I'm getting discouraged! I have been working on the border of the quilt below. Yes, it's the same baby clothes quilt I started ages ago. I had to get more clothing from the little girl's mother for border fabric (the "main" border will be scrappy/piano key.) This meant a lot of stabilizing of the knit fabric!! So, slow going.

So, here is my problem. I made a foundation strip of muslin for the border. I have my "piano keys" cut. My main issue is that when sewing my pieces onto the muslin strip, I can't see the guides that keep my stitching straight! So, there has been quite a bit of ripping. I guess maybe I should get a ruler and mark EVERY strip back at 1/4"? I suppose that's what I should do until I can sew straight, but ugh...

I guess I just needed to vent frustrations!

Also frustrated that my trusty seam ripper is missing!! Now I know it to be my most used tool. Fortunately I have some tiny, very sharp scissors, but I hope the ripper turns up! I may have to make it into a necklace! Lol.

Instead of using the machine bed for your guiding line, how about marking your presser foot for 1/4" seam? Line up that mark with the edges of your strips when you sew. That would keep your sewing lines straight.

p.s. That is a beautiful quilt top!

You can take a stack of Post-it notes and stick them to your machine bed so that when the fabric is under your presser foot, it will lay at precisely 1/4". Your fabric feeds right next to the Post-it notes and they keep you feeding in a straight line.

I used to do this a lot. I think a little pile of about 20 post-its works fine.

Would it be easier to do the border without a foundation? I recently did a top with a piano key type border and I just sewed the pieces together.

I cannot figure out why you can't sew 1/4" seam on the foundation. I need a picture. That's just how my brain works. LOL. I know someone here has the solution for you.

The only reason I can think of is if her marker for 1/4" seams is on her machine bed. Because then it would be covered up by the foundation.

Have you throught about getting 1/4 foot for your machine. They work great. they have them for most machine

I recently did a piano key border with out a foundation. After you finish sew around the whole quilt about an eighth to a fourth of an inch in. This will keep all the seams from coming apart as you handle the quilt top.

That is so Beautiful and very cute!!! :mrgreen: :XD: :thumbup:

I haven't pieced without a 1/4" since I started quilting. I guess I forgot about looking at the faceplate markings.

I am going to look for a 1/4 foot! Yes, Gale is right...the fabric strip covers up the plate whichever way I turn it. And I discovered the hard way that I need the foundation strip! I did try sewing the first pieces together and the result was...not good. Rip!! So, the muslin strip helps though it's in the way! I think these fabrics, being knit, and even though they are stabilized are stretchier than starched cotton.

I don't want to ever touch knit fabric again after this quilt!!

This will be an adorable quilt when you get it finished even with the problems you've had!

Ah knit fabric. That explains a lot. I think if I made one with knits (which I will be-ds wants a tshirt quilt for his bed) I would use a lightweight fusible interfacing on the back.

If your keys are cut to size, and you have the first one on, it shouldn't be hard to sew the next one down. Just line the edge up and use a consistent seam allowance. It doesn't need to be perfect. Nobody will measure if the keys are identical.

sounds like you could use the arm that fits into a walking foot to enable you to space your seams evenly...do you have one of those? it's a weird looking "L" shaped piece of metal that fits in to the back of the walking foot and slides side to side to set the distance from the previous seam.

Thanks, everyone. Yes, Gale, every little piece has fusible interfacing--another fun step!!

You have done a wonderful job!!! Its going to be worth all the trouble its been.

In spite of all the problems this quilt has given you it is sure cute. I can't wait to see it with the borders.

Thank you! I was fussing, but I'm enjoying it!