Testing
 

How much "testing" do you do before starting a project "for real"?

Do you "just" test your fabric for bleeding?

Do you make a test block before committing to a whole quilt?

Do you do a test to make sure that your cutting and seam allowances will give you a unit that is the expected size?

If you are a tester, do you think that doing these tests/checks are worth the time and effort?

How do I remove the thumbnail? I was originally just posting a "test" to see if I could post a scan.

My scanner somehow "changed" how it does things - I have no idea how or why or when - but it does not "work" like it used to.
At the moment, I do not feel the change(s) are an improvement. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...s/confused.png

Oh these computers, I always wonder why they have to update something that is working just fine. Anyway, I am not a prewash person, unless it's a dye heavy dark batik or red. My fist few blocks are test blocks. I never cut the entire quilt then sew. I usually make one block at a time until I get a handle on the pattern, then I chain piece usually 5-6 blocks in sets.

I always pre wash all fabrics. I don't buy pre cuts. Then I just jump in with both feet. I design most of my simple quilts and sometimes change things in mid stream. I can always come up with something I like.

I seldom pre-wash but I make a test block before cutting out the whole project.

I'm with Jingle. Always prewash, no precuts, and full speed ahead on sewing. Lots of unsewing involved, though.

I seldom do tests. Rarely do I pre wash fabric. Occasionally I will test a fabric. I will cut out the fabric for just one block to see how it goes together and make sure I like the colors, the construction and that the size is right.

I pre-rinse and hot dry the fabrics because the sizing really upsets my sinuses. I usually make a test block. I never ever cut out the whole quilt. There are times that I realize that I am no longer in love with the pattern and downsize from a queen to a throw. If the whole thing was cut out, I would feel like I had to finish it no matter how much I hated it.

I find I work best in blocks of production and time. Cut out for 10 blocks and sew them. Then go on to the next 10.

I rarely test for size since my blocks will all have the same seam allowances and therefore be the same(ish??) final size. The only time I become anal about it is if I am making a specific block or top for another person. Then everything goes under the microscope.

My time consuming downfall is choosing a colour palate. I can become paralyzed with indecision.

This is a timely topic for me. I was using a flannel backing fabric and so trimmed it with what I thought would be a generous extra for shrinkage. i wanted to use the extra in a rag quilt and so did not want that washed . You guessed it. It shrank too much so I had to wash the saved piece and sew it back on. Lesson learned.

I rarely prewash unless it's flannel or from Walmart. I'll make a test block to make sure I like it before moving forward full steam. And I almost never cut everything all at once. I'm likely to get bored and so going from cutting to piercing then back is enough to keep my brain content.

I like several others always pre-wash to remove any chemicals and that fabric "smell", so no testing the waters there. Then I jump in with both feet, and figure out things as I go. I've never done a test block, just full speed ahead!

Not a pre-washer, I will try a practice block if i’m unsure, I always measure after the first block and adjust if necessary, and make notes in my little book in case I get side tracked, that way I know where to pick up again.

The only fabric I prewash is muslin, no matter where I've bought it. I don't test for possible color running, trust my color catchers for that. Don't make a test block or check the 1/4" seam allowance. So far, (and knock on wood), I've managed to stay out of trouble.

i do not test for fabric bleeding, i do make a test block from my scraps to see what the block will look like.

Pre-washer here! I usually design as I go. Crazy, I know. I'll get an idea, and start, not worrying how the end will be. I have learned to make the first one if many are needed. That way the problems are identified and not repeated on everything.

Once at the start and then randomly, or when something seems off. I possibly do a little extra stitch ripping this way but I'm okay with that.

Yes to all of the above.

I prewash everything, I don't leave anything to chance when it comes to that. I always test the block by auditioning it with other fabrics first, that way I can get the muscle memory going and if I'm going to have problems with the way the pattern suggests, I can take some quick notes and figure out a better way to do it. Once I know I've got all of that done, then I'll stitch up a block with the fabrics I'm going to use and see I need to make any further changes before I commit to the full quilt. I have a really bad problem with getting frustrated quick if I'm having issues while I'm working the quilt and if I get too frustrated, I will abandon the quilt altogether and about 80% of the time, I never go back to it. Taking the few extra steps before I start saves me a lot of time and a lot of money.

