Well, I'm a newbie to quilting. I knew I was gonna mess this up, but I didn't think I would do it quite so badly. Let me tell you what happened.


[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...bluemockup.jpg[/img]
This picture is a design for the quilt. I asked y'all about the color choices and you helped me decide on this one. Easy enough. Felt I would post a picture for reference so you know what I'm talking about.

I cut out all the white blocks and all the toile blocks first.Again, easy. Each block is 10.5 inches by 10.5 inches so the blocks finished, will be 10x10. It was my intent for the diamond blocks to also be 10.5 unfinished, and 10x10 finished... obvioulsy the quilt would be all wonky.

Somehow in the sewing/cutting of my diamond blocks, I really fudged things up. Whether I didn't measure the triangles right or I didn't use the correct seam allowance or WHAT, but my finished dark blue/light blue diamond blocks are, unfinished, anywhere from 9 3/4 inches width and length, to 10 1/4 inches inches width and length.

These blocks aren't even. They don't match. The points on the diamonds are going to be lost when I sew them together.

I made this pattern up in my head with graph paper and photoshop and it looked easy enough for a beginner but jeeeeeze did I really screw something up.

So I'm left with some options. I either cut ALL of my blocks (the toile and white blocks included) to like, 9.5 inches in size and sew them this way, even though this will still make the diamond blocks look hodge-podge... or I can just go out and buy 3 yards of a dark blue material and use that in place of my diamond blocks and have everything be simple and square.

I really don't know what to do. I know it would be less work to just buy some different fabric, but it won't really look like much effort went into it. Or I could just fix the diamond blocks by cutting them down, losing their pretty points and then trim everything else so it's just a smaller quilt. *sigh* what do I do?

Sorry this got so long, I just needed to vent about my tribulations with this quilt and figure out just what I'm going to do :(

I think that I'd do what I could with the triangle blocks to get them all one size, whatever size that is. Then, I'd cut the rest to that size, and sew them together. If you need the quilt to be bigger, add an outside border.

I agree with Shelley and mark this down as a lesson learned.....but not all is lost....

You could combine the two ideas you have. Buy more yardage, but use it to redo the diamond blocks. Math is not my strong point, so I can't help with the measurements, but I"m sure someone can.

You could take just the outer triangles off the block and redo those.

Lynette

Measure all the diamond blocks and re-sew the larger ones to match the smaller. It could still work.

I agree. I think this would work best and allow you to be happy with the results. Good luck!

What about just adding sashing between the rows... if you put the blocks in order from smallest to largest... then add sashing that is a little wider around some, and not so wide around others. As long as the biggest block isn't next to the smallest, it wouldn't be noticeable.

get some more fabric. cut it into odd triangles big enough run the length of your longest block with some left over. use them to turn your blocks into wacky diamonds in squares. when you have all of them converted, find your smallest block, square it off and then square off all the others to be the same size.

we will be the only ones who know that the quilt you end up with isn't the one you started. and everyone will think it's cool beans. ;-)

It might just be your seam allowance is off. Flip your block over and measure the pieces....are they all the same? Does the sum of the pieces equal your desired 10.5 size block? If they do then it's seam allowances...if not then it was a cutting goof. If it's your seam allowance, take them apart and try again AFTER you have tested your accuracy sewing a scan 1/4" seam allowance. If it was a cutting goof, trim all the pieces so that they will come out to the "smallest" size. To help you out, I'm going to attach a couple of PDF files. One will have templates the size you need for the 10.5 and one for a 9.5 block. You will have to tape a couple of pages together. Also set your Page Scaling to NONE when the print box comes up.

I know that taking it apart will cause you a lot more work, but you will be so happy with it in the end.

Edited to add: Someone posted the link to this blog (can't remember if it was on this forum or another), she has great instructions, with pictures on how to get the scant 1/4" seam.

http://quiltingisstillmypassion.blog...e-part-ii.html

Hope this helps.....

Look at it as a creative opportunity to make something truly unique. Once you get over the frustration and come back looking at some of the options presented here and you will end up with a beautiful unique quilt and no one else will even know you started with another plan.