Row by Row Problems
 

I have a great row by row quilt going but they are not all the same size, some are off by as much as an inch. With the borders on each row arriving in different colors, how can I end up making them all the same width? Should I just add a snippet of the first inside border to match, or use a contrasting fabric which seems to make it even more apparent that one row is shorter than the next. Most of the rows cannot be trimmed down, the others will have to be extended. Help, please.

You said "they are arriving" is it a (_row Robbin) project? If so, one way is to wait until you have all of your rows, measure each one, then using the length of the longest make each one that long. Once you can lay them all out you will be able to see what to add to each to make them go together and look good. You might be able to add sashing between rows that can (wrap) around the next row to bring it together... There are many ways to fix this, it is easiest to see/figure out when you can see them all.

The other thing that might be happening .... are your seams 1/4"??
If one row has many seams and you happen to be a thread or two wider/narrower than the 1/4", they could add up to quite a difference on the width of a quilt. Likewise, a row with fewer seams would not have as much variance.

Wondering too?? ... are these the patterns from the Row By Row Experience Shop Hop?

We are not using the Row by Row Patterns from the current shop hop. Just making up as we go along with only apparently too few rules. However, we don't all follow directions as well as we could. Your suggestions are useful especially Tarton's idea of adding the same element to each row. Thanks to all, I'll wait until all the rows come in (due next weekend) before attaching them. It is interesting to see all the color choices and ideas from our small group of quilters. I hope to post a picture of at least mine when finished. Thanks again.

Wish you had posted a picture. Without a photo, I do not understand why you can't trim. Not familiar with this pattern. Sorry that the rows are not all the same length.

Okay you're saying "We" a lot, so I'm assuming there are different people making each row, which is most likely the problem. Different people have different quarter-inch seams, and some often don't even bother measuring. I agree with the others, Tartan's solution is your best choice.

I would trim as much as possible. Then add to the various rows - something coordinating with the row. Not always at the end of the rows. If it's just off by a little, you might be able to add a little between the blocks by making the seams smaller. Or if a larger amount is needed, add a little strip of fabric or something else that coordinates, like stripes, small triangles, ....

I would float each row with a couple of inches on each side, then once the quilt is together, trim the excess off and add a floating border to the top and bottom.

This is what I have done -- and I love the look. I used "filler" blocks the same color as the sashing, alternated the sides I sewed the fillers, trimmed the filler blocks so the rows were the same size and then added the sashing so the rows really look like they are floating. Did this with a couple of charity quilts where different folks made the rows and the makers were creative about the lengths of the rows.

Are we talking about the strip quilt???? I sew all the strips together lengthwise and then double it, sew it, double it again and sew it until you get what size you want - Oh yes, before you start sewing, cut 18" off your first strip and then sew them into 1,000" strips *83 feet long). Cutting the 18" off will keep the quilt from being uniform. You want it totally mish-mash - at least I do). I am in the process of saving Jelly Rolls to make a super sized quilt for the bed and also save some extra fabric that I have that will match and cut that into 2-1/2" strips. 96 strips will make a quilt 88x92 . I want mine even larger than that!I have made them before and they are a lot of fun to make. Edie

Is this sort of a "row exchange"? like a block exchange, but with a pieced strip/row instead?

I would wait until "all" the rows are in - assess what there is to work with - then start banging my head against a wall - and THEN try to figure out how to compensate/fix the differences.

Very good idea Quiltnlady. Three of us are making a string block quilt for one of our dgd college quilt. I designed it with one white strip to start so it follows in the block as a chevron. I could not figure out why we are off a smidge. Thought my friend with the dgd was maybe not doing a perfect 1/4" seam - she is inexperienced. Turns out it was me and my squaring up - duh - not a huge problem but will be better now - lol. Sometimes it takes another pair of eyes.

What do you mean by "float?"

Hi Pete.....
Floating means using one color / print all around your "design" to give the impression that the inside part of the quilt is floating away from your outside borders. Hope that helps :o)

I was part of a Row Robin last year and each pieced row I got back was a different length, even tho we had decided at the start they should be a certain width and length. One row was 2.25" shorter than the others! I resewed the seams that joined the blocks together on some, then ripped out the original seams. Even changing 1/8" makes a big change over the course of 6 blocks. One strip was not made with rectangular blocks, however. Also it had a light background, which none of the other blocks had and it looked so out of place with all the rest of the rows. I ended up putting that row on the back. I thought at the beginning this would be such a fun project, but in the end was quite frustrating. After all the questions and frustrations, I am happy with the end result though. Good Luck with whatever you decide to do.

Nope, row by row is a different technique than Jelly roll race.


Me, I'd just add a border to both ends of the short rows. Or maybe even just to one end, and off set them all (add some to the left, some to the right). But I'm not a perfectionist.

This is a new shop hop thing this year that many states are doing. Each quilt shop that joins this has their own row pattern that they have made up. Some shops are even making kits for their row. You must go to different shops in your state to pick up the patterns from however many you want to do. My state has no shops participating, Neighboring VA has many shops joining in. You go and get as many rows as you wish to do from that many different shops and put them together for your quilt.

It seems like participating in a swap may provide many opportunities for additional creativity. :mad: :hunf:

I am in a row quilt swap and none of the row are coming out the same length! I am going to add fabric to alternating ends of the rows using a solid fabric and on the bit of fabric I will quilt the name of the piecer of that row. Solves the problem of the incompatible rows and will keep the knowledge of who made the rows with the quilt. By alternating which end I put the extra fabric on, no one will ever know that they weren't the proper length.