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toolazy 04-15-2013 06:39 PM

For what it's worth, Yael: There is no law that prescribes 1/4" seam allowances on quilts. If everything fits together or can be tweaked to fit together, who cares what the exact measure is? Folks have already said that.

Now looky here. I've completed 5-6 quilts. None of them used a 1/4" seam allowance. Mostly they used 1/2". That's what I felt like using, I cut my pieces for that allowance, and it worked fine. Of the two quilts I'm working on now, one is using mostly 1/2", and one is using 1/4" except for the piece I'll probably cut at 1/2" because I want a little leeway there.

And the one that's mostly using 1/4"? I didn't measure it. I'm not going to measure it. I'm using the 1/4" line on the sewing machine plate and whatever thread I happen to have that's strong enough and not so fat as to cause big lumps. The stuff that needs to fit, fits.

If I were hand quilting (as I intend to do on one of the current projects), I might want to trim any big seams down to 1/4" so there's less in the way. My previous quilts with the humongous seam allowances were machine quilted, by me, with no difficulty whatsoever.

The seam allowance doesn't make the quilt. YOU do, and you're making a beautiful one.

amyjo 04-15-2013 06:53 PM

a beuatiful piece and finish it the same as you started. Just add a border or so extra if you want it bigger to fit your bed or whereever you plan on using it. Wish I had the guts to make one.

pittsburgpam 04-15-2013 06:58 PM

I would definitely continue with the same allowance, it's beautiful!

One thing I would do is square it up before moving on to any other pieces that go onto it.

Sharon Schamber has some videos on shrinking blocks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6apl...C6C3CBD760D867

Video on squaring up a quilt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQnHLkA7bTs

yweinst 04-15-2013 07:12 PM


Originally Posted by pittsburgpam (Post 6004354)
I would definitely continue with the same allowance, it's beautiful!

One thing I would do is square it up before moving on to any other pieces that go onto it.

Sharon Schamber has some videos on shrinking blocks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6apl...C6C3CBD760D867

Video on squaring up a quilt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQnHLkA7bTs

Thank you so much for the info. Also thank you everyone for all the encouragement to proceed.

saperry 04-15-2013 07:30 PM

I agree. Finish the quilt with the original seam allowance. It's still a beautiful quilt and you are doing a fantastic job. Now you'll know for the next quilt. Just remember the learning process is suposed to be fun.

sew1 04-15-2013 07:32 PM

Definitely would finish and no one would be the wiser about seams, unless you tell them. It is too pretty to not finish. Hang in there and let us see this when done, please.

quiltin-nannie 04-15-2013 08:23 PM


Originally Posted by pittsburgpam (Post 6004354)
I would definitely continue with the same allowance, it's beautiful!

One thing I would do is square it up before moving on to any other pieces that go onto it.

Sharon Schamber has some videos on shrinking blocks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6apl...C6C3CBD760D867

Video on squaring up a quilt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQnHLkA7bTs

Just watched the video of the quilt being basted. Does anyone really do it this way?? Seems like an awful lot of work! I guess I am not that much of a perfectionist! LOL!!

Pilgrim 04-15-2013 08:38 PM

I agree that if all your seams are the same it will work out. Your quilt looks great. When you complete this one then change to 1/4" seams. Some use an old credit card to lay down on the bed of the machine to give you something of a guide for your 1/4" seams.

mighty 04-15-2013 08:41 PM

Continue, it is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DOTTYMO 04-15-2013 10:48 PM

Continue as you have been doing keeping 1/4 as you have. Any alterations will affect the whole quilt. I was told just after I started quilting to even keep to the same sewing machine to piece a quilt as there could be thread differences in the seam. 1 thread on each piece makes a big difference over 60 inches. This was my excuse to buy more sewing machines. One for each project. Quilting also keep to one machine as stitch length has a variant as well.
Your work is beautiful so remember the class info and finish this super quilt. Can't wait to see it.


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