I'm making the Warm Wishes baby quilt, pattern from http://quiltmaker.com/patterns/patt4/ that I read about here. It states main square should be 6" x 6", two strips 2" wide, the middle strip 3" wide. When I sewed the three strips together it was 5.5", instead of 6". My husband thinks I was to add seam allowances to it? Does anyone know what I"m doing wrong? I'm hoping it's not to add seam allowances as I already have all my strips cut and sewn. Leave it to me to have issues with the one quilt everyone says is the easiest! lol!!!
Thank you! :-) :-)
Diana

I've made a few from this pattern & it has worked fine. According to your notes, you say cut 2", 3"and 2" = once sewn together this unit would be 1¾"+2½"+1¾" this totals 6", right? maybe you are using too "wide" of a ¼" seam allowance?

Hi Thimblebug, mine equalled 5.5". My seams look (to me) to be 1/4", but apparently they must not be. lol!! I'm just cutting down my 6" squares to 5.5", so far it looks like it'll work out.
Thank you!

I've made quite a few of these and never had a problem either. You aren't supposed to add seam allowances. Check your 1/4" seam and also check that you cut the strips the correct width before sewing them together.

I know (hope) my strips are the right size as I just bought this new thingy to cut them with tonight - Shape Cut Slotted Ruler, by June Tailor. This thing is really neat! But I have never had a problem with my allowances before. I got two rows done, sewn together in rows, looks good except for the last square, it's off almost 1/2"! I gave up on it for tonight. I'm making it for my grandson's birthday, which is the beginning of May. Good thing I have plenty of time to get it figured out! lol!!

This is one of my favourite patterns and never given me any problems. Have you remeasured everything at lots of different spots to see if that will pinpoint the trouble area. Maybe post a photo and see if that gives us an idea. Being off by 1/2 is a lot - there's got to be a reason we aren't seeing. You've already cut your squares down - I've always worked with the 6" squares and things worked fine - this is a puzzle. I know you said your seams appear to be 1/4" but have you actually measured them and the same with the strips. You have that fancy ruler thingy to cut the strips but did you actually measure them with another ruler to check for accuracy? A lady at our guild has that same ruler/cutter slot thing and she did make a goof when doing a demo. Just thinking out loud here, you know.

I came up with 5.5". The 2" would be 1 1/2 x 2=3 + the 3 would be 2 1/2, I don't know how they come up with 6. Sorry, can't help you there.

That would only be true if you were taking 1/2 inch seams. You are only sewing on one side of the outside strips which would be -1/4". The center strip would be - 1/2" since you are sewing on both sides of it. No matter how you figure it you should end up with a 6 inch square.

Whenever I make this pattern, I always sew my 3 strips first. Then whatever width they end up being, I cut the blocks and sub-cut the pieced strip to that same size.

When I use the June Taylor slotted ruler, I usually sew a 'SCANT' 1/4" seam.

If you cut a 2" strip with your regular ruler and then one with JT, you might find that they are off just a little. IMHO . . . ask me how I came to this conclusion. I do tend to cut my strips (reg ruler) probably on the thicker side of 2".

Also (more thinking out loud) sometime we have to make adjustments on our 1/4" seams because of the fabrics. Have you noticed that some 'seem' to be thicker then others.

Between the rulers, the fabric, and our sewing, and machines, it is always best to check the 1/4" seams.

I could be wrong, but some food for thought.

If you have cut your strips correctly and you are sewing two 2" strips to the 3" strip... the only way you can end up with 5 1/2" is if your seams aren't 1/4".
Lay out your strips...you should have a total of 7" before seams.
After your first seam your strip should measure 4 1/2".
When you sew your last strip on the block should measure 6".

Sorry the pics didn't come out in the order sent.

Ok, here are some pictures. I just spot checked my seam allowances, 1/4", there were a few just literally a hair width over. I had spot checked several pieces while I was cutting with my new gadget and they were all correct.

I'm going to have to put this aside, and start again with some old fabric and see how it works, being much more aware of my allowances and widths. I've just never had a problem before, with seams matching, so it's kind of blown me away! I was tickled pink, cutting strips like crazy with the new thingy I got, sewing them all togther.... then ooops. I love this pattern, have seen all the different ways you all have done it, so I'm going to master it yet!

This tool material I got off equilter.com for my grandson, as his folks just totally remodeled a house, and he was heavily into 'tools' after it. :D

Grammy Dwynn - Dumb question - I've seen 'scant 1/4"' before in patterns, how much is a scant? Just a hair width?
And thank you Auntluc for the pictures! I'll be going back to them for comparison as I try again with this!
:D

Diana--usually a "scant" quarter inch is a thread or two less than a "real" quarter inch.

Thanks Marcia!

My pattern for warm wishes is 3 strips up and then 3 strips to the right. All strips 2 ". The next row changes. 3 strips to the right then 3 strips up. The last one I made the strips only 4 inch squares on all of it. It was the pink one for cancer if you saw it last week. I put a 6 inch border on it of pink ribbon fabric. It has been quilted and bound now but I don't have it from the quilters yet to send a picture but I'll get one some time next week. It really turned out nice.

