Why I Hate Piecing
07-27-2011, 06:21 AM
#31
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,407
You can always try Rhonda's cut down methods for very small units.
That MSQC (or whatever) method of making HSTs always seemed wonky to me - at best.
I tried it - once - and have vowed to never do it that way again.
That MSQC (or whatever) method of making HSTs always seemed wonky to me - at best.
I tried it - once - and have vowed to never do it that way again.
07-27-2011, 06:27 AM
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Clay Springs AZ
Posts: 3,229
El Burns method makes 8 HST at a time and only one cut to square up with her ruler.
Always perfect and no bias edges.
The ruler makes it so simple to square up with one cut.
I tried different methods but this one is by far the best.
With the ruler, that you can get at JOanns with a coupon, you can make any size up to 6 1/2 inch.
The trick is you square up without opening the triangle by setting the line on the stitch line and making one cut. It is ingenious.
I like making HST now and make alot of them very quickly.
Always perfect and no bias edges.
The ruler makes it so simple to square up with one cut.
I tried different methods but this one is by far the best.
With the ruler, that you can get at JOanns with a coupon, you can make any size up to 6 1/2 inch.
The trick is you square up without opening the triangle by setting the line on the stitch line and making one cut. It is ingenious.
I like making HST now and make alot of them very quickly.
07-27-2011, 06:36 AM
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DC metro area
Posts: 1,286
I always pin my intersections so they are correct.
My 1/4" seam isn't so accurate-I tend to use the edge of the presser foot as my guide. If I try to sew a block on 2 different machines I'm in big trouble.
But anyway, I pin my intersections so they are good. When I sew the block together I tend to have to trim it and hey, you know it's supposed to be a 6.5" block, but it's going to be a 6" block and I just trim everything so it matches.
You may want to play with patterns for awhile that don't have seams you have to match. Like a lasagna quilt or this one: http://quiltville.com/crayonboxpf.html Just to get the enjoyment back and then practice on small projects for awhile. A lot of time it just requires a little patience and allow yourself to take your time.
On the other hand, I envy you the ability to paper piece. I've looked at it online and just cringe thinking it looks so hard.
Do what you enjoy and find a quilting buddy to help you put your blocks together.
My 1/4" seam isn't so accurate-I tend to use the edge of the presser foot as my guide. If I try to sew a block on 2 different machines I'm in big trouble.
But anyway, I pin my intersections so they are good. When I sew the block together I tend to have to trim it and hey, you know it's supposed to be a 6.5" block, but it's going to be a 6" block and I just trim everything so it matches.
You may want to play with patterns for awhile that don't have seams you have to match. Like a lasagna quilt or this one: http://quiltville.com/crayonboxpf.html Just to get the enjoyment back and then practice on small projects for awhile. A lot of time it just requires a little patience and allow yourself to take your time.
On the other hand, I envy you the ability to paper piece. I've looked at it online and just cringe thinking it looks so hard.
Do what you enjoy and find a quilting buddy to help you put your blocks together.
07-27-2011, 06:42 AM
#34
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,688
I always make HST using larger squares figuring I can always trim. Since I had done a lot of sewing, I knew how to handle bias (think A-line skirts, etc). However, I prefer not to handle bias on the outside of a block -- especially since I can't finish piecing a quilt at one sitting and I sometimes forget I am handling bias edges and then I am in trouble (sigh). If you do have to work with bias edges -- as a lot of folks have said -- STARCH!!!!
Before I start sewing, I always double check my 1/4" seam -- different fabrics take up different amounts of fabric when the seams are pressed (some fabrics are thicker than others -- and not just flannels). I always measure the first pieced block and adjust accordingly -- as was mentioned earlier, being off by just a bit every time a seam is sewn can result in being off by a lot. Here is some math to think about -- if a seam is off by 1/32" on every seam then after 8 seams the block can be off by 1/4". If you measure as you do the first block, you know where things go off and you can be more careful there.
Another thing that can send a block off is when you press the seams -- if you are not real careful you may wind up with a fold instead of a press seam -- this can be as much as 1/8" (ask me how I know). Talk about throwing a block off!!
I think I have made about every mistake possible piecing -- sometimes more than once but then I think I may be a slow learner.
