I found a Windmill pattern that uses 2 different colors and have jelly rolls I'm using. The pattern says to sew two 2" wide strips of each color together and then cut into 3 1/2" pieces to make a 6" block. (There are other measurements to use with wider strips.) Four of the 3 1/2" pieces are used to make the block but when I lay it out 2 of the 4 pieces are about 1/4" too long/wide than the other 2. This can't be that hard because it's so simple. What am I doing wrong? Here's a link in case I haven't explained myself well enough. http://www.suite101.com/content/easy...blocks-a235661
I'd appreciate anyone who could take a look. Thanks! :-)

Kim - looks like your placement of block section one is to be turned that the turq. fabric is at the upper left going up and down.

Try that.
JUlie

You sew 2 2" strips together. You now have a strip x" long and 3.5" wide. Now you cut that length of strip to 3.5" long pieces - so you should have 3.5" squares made up of two colors.

Is the wrong side from the length cut or the width?

Just a thought. Are all the jelly roll strips trimmed down to 2".

mltquilt

This is what happens. Actually none of the sides match up.

That finally dawned on me last night. So yes...they are now.

I've added a picture of my block. Since I'm using white and orange (my son is a huge Tennessee Vols football fan) the white takes the place of the aqua color in the example. I feel so stupid not being able to figure this out!

Kim after you sew your 4 blocks together to make 1, it should be correct. Remember that 1/4" seam? Let us know how it turns out.

I deleted the picture that had the 4 sections numbered because the pieces weren't going in the same direction as the picture I left. Didn't want you to think you had seen something that wasn't there. LOL!!

When I sew them together using the scant 1/4" seam I'm still going to have the uneven outside edges. Right? This is how I'm seeing this. One side of the individual piece measures 4" (the 2 strips sewn together) and the other side measures 3 1/2" (cut pieces from strip) not including the seam allowance. That doesn't make a square like they say it does. Understand what I'm saying? This is really making me feel like a dunce. LOL!!

i know you said you had figured it out but did you remeasure your strips and your seam allowances.

Give it a try on scrap fabric or paper and if it is too big, just trim it down. Once you get into quilting more, it will make sense. We've all been there.

Ok. I went back and used a full 1/4" seam instead of the scant 1/4" and now the individual blocks measure 3 1/2" x 3 1/2". Going to fix the other pieces and see if that doesn't match up. Whew! I knew this shouldn't be that hard!!

I don't think the strips are joined with a SCANT 1/4" after all, even though the instructions specify that. If you use a full 1/4" does that help?

Because I'm at work (shh) I used post-its and notecards to simulate fabric, a desk ruler to measure the pieces and scotch tape to "sew" them together (after trimming out the "scant" 1/4" seams). I'm getting the same results you are using the same instructions.

I don't think it's you. I'd try one with a healthy 1/4" seam and see if that helps.

Haha! Sorry, I must have been writing when you posted - great minds think alike! :-)

Do we have a dunce hat around here? If so....send it my way! I was using the scant 1/4" seam they said to use in the pattern but when I used a full 1/4" seam everything squared up. Thanks everybody!! You're the best!! :thumbup:

You are sooooo creative. :-) When I did use the full 1/4" seam the pieces lined up perfectly. I won't tell anyone you helped me while you were at work. ;-)

This is a perfect example of how even the ones who write the patterns aren't always right. I spent 3 hours on this last night and finally got so frustrated with it I turned off the lights and went to bed. HAHAHA!!! Before I even touched anything this morning I headed here to ask for help. Love this group! So happy I found it. :thumbup: :-D

Ditto!
And be sure that when you cut each of the 3-1/2" pieces that it is exactly that, and square!

Is your 1/4" exactly that ... if I use my 1/4" foot and sew as is, it will not be 1/4", UNLESS I move the needle over.

You said you were using a jelly roll. Did you cut it down to 2" strips? If you're using 2" strips, you need to cut the sections 3.5" wide, but if you're using 2.5" strips, you need to cut the sections 4.5" wide.

I don't understand why cut the jelly rolls down. That defeats the purpose of using a jelly roll. I would use all the strips at 2 1/2" and have the block 1/2" bigger, lot of square up room if you need it.

The strips are 2 1/2" wide so I think I'll cut the sections 4 1/2" to keep from wasting fabric. Thanks!

That makes perfectly good sense to me. That's what I'm going to do.

GO VOLS!!!!!!!

TaDah!!!

I do my best thinking at night after I turn in for bed don't ask why but I just do.I guess the peace and quite lets my brain work better without all the clutter going around in circles in my brain.LOL

Sew your two strips together, press, and then measure how wide it is. If it measures 3 1/2" then cut your pieces that size. If they measure wider than 3 1/2" your seam is not deep enough, it smaller than 3 1/2" the seam is too big. Hope this helps...
Brenda

jelly rolls have 2.5" wide strips that might be your problem you need to cut your sqares 4.5 instead off 3.5

Actually, measure the width of your strips first, then do this the next time!

LOL!!

I'm no help. It looked alright to me.

I think if you measure your sewn pieces, each one of the 4 you will find they are different sizes. Your seam allowance may not be consistant. Make sure it is only 1/4" all the way. When you cut your block, first measure your strip and see that it is 3 1/2 inches all the way down. Then I would suggest that you place your ruler on top of the strip, line up the bottom of the strip with a horizontal line on your ruler. See if at the 3 1/2" mark if it is a square in both directions. Then cut.

You may know that the strips cut vertically from selvage to selvage has more stretch than if you cut it horizontally. That too may help.