question on a block?
 

I'm doing a hst block. It says to cut 3 7/8 inch strip then sub cut into 3 7/8 squares. so does that make the finished block 3 1/2 or 3 3/4? I'm thinking 3 1/2.
I'm going to cut my blocks 4 inch and trim. not sure with the math.
thank you God Bless all
Loretta

four inches would be what I'd do and then trimming. just be sure to place your 45 degree line of your ruler on the seam of your block, trimming two sides and turning and again placing the ruler on the seam and trimming the other two sides. Shouldn't have to trim much.

Oh, forget all that 7/8 inch stuff and go for a full inch (4)then trim down to fit!
Most of us, by this age, are nearly too blind to see those "weird" measurements anyway! :D

Jan in VA

Jan - you made me laugh!!!! It is so true.

Oh, so true.

I don't use those 7/8 th measurements any more. I use the easy angle ruler.
http://softexpressions.com/software/...zQuilt.php#ang

Hi Loretta,

3 7/8" squares will give a 3" finished (in your quilt) block. You would square it up to 3 1/2".

I think the question was whether you would get 3.5" or 3.75" finished HST from a square that's cut at 3 7/8" or 4". The answer is - neither! You will get a 3" finished block. But you will trim your HST to 3.5", which is what I think you meant.

For the method of adding 1" (or 7/8" for those who still have their eyesight and don't like to trim - not me!) you add that 1" to the desired finished size of your block. So if you want to end up with 3.5" finished blocks, you need to cut your HST squares at 4.5". If your directions say to cut 3 7/8" (and you're going to cut at 4" instead) you will trim your HST to 3.5" as you say, but your FINISHED block size will be 3".

Confusing, huh? 4", 3 7/8", 3.5", and 3" all in one little HST.

thank you all .I should have said trim up to 3 1/2.

I still get confused by the term "finished," as it seems like the half-square triangles and complex, larger blocks, after all those machinations, are finished. So, when I do my own calculations, I call them "raw." They're finished up as a unit but raw until they're sewn into the quilt.

hugs,
Charlotte