Using Your Ruler, Squaring Up a Block
 

As I just now finished squaring up my last and 72nd block for the current quilt I'm doing...ahhhh....done. I thought I'd ask everyone else how they square up their blocks and what kinds of tricks with their rulers do they use? I'm working on a, simple, old fashioned, log cabin quilt right now, so there's lots of seams and marks that I can line up my ruler with. I use every dot, dash, number, diagonal line, etc. that I can on my ruler. It amazes me how many marks there actually are.

For example, with the log cabin pattern, I do the following:
- Use a small, square ruler, which has all the marks I need, instead of a rectangular one.
- Run the diagonal line through the corners of the, "chimney."
- I can also measure the last couple of, "logs," and trim off at the 3/4" mark.
- I add white dots with my correction pen to the ruler at the most used marks to make things go faster.

Other things that I do when making a block are:
- "Split the difference" when something doesn't align properly.
- Finger press instead of using the iron to reduce distortion and save time.

I'm sure there are a lot of other small ideas out there that can make a big difference. What do you do?

~ Cindy

I always use a ruler with a 45 degree line and place that on one corner to the opposite one. trim the two sides and flip block and place again, and trimming the other two sides if necessary. Makes a nice even center block every time.

I don't care how hard I try, or what size seam I use, 1/4" or scant 1/4", my squares NEVER turn out to be the size they're suppose to be. For example, right now I'm in the process of making snowball squares out of 5" charms. Most, but not all, measure 5", some however, are 4-1/2", or 4-3/4" square. I finally gave up trying to be so accurate. If not trimming a block to the perfect size is good enough for Fons and Porter, it's good enough for me! :thumbup:

I found that I did a better job on log cabin blocks if I took the time to square up after adding each round. I also use my 45 degree line and have been known to fudge the seam if a block is a hair smaller than needed. I think the thing that takes the most time to do but ends up saving the most time in the long run, is to mark exactly where each block begins and ends on sashing and borders. It also helps to keep the blocks in alignment if I am not using cornerstones. I do follow the old carpenter's axiom: Measure twice, cut once.

Oh Munner, have you measured the charm squares BEFORE turning them into snowball blocks? I have found that not all charm squares and layer cakes are created equal--in size that is.

When I did log cabins, I always found I was short just a hair so my outside fabrics I cut 1/8" wider so that I could trim them down perfectly to the size they should be.

thanks for all the hints... i put a sticky on the ruler at the point i want to line up so i don't have to squint for the numbers

I'm like you, I square each block or else I'm so out of whack at the end that it can't get squared. That is one reason I paper piece as much as I can so the blocks are square almost automatically.

I find I am more careful about squaring if I consider the project as "special". Right now I am sewing a pre-cut kit where parts of it is missing and I don't seem to care about squaring anything. It's mostly HST's that had already been cut as triangles. I do still iron everything carefully, and ironically, after I checked the center medallion's first four rounds, I am within 1/4" for every side at 36 1/4". I did trim one small edge of an HST that bowed out.

When I do square I do it by centering the 45 degree on the center of the block with whatever square ruler I am using. I have all sizes. My favorite is my 6.5". Next is the 12.5", although the 8.5 & the 10.5 do get used every once in a while. I trim any and all sides that are oversized. There are fun times when I get to rip a block back up and make those seams smaller to bring it up to size. I fudge one way or the other if I have to.

I learned the hard way to trim each square as I go. Makes it look better when done. I am making a variation now. Heartstrings 45 x 45" I need to add to it to make it 45 x 65" Crib size. The pattern is in Log Cabin Fever by Evelyn Sloopy OR Sloppy. I don't remember the right spelling of her last name.