Need advice on sewing quilt panels
#1
Need advice on sewing quilt panels
I'm currently working on a Hungry Caterpillar quilt for my daughter. According to the instructions, I'm supposed to cut two huge quilt panels measuring 20 1/2" by 20 1/2". However I realised that the quilt panel itself is not a perfect square and no matter how I tried to square it to 20 1/2" by 20 1/2", it would end up loop-sided. The corners of the panel are not perpendicular, if you know what I mean. Hence, I've cut it slightly larger than 20 1/2" by 20 1/2" to include the green borders around it. Even then, I'm unable to get a perfect square and had to cut with the green borders parallel to the white panel.
Now that I'm ready to piece the quilt together, I'm worried about how the quilt may end up. When I refer to the pattern of the quilt, the green borders don't appear at all. How should I trim the panel, in order to get a perfect 20 1/2" by 20 1/2" square? And sew the border to the panel so the green borders don't appear?
Any advice here will be much appreciated!
Now that I'm ready to piece the quilt together, I'm worried about how the quilt may end up. When I refer to the pattern of the quilt, the green borders don't appear at all. How should I trim the panel, in order to get a perfect 20 1/2" by 20 1/2" square? And sew the border to the panel so the green borders don't appear?
Any advice here will be much appreciated!
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
if you like the green border keep it- if you don't like it then cut it off- it looks as if you have room around the catapiller to cut a square- don't try to line up with edges/frame- find the center of the block and measure from the center to cut your square...and just an FYI---seldom are panals square- they always seem to be a bit (off) because of the printing process--manufacturing- after you use a few of them you get used to (fudging) cutting them to fit your needs
#3
if you like the green border keep it- if you don't like it then cut it off- it looks as if you have room around the catapiller to cut a square- don't try to line up with edges/frame- find the center of the block and measure from the center to cut your square...and just an FYI---seldom are panals square- they always seem to be a bit (off) because of the printing process--manufacturing- after you use a few of them you get used to (fudging) cutting them to fit your needs
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Small town south of Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 1,692
It shouldn't be an issue at all. If I'm reading your post right, you do not need the green border on the square, so cut it square (without the green borders), and then add the border you want, making it 20 1/2". So if you square it up to 18 inches, add a 1 1/2 border to all sides and you will end up with the 20 1/2" block you neeed. It is such a cute panel, I can hardly wait to see how you finish it. Happy Quilting.
#5
It shouldn't be an issue at all. If I'm reading your post right, you do not need the green border on the square, so cut it square (without the green borders), and then add the border you want, making it 20 1/2". So if you square it up to 18 inches, add a 1 1/2 border to all sides and you will end up with the 20 1/2" block you neeed. It is such a cute panel, I can hardly wait to see how you finish it. Happy Quilting.
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,538
I hate it when a panel is off center!!! I think I would cut the white square and find a fabric in green that matches the rest of the quilt and sew on an oversized green border. I would then cut it to the size needed. If you don't have the same size blocks as the pattern suggests than all the other block measurements will need to be changed too.
#7
I hate it when a panel is off center!!! I think I would cut the white square and find a fabric in green that matches the rest of the quilt and sew on an oversized green border. I would then cut it to the size needed. If you don't have the same size blocks as the pattern suggests than all the other block measurements will need to be changed too.
#8
Thanks to all once again for your great advice! I've squared the panel and sewed the borders just a while ago. Then trimmed the block to 24 1/2" square according to the instructions. Now I have two beautiful panels finishing at a perfect 24 1/2" square! Looking forward to piecing everything else together!
#9
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sturbridge, Ma
Posts: 3,992
i havn't read all the comments but is 20 1/2 an absolute size. Can all the panels be cut to the same square size even if they are not the exact 20 1/2....It appears so. The add any size you might need for finished size in the borders.
I don't think the worm will bite you if he is not the "correct" size the pattern calls for.
I don't think the worm will bite you if he is not the "correct" size the pattern calls for.
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