Trimming down units
 

Why is it patterns that I have read over the years they don't indicate the finished size of a unit in a block. For example a flying geese unit. I've. Heard and read many quilters will make the unit a bit bigger than indicated then trim it down. But I'm hesitant at times on what to trim it down to as I may figure it out wrong and it will not fit with the attaching unit. Since I'm making all the units at once then go to the next part of the pattern and make that unit. So what have you all found to be the easiest and accurate way to accomplish the "trimming down" part.
Hope I'm explaining my question clearly.
Thanks for your help

It does depend on the specific unit. You can always just use a ruler, but I LOVE my bloc loc rulers for HSTs and Flying Geese. Pricey, but the accuracy can't be beat.

I take 1/2" off the size of the unit for the finished size. If I trim HSTs or flying geese I use the Block Loc ruler.

I guess I should say I take 1/4" from all four sides. 1/2" from side to side and 1/2" from top to bottom. Which would make the finished unit 1/2" smaller all the way around, not 1" smaller in size. A 2"square would finish at 1 1/2" not 1" even though there has been 1/4" taken off four times. :shock:

I think most instructions do give the size of the unfinished unit....but give the size of the finished block. So if your block finishes at say 8", and a row (2" wide-finished) has two flying geese units they should measure 4 1/2" long by 2 1/2" wide. However you construct those flying geese will determine if you have any "trimming" to that size....

only good designers give measurements of constructed pieces as you go along. love those designers!!

I agree nativetexan!

Yep and that's why I take the time to make a spreadsheet for each pattern and add those measurements. Really is worth the extra time.

Native Texan, do you know any of the names or patterns?? All the ones I have seen in magazines don't have them. I'll have to look o to the bloc loc ruler. I have not heard of it.
Spread sheet is a good idea. I guess I need to just slow down and be patient and lots figure the unit sizes with in a block.
But it would be nice if they did that for us.
Thanks again for everyone's input!

check out Bonnie Hunters patterns--she always gives the finished size for block units. I do hear what you are saying though. I would be nice if all pattern writers included the finished size of the units that make up the the blocks so you don't have to do the math on them.

Agreed that finished sizes are nice within the instructions. I've been frustrated many times myself without that info. In those cases (and I don't generally follow my own advice here) it would probably be best to make a test block just to make sure you have the sizing correct. Might be easier/quicker than all of the math.