I steam and iron my fabric before cutting so the shrinkage will be done and any bleeding will show up on the white ironing mat cover. I wash my quilts after they are made. I don't cut all the block pieces at one time. I cut enough for one block and make it. Several times I have decided not to make the pattern due to the time of making the block.

I pre-wash dark fabrics with color catchers rather than test for bleeding. I've never made a test block. I check unit size, which shows if seam allowance needs adjusting. Most of my 'testing' is in the fabric selection process, with lots of mock-ups and photos; I really rely on my camera for design decisions!

I prewash fabric as I buy it - most goes into the stash for who knows when.

From there - I wing it. Rarely make a test block or anything like that. But then I rarely follow directions. Even if I have pattern, most of the time I come up with my own cutting and sewing plan.

I prewash everything! Never make a test block. Never check my seam allowance. I do scribble my FMQ pattern on a piece of paper to check if I like it and to set muscle memory.

I almost never prewash (unless it is very red) but I usually do make a test block. If I don't like the block, then I don't want to waste my time and effort on making a whole quilt that I am not going to like. I f I don't like it, it goes in the trash ( which, thankfully, really doesn't happen that often.)
My granddaughter wants a Periwinkle Star variation for her quilt. With the test block, I decided that I did not like all those seams from the 2 triangle pieces, so I added another 1/4 inch and made the background 1 piece instead of 2. It still lays flat, and I like the overall look better.

You can't remove the thumbnail after that time you can edit. You have to edit right away or you cannot change a post. Hypothetically speaking, you would go to "go advanced", "manage attachments", then "remove file" At least, that's how it used to work.
bkay

I do a lot of tests. I'm a prewasher anyway, but I'm "making sure" a lot more than trusting to luck. I know many people have never have a bad fabric, but in all my years I had one encounter and never want another. To be honest, my normal prewashing as I did it back then wasn't enough and I didn't catch it. I now use the dye catchers, mostly to see how much dye is running so whether or not to treat it in some fashion. I'm finding there isn't much that original Dawn dish detergent (use hand wash/sink) and/or boiling doesn't fix...

When I am doing construction methods, I'll do test blocks or a test project. Sometimes my donation projects are me warming up on skills, like last year I did a LeMoyne star with all set in seams just for practice -- it had been awhile but I feel confident in my ability again instead of our handy dandy nifty no set in versions.

Some times I do tests on how I want to construct/cut the blocks before committing. I like to do all of one step at one time at one way -- that way if I mess up I only have to figure out one fix.

When I have embellishments, I do a variety of tests. Color fastness (boil), shrinkage, and durability. Last year I used blanket stitch embroidery on applique. Had to test multiple ways but felt good about using it, that it would hold up to whatever I throw at it and I throw a lot...

I'm constantly testing products and other ways of doing things, sometimes for me that is because of my vision issues. For decades all I used for all my quilting, top, bottom, piecing and quilting was Dual Duty. I started doing more with thread about 20 years ago?? Even more when I used a long arm. Last year was a deliberate test for me using So Fine as a bobbin thread in my domestic machine for piecing, not just quilting and I found I liked it and the results -- so much so I bought an auction's worth and now have enough for the rest of my sewing life.

I just mentioned it in another thread, but something I particularly want to try is the pencil by the Pounce Pad people. Love those pounce pads and think it would be a good marking tool for me.

I test, pre-wash, all reds. I often will make a test block when doing scrappy in particular to test the effect of light, dark and medium color placement in the pattern. I just made a test block to make sure the pattern was accurate. It is a good one for chain piecing but want to be able to whiz along making the blocks with the assurance that they will all fit together well. Perfect pattern ready to be executed by an imperfect quilter! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/boy.gif

I can be found to make several test blocks if I don't get things perfect the first time around. I guess it also depends on how badly I want to make the block. I am in a swap that I just turned down the block I had planed to do because after 3 test blocks I could not get it perfect. So it was onto another block design. The test blocks will be something for another day.
I only pre-wash occasionally, when required for a swap, or for deep reds, blues, or purples.

GingerK, I taught color classes at the college level. I know the color wheel backwards and forwards and like certain color combinations: analogous colors that blend from one to the next are a favorite and so are complementary colors across from each other (pink and green), but the best combinations are the ones you like. The color wheel is a handy tool, but ultimately it's what you like. Putting swatches on a design board and living with them for a few days is very helpful, too