If it is a cutting problem, make sure you are standing straight over your fabric and looking straight down. also make sure the blade is screwed in tightly if it is wobbably (sp?) at all you will be off on your cut. If it is a sewing problem, make sure you use a machine gulde that screws into your deck of your machine, or at least a foot that has a qtr inch side to it. Keep trying...Use bigger pieces they then to be more forgiving. I just spent all afternoon picking out stiches on 6 lengths of fabric, because I didn't follow my own advice and put the fabric guilde on the machine. I guess I'm a slow learner too.

Sounds like the only thing left to consider is your 1/4" seam allowance. I know that was hard for me in the beginning since I didn't realize how important it was. After making an extremely bad quilt top, I discovered how to get those seams right. I used sev. kinds of measurement tools til I developed an eye for it. I still double ck my seams as I go.

Also look at your cutting surface/table. Is it the right height? Are you leaning over it and cutting awkwardly?

I have found that having a smaller cutting table at the right height is best for me. It holds the 17x23 Martelli mat perfectly and I cna literally walk around whatever I am cutting. BTW, my sutting is a portable and collapsible kitchen center [I took the knife holder off it.]

ali

Are you sitting while you cut your fabric or are you standing up to cut. I can not get my blocks to work right if I sit while cutting them out. Which I have done on some in the past and they are always wrong. If I stand over my mat when I am cutting, and keep the cutter vertically- no slant, holding the blade so it is just touching the ruler edge, I have good success. Everyone else may not do theirs this way and what may work for one may not work for you. But there are so many ideas given here that you can try. I would recommend practicing on some very inexpensive fabric or lots of scraps, until you are comfortable with working with a rotary cutter, and you can get you blocks the way you want them.

Are we talking about a tiny fraction of an inch.. or a few threads different? or something larger..

One of the things that can cause you to have slightly differing cuts is that fabrics are different.. or sometimes they fabric isn't truely square.. so a perfectly cut block might lean a bit one way or the other..

Also once a block is cut we pick it up move it here and there.. perhaps press it.. Fabric is not stable.. it can and does move.. some more than others.. wood is stable.. you cut one inch.. you have one inch.. fabric gives, so it can be a tiny smig off.. .

I would say if it's only a tiny bit.. a few threads.. or the lean of the block.. don't worry.. when you sew and press and square up your blocks, all will work out just fine! Remember quilting is FUN, and RELAXING, not something to frustrate and irritate you..

I had trouble cutting different sizes as well till I figured out I was using two different rulers. One has the 1/4 inch added to the ruler in blue and the other ruler didn't have the 1/4 inch. When I get ready to sew I use the ruler with the 1/4 inch in blue to make sure my needle is in the 1/4 inch position to sew.

I agree with QuilterGuy - cut 1/8 to 1/4 inch larger square than needed - Sew your HST then square up to the correct measurements - some quilters use 1/2" larger, but I feel that is more waste than necessary. When squaring up you are also cutting off the dog ears so two jobs for one. Good luck.

I have a little suction handle on my ruler so I can pick it up straight and not let it slide on the fabric when I have to move it for another cut. It really helps.

That was my thought also when she said they looked right on the mat. Maybe your needle needs to be moved left or right a notch or two. good luck.

Another thing to remember when you rotary cut is to always have one finger from the hand holding the ruler on the fabric! It's usually the pinkie. This helps stabilize the ruler.