when I first started quilting, I was using too large of a seam allowance - thus my pieces didn't fit right and caused many problems (including this one!). You may consider double checking that, and possibly even using a scant 1/4" instead of a full 1/4" (some machines take a bit too large of a bite at the 1/4" mark, so please measure for accuracy).

I hope this helps :)

To check your seam allowance take 3 strips of fabric about 3 inchs long, and cut 1 1/2 inch wide; sew the length together, press and measure the widths. The center width should be 1 inch, total of the 3 together should be 3 1/2 inchs. If it measures less than your seam allowance is to large.
Hope this helps.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check out my machine, however, I don't think that's it because I've used the same settings for other blocks and they turned out perfect. And I also checked that I was using a 1/4 inch by using the index card trick. The block was one that I found in a magazine and I copyied. It may be my copy machine didn't copy it just exact. But I'll try the scant 1/4 inch and see if that works.

Welcome from MN. My points don't always match either. I keep practicing . I give my quilts away to kids and people that don't know how to sew quilts and they don't care if nothing matches up . They are just happy that someone cared enough about them to make them a cuddly quilt. You can spend days fretting about matching or you could spend the time making something loveable. Elaine