Would you trim?
 

In 2009 I participated in my one and only block swap.....all others have been fabric swaps. This is my last UFO! I assumed that the swap hostess had checked the measurement accuracy of everyone's blocks, so this week I sewed 4 blocks together resulting in (36) 12" blocks.

Tonight I went to square them up and discovered most are "short" by 1/8" in different areas, and none are oversized. :eek:

If it were you, would you go ahead and assemble them into a quilt with all their unevenness (I am keeping this one) or square them up to 11 3/4" or even 11 7/8? I don't mind trimming them and really like accuracy.

THX for your input!

If you prefer accuracy, I think you should trim/square them up---if you won't be cutting off points or other major design elements.

I would check my library for a copy of "Setting Solutions" by Sharyn Craig.
The whole book is dedicated to setting orphan blocks and blocks from swaps that are not exactly all the same size and/or color.

You can get also a used copy on amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157...6906198&sr=1-1

I would probably add sashing to get them to a consistent size before proceeding. Add 1"; 1.5"; 2" sashing and then trim to a consistent size. No one will notice the slivered bits on sashing but might on blocks if points are cut off, etc.

If the blocks are supposed to be 12 inches and are only 1/8 inch short in only one direction - you got a much better than average batch of blocks.

The 1/8 inch offness could be caused by different pressing techniques.

If it is only 1/8 inch short, you could block them to exact size, or simply ease/stretch them to sew them next to each other.

I am not a fan of fudging, but in this case, I would -if only 1/8 inch off in one direction on 12 inch blocks.

I would go with the sashing solution suggested above.

You can block them to correct size. I know one of the well know quilters posted how to do this. Maybe Sharon Shamburger? Goodle resize blocks & see if anything comes up! One of the reasons I stopped doing block swaps even tho they were a lot of fun! My OCD stressed too much! LOL

1/8 in. is not a lot. I would sew them matching the points. Once it is quilted you will not see it.

I would also go with the sashing idea. Cutting off points really bothers me.

....and that is why I stopped participating in swaps. My solution was to cut the blocks into circles and inset them. That way they were all the same size and the quilt came out beautiful. This is an example.

I'd vote for adding sashing. :)

I would border each block and then trim all to one size. I chose 2 different colours to border in my Sylvia blocks and it worked.... these were my own blocks NOT a swap and were all supposed to be 6" finished [ATTACH=CONFIG]514340[/ATTACH]

When I received unwanted blocks from the last guild I belonged to, I would set them on point using oversized triangles and then trim those blocks down to a the same size. Neat idea thimblebug6000.

I forgot to mention that these are Disappearing 9-Patch blocks.

It looks like thimblebug and ManiacQuilter2 have two different suggestions that will work wonderfully. I am going to keep these ideas in mind for the future.

There's also one at Abebooks for 12.72 free shipping.

That's very pretty. How do you inset the blocks?

That's exactly what I was thinking. You can easily stretch/ease 1/8 inch to fit as you sew. I have done it many times.

Since it is only 1/8th off, have you pressed the blocks. Seams on blocks that are not press can old some of the 1/8th.

I know I would not do a sashing to get one or two blocks up a 1/8". By the time I had, I would end up doing them all with no guarantee they would be exact. I would ease that 1/8' in. Once the quilt is completed, you would have an extremely hard time even finding the offensive block.

My preference would be for using sashing. I agree with hairquilt, the blocks in a swap are never remotely the same size and squaring them up can result in losing some of the beautiful work; i.e. a paper pieced block and I'm don't like to tamper with someone else's work. Sashing sets the blocks apart just enough to be beautiful and any small measurement is not noticeable.

Love your suggestion, but what I'm really commenting on is your statement about lemons. Is there any more delightful drink than Creme de Limoncello? I think not.

I agree with House Dragon, I would see if I could trim blocks down to the same size as long as no points were cut off. Adding strips to make the blocks all the same size would help square up your quilt.

In the 80's I did a lot of block swaps. All still in pizza boxes because the sizes are all over the chart. I never do exchanges now although I'd like to with quilters who know their 1/4 inch :)