I never go a full 1/4", scant always....the stitch itself takes up at least 1/16" try that

Okay, I'll tell you that at times this has happened to me and if I go and press the block really well sometimes I find the extra 1/8 or 1/4 inch! Try this before you go make a new block and see if it helps.

There are several things that can contribute to an incorrect size of a finished block. First, make sure you have cut the pieced correctly. Sally Collins has an EXCELLENT book titled "Mastering Precision Piecing" that will help. When setting my ruler down to cut a piece I always make sure to use the full measurement of the line on the ruler (meaning the fabric covers the whole line, not the left edge of the line on the ruler, but includes the right edge of the line on the ruler). In addition to the cutting is sewing and pressing the pieces. I always find a scant 1/4" works best. Be careful not to stretch the pieces when pressing and always press each piecing step before going to the next. If triangles are not cut and sewn properly, they too can affect the size and squareness of the block. Finally, the more fabric pieces in a block, the more chance for distortion in the final size of the block. Good luck and hope this helps.

have you taken a really close look at the sizes in the directions? I have had the same problem, and after my second attempt at making a block resulted in still being too small, I found my calculator. Sometimes in the writing and editing process, if they make a change to one piece, that change doesn't get updated everywhere that it should. If the directions say to cut a 4" square, we know that it will finish at a 3-1/2" square. But maybe the directions say it will finish at 3-3/4"? check that. Another couple thoughts - have you checked your pressing? Have you tried sewing 'scant' 1/4" seams? (just 2 threads short of a 1/4")
hope this helps

Your teacher was right, because I find myself pushing in and slanting toward the ruler if I don't watch it.

That is so frustrating. I know it has happened to me. I just sit there and say "Why"

I worked on a signature block and it took 5 (FIVE) attempts to get it right. I should have just tossed it and started over but that stubborn streak won out. The next one went together like butter on toast.

My motto is that if I pick it out and put it together 3 times and it still won't work, I throw the block into the charity pile (or the scrap pile) and start over. Otherwise I find myself sitting there banging my head repeatedly against the tabletop and muttering naughty things to myself.

on thing you can check also is to be sure the line of the ruler is ON the fabric...a teacher told me NOT to butt the fabric to the line but to be sure line was actually on the fabric...makes sense.

Inny Thanks for your reply. I'm an experienced quilter and I'm always a hint smaller in size. I always just line up the fabric to the edge of the line on the ruler and that line on some rulers is thick. Thanks, I am going to pay a lot more attention to that in the future and see if it helps. Gosh, I sure am glad to have found this group.

We're sure glad you found us too!

Yeah, I hate it when I use a ruler that has thick lines. People who don't quilt always think I'm being picky but I know you quilter's sure understand the importance of a thin line for the edge of fabric.

Actually my 1/4 foot is adjustable. It's wonderful at times, but with this block it was awful! I did take a picture this afternoon...let me see if I can find it

So glad there are some that won't waggle, makes me nervous as a cat in a room full of rockin' chairs. :oops: Thanks, Mad, makes me feel better.

Amen, I've been known to throw good rulers into the 'kid' bin for not feeling right when I opened it. Always been that way. When I was still doing clothing construction, I would only use certain tape measures, too. Picky is ok, especially in quilting.

The block looks awesome! it is hard to tell from here where you lost the little bit,

I'm thinking it was in not moving the needle back over, think I was working on a quilt block before this one that I was using a full 1/4....I don't know, I'll try making it next week and see what I get. I love the block, it really struck me for some reason.

Mimisharon, I can't tell where the block is off, but one can't help noticing the pattern and I like your batiks. would you please share where the pattern might be found? I have some bright yellow and some blue-and-yellow batiks that would be striking in that pattern.

Thank you in advance!

Lovely block Sharon. Those high contrast 2-color jobs show take courage, so good for you for tackling this. I believe that once you put the quilt together and quilt it, you will not even be able to see the minor inconsistencies. (Personal experience speaking here)

My blocks usually are not the right size. I'm getting confused reading all this. My fabric is on the cutting mat, say I want a 3" strip, I place my ruler on the fabric, bottom of ruler on3" and top of ruler on 3", I always place my ruler on the left side of that 3" line not directly on the 3" line, my question is where on the 3" line should I place the ruler? left, directly on or covering the line. I've confused myself and probably you.

I was always told to be sure 3" line is ON the fabric not butted up to the fabric....it makes a difference

I don't understand what your saying, 3" line is on the fabric. My fabric is on the cutting mat and I'm putting my long ruler on top of the fabric. Could you explain it a different way. Thanks

will try...lets see...you lay your fabric on the mat, you need a 3" cut. lay ruler on the left of fabric, line up 3" line. make sure 3" line is on the fabric, not butted up to fabric. cut fabric...you should have perfect 3" strip. right? clear as mud

Linda is right, you want the line to be exactly on the edge of the fabric and not butted up against it. Even just a smidge over or under the line will add up when you are making blocks and it will really make a difference across the length and width of an entire quilt.