Looks to me like it needs pressed. You would probably have 6 inches if you pressed the seams out.

your two outside strips will only have one seam so will measure 1 1/4 inch each after sewing to the middle strip which will have two seams and measure 2 1/2 inches after sewing. you will end up with a 6 inch square which will be the same size as the solid square.

Diana... it looks like you have cut your strips correctly and your 1/4" seam looks good to me. I agree with Rox17....press that baby and see if that helps.
After sewing and pressing your seams, your 2 outside pieces should measure 1 3/4" wide and the middle strip should measure 2 1/2" wide.
Pressing those seams before you join them to the 6" blocks will give you much better results.

By the way....I love the tool fabric.

Auntluc, I hate to say it, but it was pressed. lol!!! I know from the pictures of everyones quilts, some look totally flat, "crisp" looking. I have no idea how you all press them so well! Am I not leaving the iron on it long enough?
I'm going to start over fresh on the pattern tomorrow. I'm going to master it do or die! lol!! I've made other quilts, stuffed animal dolls, my daughter's high school dance dresses, you name it. But doing this pattern, I feel as if I've never sewn before! lol!!!!
:D :D

Well, I finally did a decent Warm Wishes. Will be another doll quilt for one of my granddaughters as this was all of this material I had.
I had to do between 1/4" and 1/8" seam, to get them to come out. I have no idea why that was. All my strip & square widths were totally accurate.
I also realized my iron setting was too low, so maybe that's why they've been looking unpressed. lol!!!
When I do another of these, I'll be doing a few practice rows, just to check what my seam allowances need to be for each particular fabric.
Thank you again everyone! :D :D

That material is so pretty.
Katherine

Auntluc, your measurements are correct. I just can't add any more. 1.75 + 1.75 + 2.50 = 6.00 inches.

Diana...So glad you didn't let that block get the best of you...it looks great. That fabric sure would make a beautiful quilt if you had more of it.
Btty...that's ok, I just didn't want Diana to get conflicting info when she was trying so hard to figure out what was wrong.

Thank you Auntluc, for all your help! :D

Now I need some help. Can you add quilting to a quilt that is already finished? I had one quilted and looks as though it needs more.

I've made two of these quilts, never had a problem and they went together very quickly. Good lunk

Sure you can add quilting to it after it's already quilted. Can't hurt anything. Looks like you did a good job.

Diana, your sample looks great!
The fabrics you're using on your original one....are they all 100% cotton? Sometimes if we use fabrics of different types....or threads of different types & then press with steam.....they shrink at different % levels....just wondering if something like that might be an issue?

Whoohooo! I finally got a Warm Wishes completed quilt top! I had to really watch my seam allowances, some 1/4", some less, to get it to turn out. I've got to get backing for it yet, am thinking of flannel to make it comfy.

This material I got today at Hobby Lobby also had the matching panel type thingys I put across the top & bottom. I had started out making it for my grandson, who'll be 5, but now am thinking it's too young for him? Anyone have a 5 year old, and would it be too young for them? My youngest grandson will be 1 in August, so I could save it for him.

Thank you Thimblebug & Debbie, for your hints too! I really appreciate all the help & encouragement! :D

That is adorable!! I love the doll blankets too!! The fabric for the first one--with the tools--was a great idea. I'm sorry it was so frustrating for you. :(

For 15 years I sewed with a machine that didn't have anything to help with a 1/4" seam--I struggled. The best I could do it use a magnet to mark it. But the magnet had to come off for quilting, so it was always moved. My new machine helps me nail that 1/4" mark--and what a difference it makes.

Good luck! And happy quilting!! You pick wonderful colors. :D

Thank you Karla!
I looked on Equilter, for more of the tool print and didn't see it. I think it was at least a year ago that I bought it. (See I needed this board to get me fired up again! :D ) They do have some with saws, etc, but it was kind of blah looking.
My pressure foot is at 1/4" exactly. I had my husband looking at it again today, to see if he could figure out why it wouldn't work out using 1/4" all the time. He couldn't find the problem either. So some of my seams are 1/4", some are less.
Thanks again! I appreciate it!

i also have the ruler with the slots in it an have had it for a couple of years now an love it makes cutting quilts out so much quicker

I just got mine Dizzy, the other night, but so far totally love it! Makes everything go much faster! :D

The new one you made came out great - really cute. You did a really good job! But I think that I would save it for the littlest one. My grandson is turning 5 and he's into Spiderman, powerrangers, etc. Quite a change from the first quilt I made him!

Thank you Debbie! I felt like taking a bow, after finally getting it to turn out! lol!!! I think it will be going to the youngest grandson! I'll have to look now for some better/older material for my almost 5 year grandson.
Thanks again! :D

Just saw this but wanted to tell you how cute the bug one is. Glad you got this figured out.

Thank you Kathy! :D

I m going to try this one out i think , but one ? do the squares that are in one colour, can i have those in different colours ( since i have bought packs with different ready cut ones and there are only so many that are the same)

also what of your pictures are the correct one, i m so new i need to know what to cut not to sew and to sew things straight i use sewing foot( not the pedal) to use as my guide and i guess thats half a centimeter.

lots of help needed as u see

I have used this pattern before from Quiltmaker. However, when I went on there yesterday, the pattern does not come up anymore. I was so disappointed. I have one printed off, but I was going to refer some friends to the link.

Material MiMi