Don't give up, see if your LQS has a class. I was also very fustrated but I took a class and it really helped. One day it will work out and you'll be glad you stuck with it. How about the AccuQuilt Go they are fun, fast and accurate. I love mine.

just walk away for a while and do something else, then when you come back to it - it will just fall into place. We've all hit those hard spots but don't let it discourage you

Your problem probably has nothing to do with math or with your ability to quilt. If you are doing this from a book or from online instructions without ever having any sewing experience or any lessons, it may be the basics or learning how to cut fabric that you need. I know that I certainly did. also you may be ironing not pressing and this can stretch the fabric. See if there are any local beginner quilting classes or an experienced local quilter who can work with you. Good luck. Don't give up.

Hi SharBear,
After reading all these posts plus your second one, I just wanted to say I am so glad you didn't quit and de-stash...heaven forbid! Glad you are still with us. I admire anyone who is a 'math' person. I found I have needed it so much many times in quilting and thankfully I have a DH who is a math person. Send us an update on what you are doing and remember the nice words from a previous psot...the view fromt he top is still the same. Best wishes to you for many years of happy quilting!

Please don't give up. I started quilting a year ago because someone told me I wasn't detailed enough to quilt. So my first quilt was a disappearing nine patch. Missouri Star Quilt co. has a great tutorial on how to make this quilt. No points or seams to line up! I was pleased with the results so thought I'd try another one. Eight quilts later I still learn something new with every quilts I make and learn how to fix my mistakes on the next one. Of course I take my quilts to work and show the person who told me I couldn't do it. Hang in there. There is no such thing as a perfect quilt! Do check out the Missouri Star web site. she has awesome tuts and is very clear on her explanations for both beginners and beyond. Just have fun with your projects!

Don't give up!!. I have been sewing for more than 40 years but all of that time I did garments and home decor projects. I am pretty good at those, if I say so myself. But, along comes quilting and I have some of the same issues you are having with points and seams matching. Practice, Practice, and give yourself permission to not be perfect every time. It will get better. By the way, I love the Paper Piecing because it makes a beautiful block and the points match!!.

All of the suggestions posted so far have been great, and a help to me too! I would not give up - it would make me want to be even more up to the challenge! You can do it! I am finding out that the rotary cutting is a lot of practice and patience! It is not my favorite thing about quilting but I seem to be finding out that I need to keep practicing. I got some sandpaper backing dots for my ruler and that helps me a lot. I also struggle with piecing the blocks together to make them aligned properly. I try to keep practicing. It's fun seeing all the colors and prints come together! In between the machine type of quilting, I love hand quilting. Please don't give up or you will be more frustrated that you did. Hang in there!

If I get in your situation I just walk out of my sewing suite and close the door (sometimes I even lock it) and wait a day or two and then go back completely fresh and try again and almost always it works. If it doesn't I put whatever is not working and try a small little project and then go back to it. Good Luck! Never, never give up!

I have been quilting for many years and each quilt I make is an improvement over the past. Although mathmatics are important, so is starting at the basic skill level and finding help when you need it (before you feel ready to throw in the towel). You local quilt shop or your local quilt guild will have experts who can guide and help you achieve your goals. Good Luck, I believe with your persistence, you will be successful!

I agree with everyone so far.... Don't quit. You need to work on some easy stuff... build confidence... find out those shortcuts experienced quilters use by taking some classes or joining a quilt guild.

I learned a TON when I took a beginner class with my nephew. We went so he could get some lessons and I ended up learning many, many new techniques that have made my quilting much better.

And - evey quilt I make gets better and better.

Dido to all that they said.

Please do not give up. it is a challenge and no one is more critical than one's self. There are times no one will notice. And each seam you sew will get better and better. Hang in there and ejoy your creations.

