Quilters your expertise is needed:

If a pattern says the finished size of a block is 11 1/4 that is not what you square it to, right. The finshed size has the seam allowance all ready sewn. My way of thinking: Your quilt is finished, if you take a ruler and measure one of the blocks you should get 11 1/4.
Now if that is right what would you square the (raw) block to, 11 3/4 because you need to add the 1/4 seam allowance on each side.
Is my thought process right or is it on vacation? If not I need to get off vacation.

Right on, Okie! Absolutely right. :D "Finished" size does not include the seam allowance.

But.. sometimes the pattern will give you a step by step finished size so is the 11 1/4" stated at the end of a step or where ever it tells you no. of blocks and finished size of block. Does that make sense? Dont know if I am saying it right.

that must be an end of a step measurement, has anyone ever heard of a finished block measurement like that? usually they're even numbers like 8" or 11" sometimes 9-1/2" but I don't think I've ever heard of one ending in 1/4 inch, but I guess it depends on the design, and the designer.

The pattern is called Playland or playmate. (Don't have it with me) The fabric is from P&B. The front of the pattern booklet says the completed size of the quilt and then says Finished block 11 1/4. I can say my blocks are bigger than that but I need to square them. The instructions do not say what to square them to. This is one of those quilts that a lady told me when you get one right you howler and dance while saying happy point, happy point. She is certainly right!

From the way that sounds, you would square it to the 11 3/4. What is your block measuring before squaring?

Another question comes to mind, when they say the size of a block, that does not include the sashing attached when assembling the quilt, right. The only pattern I ever used to do a quilt was paper piece. The pieced quilt on my alvatar was one of those "design as you go projects". Measurement was "good, it fits sort of thing".

The one I measured this morning was right at 11 3/4. What do you do if one comes short of that measurement. Make another one. I hope not. I measured and re-measured and re-measured each step before I cut so I'm hoping they are all about the same. Paper- piecing here I come.

I SHALL CONQUER!

Okay, here's the pattern. It's called Play Date http://www.pbtex.com/PBTex_PDAT.pdf The finished block is 11¼" and it's a nine patch made up of three 4¼" squares. So, the unfinished block should measure 11¾". The sashing will measure 1½" unfinished and 1" finished. The blocks and the sashing, before any blue is added, should measure 50½" x 62¾". Cool pattern...Have Fun!

I have all the blocks complete, I need to square them before I start the sashing to 11 3/4, then square again after the sashing by adding 1" per sash. then square everything without border to 50 1/2 X 62 3/4? Am I on the right track?

it won't open for me :cry:

I LIKE THAT PATTERN!!!!!
I cant wait to see it when you are done!!! You are on the right track with your squaring up just dont get discouraged it will all make sense once you get the hang of it.

Ohhhh very very pretty!! I had to print this one! Thanks for the link.

I'm so glad to read this post! I am new to quilting and am having the same questions.

I am working on a basket pattern from a quilt shop hop that I just participated in. I'm thinking maybe this was too advanced for me. I started out just great, but I have taken out far more seams than I have sewn so far! The blocks are supposed to be 12 1/2 in. square when finished and ....well, lets just say that's not happening. :( I never dreamed piecing a quilt top required an engineering background. I think that I've measured and measured and sewn a perfect 1/4 in. seam allowance and THEN....the block does NOT come out right. My fingers are so tired of removing seams.

Does everyone start out this way??? Will I eventually learn from trial and error??? (ok - lots of error).
Needing encouragement here. Thanks for letting me whine. :cry:

I'm still at it with mine, of the four I have added sash to three are 11" across, and one is about 11 1/8. All of them should be 11 1/4" One I had to make a small seam allowance if I hadn't the seam would have cut off one of my points, which it did and I had to take out and do again. It's a good thing I'm not a quitter. I would have moved on to something else, but I have too much time in this to quit now. I guess the anxiety is that you think you are being so accurate and boom, you measure and give a big sigh of disgust and then do it again. The joy of quilting. I must love it because no one makes me do it but me. Hang in ther FanoFabric and I will to.
HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE

I have a quiting foot, it came with my machine and I use it faithfully but I still don't know where my problems are.

Oh! I didn't know there was a quilting foot!!! One of my biggest problems seems to be my 1/4" seams, that along with my math skills needing the dust knocked off of them. LOL. I'll have to look into purchasing one.

Okie, we will get the hang of this. I'm determined to do so. I just wish I could push a fast forward button and move on to the part where I know what I'm doing. My husband is even getting involved using my 12 1/2" square ruler to line up and try to see where I've gone wrong exactly. LOL.

Well, it's back to the assembly line....

Mona

Don't feel bad! I'm new to quilting. I've noticed that some patterns say the seam allowance is included, and some don't.

So, am I on the right road w/the the following statement:

1. If the pattern states "seam allowance included" cut it at the size, if not
2. Add the seam allowance to the block.

RIGHT :?: :?:

OOOPS. I forgot to add a another remark. I have a quilting foot (Quilt Wizard). When I finished sewing/set/flip/set again, my block(s) were smaller than they were suppose to be.

Can anyone shed some light on this? PLEASE!?

I seem to always have blocks that turn out smaller than they should.
As long as all your blocks are the same size it dosnt matter.
Just make sure to adjust your sashing to fit your size blocks.
If your blocks are to big do not cut off your points just to make the block the size the pattern calls for. Use the larger size and adjust your sashing to the size you need.
Size dosnt matter, its the points that are more important.