sewingpup

I agree, some machines stretch things on the bias when they stitch....so test sew on the biases before starting a project with a lot of bias edges....I think sometimes adjusting the foot presser, the thread tension or stitch length can help with it. If you have a serger that has a differential feed adjustment knob, you can see that in action...you can just turn that knob to get gather or to get ruffled edges ...amazing...but alas...not so good on a sewing machine. I love my Viking D1 as it usually gives me great seams on biased edges and I think it has something to do with that "hover" function where my presser foot raises just a bit between stiches...allowing the fabric to relax a bit between stiches

Thrifty Magpie

I think that there are some definite things that quilters need to understand about handling fabric with bias edges before making blocks that will have bias edges. 1) know that the stretch can be an advantage or disadvantage and handle very carefully;2) starching before cutting makes a huge difference, because it stabilizes the fabric; 3) aggressive ironing will distort your blocks. Press carefully; to get nice, flat blocks, press on a terrycloth towel. You can GENTLY manipulate the fabric (lightly mist with water if needed) to get the blocks square when pressing. 4) well-pressed blocks will assemble into a nice, square quilt and make the job easier in the long run. I would not recommend making any projects with bias edges to new quilters because I think it’s better to learn the bascs before adding the extra challenge of something that is tricky.

SuzzyQ

Oops! I had my 4-H quilt club members make disappearing pinwheel blocks for a group quilt as an achievement exercise. Interestingly enough, most the the blocks they have turned in are quite acceptable. When I join the quilted blocks I'll post a picture. So far I've had to "fix" only two of the blocks. I think the quilt will be quite acceptable.

gale

I don't want to have to be that careful. Takes the fun out of it for me.

grennan

I'm also from the clothes sewing world. One real help, at least for me, was/is the Curvemaster foot. It does 1/4 curved seams and it doesn't matter which way they curve or if they even do. The first I used it was on two bias edges that I'd tried and ripped three or four times and no matter how I pinned, clipped, taped or pasted it still didn't come out evenly, they were part of a larger assembly and beginning to lose the ends. I was on the verge of basting it by hand (run shrieking!)

The curvemaster arrived in the mail, I put it on, dared it to be right about not needing to pin or clip the fabric, and less than 15 minutes later, presto! I immediately went to the computer and ordered the 5/8" one. They take a bit to get the hang of (too easy?) but you can move the fabric from the right side to the left side as you sew.

audsgirl

This was my problem, too, Doggramma. I thought I was being careful, but it doesn't take much to pull edges out of alignment.

Leslie

sewingsuz

This reminds me from years ago, I tried to cut some corduroy out of a piece of clothing and make something else and it was a mess.