What do you do???
 

I don't typical work with precut 2.5" strips but I bought this patriotic package from a major manufacturer and they are NOT 2.5" from tip to tip of their tiny pinked edges. They are about 1/16" too narrow. I am doing something like a quarter log cabin that are then sewn together so the seams need to match. The only thing I can think of is to cut numerous lightweight fusible strip to add the needed 1/16", but that is going to take so much time. I am also using some of my fabric that I have cut to use in this charity quilt (homeless vets). Any suggestions will be very much appreciated.

PS. I did complete a quilt top for ME using Hoffman 2.5" strips and had absolutely no problems.

How are you measuring the strips? Typically, for pinked edges, you line up the tips with your other fabric for the seam. If the strips are indeed 1/16" too narrow, then you simply place the pinked edge a smidge (1/32") from the edge of the other fabric. You need only 1/32" because you will also be seaming the other side and 2/32" = 1/16".

Edit: The above assumes you are sewing a pinked edge to a straight edge fabric. Since you are pulling from stash, this might be a good option for you. Even if you are sewing two pinked strips together, I don't think making the seam 1/32" smaller will hurt. It does require attention while piecing, though.

This was posted a while back.

I remember seeing your design for this quilt and it was beautiful. This may not be a helpful suggestion, but I am thinking since this is a charity quilt and short of time, I wonder if you might regroup and change the pattern to something more adjustable like a rail fence or nine patches for the strips. If they sew up a little narrow you can adjust the size of your crosscut square accordingly and just "gett'er done!". I hate precuts too! When I saw your design I thought you must have had a nice stash of patriotic prints---something I hardly ever have but often wish I did!!

I'd use them on something where the width being a bit smaller wouldn't matter, like Jeanne suggested. Pretty as they look all packaged up I try to resist precuts because I like to prewash due to allergies. This just adds to my reasons to try to resist temptation!

Thank you, Easy Peezy, I hadn't seen that. Good advice, if we can do it.

Ezey Pezey, that was great!

Here's an easy way to deal with this issue:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/...gly-smart.html

thank you EP for posting that little advice page... it may come in handy at some point in my sewing adventure.

This is the way I deal with irregularly cut strips and squares-even the ones I don't cut right.

Just sew together for a basket weave or fence rail and trim them all the same size.
I have only worked with one 2-1/2 strips that was gifted tome and turned out perfect. Otherwise I cut my own strips and make sure the are as exact as I can get them,

That is a great help and will definitely come in handy.

I haven't had any problem with the Moda or Kaufmann precuts, but I purchased a Tonga Treat strip set and swore I would never do so again, the strips were so badly cut. Unfortunately, I had subcut them into squares and triangles, so ended up trimming flying geese for ages to get them all uniform.

Do like "Frozen" and just let it go!!!

One reason why I don't purchase pre-cuts, sometimes they're not cut exact. I did once and never again buy 2 packages of 5" squares at a local fabric shop and found most of them more toward 4.75 than 5.0 so had to cut from my stash to augment what I needed. The off cuts I used for the 2.5 squares I needed but such a waste in my book.

Another reason I rarely buy pre-cuts. Doesn't take me that long to cut my strips. I hate dealing with pinked edges. That's just me. I save money with yardage.

I like to use precuts but they are irregular some of the time. To combat this problem, I sew two strips together
with the larger one--sometimes the exact size-- -on the bottom.The smaller one is laid on top so that I can see the
lower and the upper strip is NOT over as far as the needle. I get much closer to the correct size finished that way.
I have not tried to use to cut them other than to piece strips and use those to cut into patches. Brenda Henning's
later Strip Therapy books talk about problems with undersized strips and what I do came from reading those.

There are places that have strips that ARE correctly cut without the pinked edges and they are much better !

Good article. Thanks for sharing with us.

Susan

Doesn't Jenny say that as long as you are using the same strips and you are consistent with your seams you will be fine?

I wouldn't be afraid to make my seam as small as one eighth inch. I would put the smaller piece on top and sew according to the bottom piece. If you have two that are too small, it would help to mark the seam lines as in Bonnie Hunters link. She doesn't mark them, but uses a template to sew in the correct place.
You can get those strips the correct width with a few tricks.

agree with Fizzle and Jenny - if all strips are the same width, even if they're not exactly 2.5, then there will be no problem with matching seams between blocks.

Love all the advice here. I've always just adjusted the rest of my seams to be 1/16" short. Not so much fun to cut, but it does give nice, straight seams throughout.

That's an awesome way to handle it.

Is this project for a charity quilt? I don't think homeless vets are going to be too particular if a few seams don't match@!