Tolerance?
For some specifications, there is a plus-minus allowed for the size of a part.
When you are making (or trying to make) - for example - a 12.5 inch unfinished block - how much larger or smaller than the expected/targeted/hoped for size are you willing to deal with? How much fudging/easing/stretching are you willing to do when assembling blocks into a quilt top? Because I prefer not fighting with my blocks, I've learned that it is easier - in the long run - to have them all approximately the same size. They go together so much easier then. For me - 12-3/8 to 12-5/8 inches would be a tolerable size range for a 12-1/2 inch (unfinished size) block. I have also learned - that the smaller the block - such as the Dear Jane ones (Jane A. Blakely Stickle quilt) - the less wiggle room. |
If I am using sashing I don’t worry too much up to 1/8. If the block is very basic with minimal seams to line up (such as a 12” block with seams meeting at 4” increments), I don’t mind a bit of easing.
if the block is complicated with many small pieces and multiple seams to align I try to be perfect and will keep ripping until it is. Fortunately I don’t make a lot of complicated blocks. i do notice the words “that will do” coming out of my mouth from time to time when I am making the 22nd block out of 25. That doesn’t happen on 5 out of 25. In other words the longer I work on a project the less of a perfectionist I become. I move onto the ‘let’s just get this over with’ stage! |
What usually happens for me is an uneven edge, with the block shearing off at the corners. This happens even when I have meticulously checked the size of all of the units and sub-units. I can cope with a generous 1/8 in. seam allowance.
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Funny...I've been thinking of that word a lot lately. "Patience" and "tolerance," go hand in hand, but they mean different things in the sewing world.
I think that my quilting tolerance has become smaller over the years, as I've become a better quilter. Still, I'm far from perfect, so for making blocks, I would say that they should be within 1/4" to 1/8" of each other. I don't like to stretch seams too much and so, I find myself re-doing seams, instead of stretching, in order to make things go together better. Also, I'd rather have all blocks off by an 1/8" and create a slightly, small quilt, than to try the almost, impossible task of making them the correct size. |
I'm too much of a perfectionist. If a block is supposed to come out at 12.5", I will alter seams in it until it does.
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Originally Posted by bearisgray
(Post 8420357)
.......For me - 12-3/8 to 12-5/8 inches would be a tolerable size range for a 12-1/2 inch (unfinished size) block.
Originally Posted by bearisgray
(Post 8420357)
.......I have also learned - that the smaller the block - such as the Dear Jane ones (Jane A. Blakely Stickle quilt) - the less wiggle room.
If I am using sashing - I use the same thought process. A 1/8" variance on a 3" sashing is not that noticeable imho but a 1/8" variation on a 1" sashing ?? - I can pick it out a mile away!! lol |
I can accept a 1/4 inch difference because I can ease that in.
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But - I am not a happy camper when a 12-3/8 inch block is next to a 12-5/8 inch block.
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On my own blocks I will give about about 1/16 of an inch if the block is to small. Of course I love it if it si a bit larger so I can square it up with a hair to trim off. On blocks I make for an exchange they have to be as close as possible to 12.5.
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If I have at least 1/4" away from any points I'm happy. I'll deal with the other stuff as I go.
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