I sew die cuts more than anything and I know the cuts are perfect so it has to be my stitching. I use very thin bobbin thread, Bottom Line or Coats&Clark Bobbin thread. I find it saves me time and frustration by marking a scant 1/4" seam line and sewing on the line. If I cut my own, I add 1/8" to each cut.

I noticed that the other day when I tested a block. The first one was a bear. Perfect but ugly. The second one went together lickety spit - beautiful but off. Go figure.

Can you break it down into the components and measure where you are off?

This is what Sally Collins does, she measures each unit at each stage of the piecing process. She is known for her masterwork precision piecing & this is what she mainly teaches. I'm very excited because she is coming to our local guild and I am getting to take a couple classes from her. I can't wait to learn, learn, learn!

(((HUGS))) It IS the quilting Gremlins :twisted: :twisted:
The little buggers get you when you least expect them...
I have even tried leaving them out chocolate, to appease them... :wink:

I've always assumed it was because I have somehow ticked off the Goddess of Quilting and she is punishing me. I SWEAR to you I have had blocks come out too small when EVERY seam was perfect and ever piece precision cut.

Maybe it's just your eyes. :lol:

Gremlins...I've got a few of those. I think they mess up my quilt room when I'm asleep and mix up my fabrics. Not to mention the mess they make as they unthread all my thread spools! :P

Are they the same ones who take your little mini quilt blocks and hide them for days until after you are finished with the whole mini quilt? :roll:

Your not alone...been there, and did it over and over. The scant works, but I have also found that it can come out too big then. I do the moving the needle over one stitch, same thing. I'm with the madquilter, press it super good, and use steam...let it know WHOSE BOSS!

Well, the story of the 'scant' is that I get the eyebrow from some of our quild when they aren't full quarter inch seams. The thread was lightweight because the fabric was heavier batik. I think tomorrow I'll do a lot of pic'n and restitch with the scant and let the eyebrows wiggle as they will.

It's called 'Chain and Hourglass' from quilterscache. I love the block, it looks good with the gold I chose (IMHO) and yet........I'll get a picture of it in the morning and then you can waggle your eyebrows at me. :oops: :hunf:

I chose another block to use the starter fabric and was going to give the winner the two blocks, but y'all have some good thoughts and suggestions so I'll try pic'n tomorrow.

I did finish the 'nursing cover' for my granddaughter. I was going to do nine patch blocks BUT I went to my LQS yesterday and that cooked it. I found a panel there that had 'Boys are like that' or some such nonsense so I bought three panels and put two of them together. God the buttons on it and made the strap to go around her neck.

Also made her three protective changing pads. Hey, no wonder I'm tired....I had a busy day. Think I'll hit the hay.

Thanks so much for all the good suggestions. BTW I do use steam on these straight forward blocks. I try not to use it on the bias cuts though. I don't like them waving back at me.
:cry: :roll:

I would try the scant 1/4 inch.