Before I start sewing, I always double check my 1/4" seam -- different fabrics take up different amounts of fabric when the seams are pressed (some fabrics are thicker than others -- and not just flannels). I always measure the first pieced block and adjust accordingly -- as was mentioned earlier, being off by just a bit every time a seam is sewn can result in being off by a lot. Here is some math to think about -- if a seam is off by 1/32" on every seam then after 8 seams the block can be off by 1/4". If you measure as you do the first block, you know where things go off and you can be more careful there.
Another thing that can send a block off is when you press the seams -- if you are not real careful you may wind up with a fold instead of a press seam -- this can be as much as 1/8" (ask me how I know). Talk about throwing a block off!!
I think I have made about every mistake possible piecing -- sometimes more than once but then I think I may be a slow learner.
07-27-2011, 06:45 AM
#35
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: NE Nebraska
Posts: 188
A teacher once told us that even being off 1 thread across a quilt with many seams, can distort your finished product several inches. Might be a good idea to work on accurate cutting first, then work to have all 1/4" seams. One half inch seam is waaaay too off to even try to work with! And...some fabric stretches, also, so be aware of that. Try using a good spray product to set your fabric, that might help,too! If given to charities, people who need the warmth don't care about those things. Nothing ever has to be wasted!
07-27-2011, 08:03 AM
#36
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
Originally Posted by Rose Marie
El Burns method ...The trick is you square up without opening the triangle by setting the line on the stitch line and making one cut. It is ingenious.
...
...
07-27-2011, 10:11 AM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,601
Originally Posted by margie77072
I have had it. I tried one more, no let's correct that, twice more to do piecing. I am working on a baby quilt made up of rectangles. It took only 6 FQ's and looks easy. Well, I put it together and some of my columns are off by 1/2". How'd that happen? I cut carefully. I checked and double checked my 1/4" seams. And still, I'm off. Okay 1/2" on a couple of seams no biggie. It was easy to fix, I think. I'll know for sure when I get the backing on it.
Then, I thought, let's try one of those quick to do blocks, pinwheels, to be exact. I decided to use the MSQC (or whatever) method of sewing completely around a set of squares and then cutting twice on the diagonal. Seems simply enough. I had some solids and some striped 5" squares and decided to use them. I knew the square was going to be a bit smaller and was prepared for that. What I wasn't prepared for was that I'd end up with two different size HST's within each square. You know, if you cut diagonally you end up with 4 HST's. Simple, right. Hardly!
Thanks for letting me rant. I feel better. Back to my "simple" quilts. I think I'll stick to paper-piecing after this. Oh no! I'll eventually have to put those squares into a quilt....LOL
Then, I thought, let's try one of those quick to do blocks, pinwheels, to be exact. I decided to use the MSQC (or whatever) method of sewing completely around a set of squares and then cutting twice on the diagonal. Seems simply enough. I had some solids and some striped 5" squares and decided to use them. I knew the square was going to be a bit smaller and was prepared for that. What I wasn't prepared for was that I'd end up with two different size HST's within each square. You know, if you cut diagonally you end up with 4 HST's. Simple, right. Hardly!
Thanks for letting me rant. I feel better. Back to my "simple" quilts. I think I'll stick to paper-piecing after this. Oh no! I'll eventually have to put those squares into a quilt....LOL
07-27-2011, 11:19 AM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Johns Creek, GA
Posts: 321
Oh, I'm so glad to know that I'm not alone. No matter how carefully I cut and sew, I'm always off somewhere and I can never figure where I got off. I remember my first teacher warned us that if you were off one-two threads on each cut, it could make you off by an inch or more and so I've tried to remember that and usually try to sew the scant 1/4" seam to compensate. But like you, it never turns out exactly right. Just remember: "Who can tell the difference on a galloping horse."
07-27-2011, 11:28 AM
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Newport News, VA
Posts: 1,991
Margie, I'm sorry because I had to laugh a little at your post because I do piece quilting, that's all I've ever done so I am quite used to it. 1st off, all your seams do have to be 1/4", that was a fixable problem, and even after that you have to "square" your squares. Squaring your squares is not wise to do until after you finish all squares 1st (found this out the hard way) because then you take the smallest square and make the rest the same size as that one. It does take a lot of work but I have always enjoyed it so when I tried paper piecing when I joined this board, I thought to myself, "OMG! I have been doing it the hard way!" LOL I like PP too, now! I always believe in sticking to what you know! If it ain't broke, don't fix it! :thumbup:
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