I can understand your feelings when things don't match up or when the blocks are not the size they should be or when points are off. I have suffered the same frustrations. Sometimes we just have to do the best we can and just keep trying. I just finished some blocks from a class I took. Every block was the correct size and all the points and seems were where they should be. Probably the most accurate blocks I have ever made. I don't know what was different with these blocks but it was exciting to see them come together and be so accurate. Sometimes I think the fabric you are using makes a lot of difference. Some fabric has more stretch and give than other fabric and this will certainly affect the sewing of a block. Don't give up, keep trying!

Do you know someone who quilts that could guide you through your problem? If so, ask!!! Don't get so discouraged that you quit. It could be something so simple. Even the people at your local quilt store would be willing to show you what you are doing wrong. Or, maybe you are just being too hard on yourself.

If you're frustrated, do something that DOESN'T have to match. Cut good sized blocks (I'm thinking 6") and off-set each row - sort of like bricks. Then trim the edges off the quilt when you're done. No matching and you have a quilt. Then you'll feel great and ready to tackle something else. I'm all for people challenging themselves, but get some practice and success under your belt and it will help a lot! Keep at it - and HAVE FUN!

The trouble I see is you're stuggling with the demon called perfection. If you look at the early quilts made for function, many were not perfect, but yet they were still warm and loved.

Once you quilting becomes a job, you loose the joy in the process. Technique comes with time.

Enjoy the day!

I agree. Usually when I struggle with something if I go off and leave it for a couple of days I can figure it out when I come back. Don't give up!!!!

Please don't give up. When working with a new pattern I use muslin to do the first block. Hand press with a wood iron. I usually don't press with starch until the finally squaring up and completion. Others do it differently, but this always seems to work for me. I tried pressing before with starch and my fabric shrunk. Ahh! What problems. Good luck and hang in there.

Put it all aside for a couple of days. Cut a fresh block and complete it and then maybe you can see what you are dong incorrectly. Math and puzzles definitely qualify you to be a quilter.

Sharon, dear: I hear your despair. I too am a perfectionist and as an eye doctor had tons of esoteric math classes. Then, last year when I decided I wanted to learn to quilt all my fancy math was for naught. So - I began taking classes and for the first year called myself the Village Idiot because, like you, nary a seam would meet. I began pinning and Lo! and behold, slowly those dratted seams/corners began to fall into place. Persistence is the name of the game. Looking back I am stunned at how much I've improved and learned - and continue to learn. Hang in there, girlfriend.

Carol Jean, Professing my ignorance but what in the world is a 'wood iron'???

Yes, paperpiecing is a great alternative. Perfect everytime.

Remember that life isn't perfect and that a quilt is like life...or at least it takes on a life of its own. I believe all quilts must have one flaw or mistake in them. Keep to simple quilts, some of the most beautiful quilts I have seen are very simple patterns with beautiful fabrics and straight stitch quilting. Try to remind yourself that your quilt doesn't need to look just like the one the someone else has done. No two quilts are the same, period; just as no two people are the same. So, take a deep breathe, take your time, and enjoy!

what blocks are you doing and are they paper pieced? let us know, we can help and maybe even find some tutes online for you.

PLeeeeeaasssss don't give up. Practice and you will get better each time. Have someone hold your quilt up, and driving by at 55 mph can you see the mistakes? Well.....Plus our work isn't suppose to be perfect. Only Christ is perfect. Now that does'nt mean to not try your best. But you will get better. Took me years to cut my first piece of fabric. I was scared to death. I'm fine now. You will be fine too.

No don't give up I know a woman Doctor that does not understand the patterns either, so that makes me feel pretty smart don't make me feel smarter then you!!! I'm really , really bad at Math!!!!

Just walk away from that project for now and work on something small and simpled. We all have things we lay aside because of frustration and hop0efully being away from it a few days will give you new perstective on it. I always have at least one mistake in mine that is just unfixable so it has become my signature.

