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Great tips. I agree to compensate for the seam allowances!!!!
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I think the point is, this is fabric -- a soft medium, not stone or wood or metal, which do not have any "give". There will always be discrepancies in blocks, sections, segments because of this give. One can make minute adjustments to accommodate this give, or learn to accept the properties of the medium of their choice and "not sweat the small stuff".
That said, my piecing is accurate, a bit meticulous, well pressed, and then I do not sweat the small stuff! But, I've been doing it for 30 years; practice makes "better" in this medium. Jan in VA |
I have learned to press open my seams if the block has a lot of joining pieces. You can lose a lot of measure by the seam pressing to one side.
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Thanks, everybody for the great tips. Now I have several ideas to try on the next sample. I have faith that the next sample will turn out close enough. I love you all--I'm beginning to believe that it takes a village to raise a quilter!
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Just wanted to say "I love your practice block". The fabrics are beautiful and your work is wonderful. You have all the points. My blocks are off all the time. Sometimers I have to "iron" (I know it's a no-no) it to get it to the right size. Right now I'm working on a quilt and my scant 1/4" that I decided to try for the first time made my blocks too large and I had to cut them all down and now I'm going to have to cut down all my sashing. I can't win. My scant was too scant! Dang!!!
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That pattern would finish to 2.5x2.5 inches for each *increment * of your grid. Around the perimeter, add in the 1/4 inch for perimeter seam allowances. You could measure each *increment* of your grid.
With five *increments of your grid* (some with one or more seams within that grid-increment) you have lots of seams with room for the *width of the thread stitching line* to be off. With luck, you could frog-stitch one long seam perhaps and add in 1/16" inch beyond the point(s) in that grid... and/or figure on stretching a bit when matching seams for the adjoining blocks. I.E. if you are matching points every 2.5 inches sewing one block side to the next, you would be stretching perhaps 1/32" of this one block to match the next for that increment? Its fabric, you can do that LOL. You might also dampen just the seam on the back with a sponge or wet washcloth and press with the tip of the iron, trying to get that seam *flatter* (dont stretch when wet tho)... you might gain 1/16" of an inch in a couple places. Overall, in the end... you can probably stretch that 12 3/4" measurement with all the seams in that block, to match a 13" strips, so, really, I dont think you need to take any stitching out...I really would not rip anything; the blocks looks BEAUTIFUL ! .... I think you can *make it fit* that extra 1/4 inch.... :) |
Did you use a scant 1/4"? This is where scant is important. Any blocks that are a bit more complex and have points will typically ask for a scant 1/4". This takes into consideration bulk of the seam and thread bulk.
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Idon't know why but if all my points lined up like yours I'd be thrilled and just square it up and be happy.
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The block looks perfect! Your points are really nice. I found starching and measuring everytime I sew is the trick. If one block is off it will add up. I unsew when I am off and then go to the next step. Practice does help and you are doing great.
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Do you have any extra "give" in the long seams? I would try to press those seams with a little steam to see if they will pull out a bit. Pressing improperly can also shorten a seam. I think you did a great job with the block.
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