When is 4.5" not 4.5"?
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,857
There can be a number of reasons - cutting, stitching, ironing (instead of pressing) and sometimes just the mean fabric gods! But, one way to stop any problems is to cut your patches 2 3/4 rather than 2 1/2. Make your 4 patch, press and then trim to 4 1/2. This is a bit wasteful but, when you weigh it against the frustration and ripping out, it is money well spent.
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
if you are using unwashed fabric and then using steam to press the sewn units, that might be one place where you might be getting " off".
i had a 5-inch square shrink to a 4.5 x 5 square once. i washed some hoffman strips that were 2-1/2 before washing and they were 2-3/8 wide after washing.
i had a 5-inch square shrink to a 4.5 x 5 square once. i washed some hoffman strips that were 2-1/2 before washing and they were 2-3/8 wide after washing.
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,664
I agree 100% with Boston1954. Cotton ravels so much I would rather have a full 1/4" seam especially in quilts that are going to be used and washed often. You can always add on a border or two if you feel it is not large enough at the end but if your seams are too narrow and you start to fray you have major concerns. I never seam a scant 1/4" . I have tried and wound up fray checking my seams and that is not an option I want to do again.
#36
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,585
As posted by pocoellie above, why are we demanding perfection -- something we can never obtain. Strive for excellence and be happy with it. Only one man who ever walked this earth was perfect, and they nailed him to a a tree. We are not perfect ourselves -- why would we ever think we can do something "perfect". Just ain't going to happen! Excuse my grammar!
Last edited by Jeanette Frantz; 02-06-2018 at 04:23 PM. Reason: correction
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 5,397
I had this problem when doing small blocks. My teacher recommended Aurifil Thread, its only two ply. She verified my squares were cut right and my seams where correct but especially when you have lots of seams like when I was doing the civil war squares that extra thread adds up. It worked. Plus it has less lint and all cotton which is what I like when doing quilts
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