...Hmmm, can you take a picture of how you place your ruler on your fabric? That will allow us to see what you mean without continuing to confuse each other. ;)

I took a picture with a raggy piece of fabric hoping it will show up, hope so....

Line on edge of fabric is confusing me. 1st picture I have ruler just left of 5" line, 2nd picture I have ruler where you can see line thru ruler. Hope you can tell from these pictures. Are we talking about the same thing? Won't where I place my ruler on that line make a difference in size of block? I'm new to all this and sometimes I just don't understand. Thanks

did something wrong, only got one picture

ok got it, the 2nd picture is actually the first that I was talking about. Sorry about that.

You actually want your center line on the ruler to run through the very edge of your fabric. In picture #1 it looks like it is too far to the left and in picture #2 it looks too far to the right to me. ...maybe I should go take a picture and see if I can explain...

Okay, hope this works. I had to use a flash and the ruler really didn't like that. In the first photo I took, the line on the ruler is just to the outside of the fabric line. In the second photo it is just inside the edge of the fabric. The third photo I have the ruler line directly on the edge of the fabric. I know it doesn't look like much of a difference but it can really add up quickly.

I must really be slow because I don't have a clue what your doing. The ruler covers all your fabric, where is the strip that your cutting? In my photo I'm cutting a 5" strip, my ruler is on the 5" mark and I'm making my cut on the right along the ruler. My question is where should you place your ruler, to the left of the 5"mark as in the first picture of covering the 5" line as in the second picture. Are we talking about the same thing?

I'm looking at the fabric edge on the right hand side. If looking at the fabric from the left hand side, it's the center picture that would be correct. The black line of the ruler should be exactly along the edge of the fabric, not butted up to it or just in front of it.

Someone help. I don't feel as if I'm explaining this very well.

Why am I not getting this? I'm not going by any lines on my ruler, I'm lining my ruler up with the 5" line on my cutting mat and I cut up along the side of ruler. When you say edge of fabric, to me there is no edge at that spot its in the middle of piece of fabric, the edge is at the beginning or end. I'm missing something here. Look at the 5" mark on cutting mat and look at where I placed my ruler and tell me where I should line up the ruler, right on the 5" mark or at the left of right of 5" line, where you place it has to make a difference in the size of your cut. In your photo there is no fabric to the right of ruler to cut off. Thank you for trying to help me understand this.

Ah ha! I would Never use the lines on my cutting mat and it may be where the confusion lies. I used to and my blocks never came out right. Then I took a class and the instructor caught me using the lines on my mat and took me to task for it. The lines on the ruler are precision set by instruments that are made to be accurate. The lines on your mat are not. I measured my mat and was shocked to discover that across the entire mat it was off by almost 2 inches! :shock: Not all mats are off by that much but none of them are precise and they are not made in the factory to be exactly precise. Not only that but the lines on the cutting mat are a bit thick and you can get your fabric exactly on the line and still have it off. My suggestion would be to measure your mat and if you are determined to use it, make sure the lines on it are not off too far.

your explaining fine, the middle photo is the correct placement....some are looking at the left ruler line LOL

I see people use the mat ruler all the time and just cringe. They complain nothing comes out right duh!...I saw a woman in a class cut all her blocks this way and had to start all over. She cut a 2" strip and layed it next to my 2" strip and was amazed...hers was actually short by probably 1/16" look what that would do to a block

Sadly, I know exactly what that will do to a block, and to an entire quilt! :roll: Maybe that's why so many of my earlier quilts ended up as UFOs. (At least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)

I always use a scant inch and when I cut the fabric I usually cut just a hair over the line on the ruler. I measure as I go along. Not to say there haven't been some odd sizes!!! But not often enough for me to go nuts. Had a teacher once who told us in class don't worry about a little off " you can always fudge it". Needless to say I am not a big "fudger". Hate to see those gathers and 1/2 inch is a lot of "fudging". I just "unsew" if the measurement is wrong...

I'm not a big fudger either.

Thank you ladies for being so patient and trying to help me understand what you were talking about. The people on this board are just great with everyone trying to help. I guess I need to move my ruler so that it is right on the line.

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to this question. It's been a busy deployment time and sewing time.

I found the pattern on Quilters Cache. I love it and am planning a quilt with this block soon. I love the contrast.
Hugs

I use my ruler to cut also, the mat is only a safety measure for the table top. I try to get my fabric to show just barely under the line. I don't want it to be way to big, nor too small. Ruler consistancy is important, too. If I begin the cuts with a narrow 2 inch ruler, I use that one throughout the cutting.

I was gratified that the LQS owner and master teacher both had the same problem with that block. That gave me back a bit of my confidence. Going to be taking a refresher math course soon, I get myself twisted in knots with trying to remember all my math. sheesh

Thanks to all of you for commiserating with me and trying to help me find an answer. I'm blaming the gremlins. The gal that won the blocks loved it and that is the important thing, I guess.