Wow, this is a little scary. First of all my name is Sharon also. And second, I am having the exact same feelings. I was all excited about making a quilt using the disappearing 9 patch pattern. I sewed a 9 patch together last night but when I went to cut it in half it just didn't measure up. I was so discouraged that I threw it down and walked outside. I still don't know what I am doing wrong but sometime I will go back and try again. Please don't give up. I know it takes practice and more practice but I will tell you that I have learned so much from this board. It is amazing. Hang in there!

Don't give up, just step away for a minute, it will come together...

Don't give up....I hand quilted years ago and got much better points than machine quilting, but machine quilting is so much faster, and I try every tut on this board. I have a hard time cutting. I actually sit on my table to help me keep the strips accurate. I thought I had a 1/4" foot, but don't, so I just ordered one. I wasn't really sure what they meant by a scant 1/4", so just recently at our quilt guild, we were making sample blocks to trade. On our sewing day, we were told to do a scant 1/4" which I did and my blocks came out fine. I came home, using the same machine, and made 16 more blocks. Forgot about the scant 1/4" so I ended up with 16 blocks that were to small. So they couldn't be used by the quilt club. But I ended up just making another quilt using the smaller blocks, and that will be a test quilt. The three things I've learned to try to get acuracy is. 1. accurate cutting. 2. accurate 1/4" (or scant) seams and 3. iron the seams in opposite directions so you can wiggle those seams up tight, and oh #4....I watch all the sewing shows on tv I can find, especially Eleanore Burns. I learn something on this board almost daily. And I've been quilting for 30 years, so don't give up, just keep learning. And more important.....have fun. I give you alot of credit for doing a swap. I just did my first one started in June. Before that I didn't think my work was good enough. Don't be so hard on yourself.

I have some of the same problems with a rotary cutter, and that it why paper piecing is my kind of quilting! :D Give it a try and I think you will really love it, but watch out beause it is very addicting. :lol: :lol:

Try a small handpieced project where you cut the pieces out by hand and not rotary. Maybe it will help you. That is the way we started in the "old" days. When rotary came in, it was hard for most of us. Please don't give up.

Yea! Glad to hear that.

I felt this way until I switched to paper piecing.

It really really helped me with all of those very picky points and corners and improved my non paper piecing skills tremendously!

www.quilterscache.com and find some that are paper pieced.

Remember to press not iron your pieces.

Oh, no, don't quit. In quilting there are always the three things you mentioned: cutting, sewing, pressing. To get it "right" (so that the finished block is the correct size) these all need to be accurate. First, try checking your seam allowance: cut 3 strips 3-1/2" x 1-1/2" and sew lengthwise with a quarter inch seam. Press to one side then measure. You should have a 3-1/2" square. If you don't, make adjustments by moving your needle or putting a piece of tape on your machine.

when I was your age I had a problem seeinglines to match .
Guese what I needed glasses. do you wear glasses? if so get your eyes checked again, you might need new glasses.
I sure helped me.

Oh please don't stop now. Things may not always line up or be perfect, but that just means we are human. Keep going and things will always get better. Don't stress.....just have fun.

SharBear..Never give up and never give in!

If your cutting is accurate then you next should check you seam width. Most patterns call for a 1/4 seam when actually what is needed is a "scant" 1/4" seam..to make that even more confusing is that no two 1/4" feet stitch the same 1/4" seam!
I always nudge my needle over a couple of times..there also is also a product which is a plastic adhesive strip that is supposed create a line that you can feed your fabric along consistantly. Great idea but it doesn't keep sticking...I've gone through 4 pcs so far on my DWR and I haven't scratched the surface, I have only 7 blocks completed. Cut 3 2 1/2" strips 6 inches long..stitch them together and measure after pressing..you should have 6 1/2" if your seam is correct..if it's not pick out the stitches and adjust your needle position and stitch again. Repeat until you come up with the correct measure..write down your needle position settings. Then and only then put together a block..when completed measure it should be the correct size.. Sorry to be so long winded but I am frustrated as well by just what the "scant" 1/4" seam is. So it's very important to check your seam width right off before stitching up a block. Good luck..you'll get it..don't quit.