Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
Will I ever get better at matching seams? >

Will I ever get better at matching seams?

Will I ever get better at matching seams?

Old 01-11-2013, 09:45 AM
  #71  
Super Member
 
Mariah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Pittsburg, Kansas
Posts: 1,691
Default

It takes a lonnnnnnnnnnnng time to get good at everything about quilting. Do you have a guild in your area? That helped me more than anything except the qb. Guild is a big help because you can talk with other members who maybe are suffering the same problems as you. Maybe find one who is further along, and she will help you.
One thing I learned on the board that helped me on matching seams was this; lightly bast the seams together before sewing. Then the drops of school glue came along, and haven't had a chance to try it. Looks like a workable alternative to me. Good luck!
Mariah
Mariah is offline  
Old 01-12-2013, 10:34 AM
  #72  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 23
Default

Originally Posted by Mariah View Post
It takes a lonnnnnnnnnnnng time to get good at everything about quilting. Do you have a guild in your area? That helped me more than anything except the qb. Guild is a big help because you can talk with other members who maybe are suffering the same problems as you. Maybe find one who is further along, and she will help you.
One thing I learned on the board that helped me on matching seams was this; lightly bast the seams together before sewing. Then the drops of school glue came along, and haven't had a chance to try it. Looks like a workable alternative to me. Good luck!
Mariah
There are several guilds in the surrounding area, but they are all at least 40 miles away. I wish I knew of one in my small town. I've just been reading a lot and watching videos. I'll keep trying and just learn to accept my mistakes as part of the learning process.
pinkyrue01 is offline  
Old 01-12-2013, 12:26 PM
  #73  
Senior Member
 
Spudgm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 329
Default

Here is a video that shows how to nest your seams. Nesting Seams
Spudgm is offline  
Old 01-12-2013, 01:48 PM
  #74  
Senior Member
 
MissSongbird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 334
Default

It does get better over time in my opinion. Being a still relatively new quilter (even though it's has been 5 years) I have seen it get better for me over the years. Because, ultimately, you get better at cutting, get better at having correct seam allowances, and then you have an easier time matching up the seams. It's just something you practice with each quilt you make and the next thing you know everything looks much better!
MissSongbird is offline  
Old 01-12-2013, 04:03 PM
  #75  
Senior Member
 
Michellesews's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: El Paso Texas
Posts: 987
Default

Accurate cutting is a must. Accurate seam allowance a must. Opposing seams pressed a must. For me, using a stiletto (Brass for me) is a must. And practice does help a lot...don't give up!
Michellesews is offline  
Old 01-12-2013, 05:04 PM
  #76  
Senior Member
 
SittingPretty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: East Central Wisconsin
Posts: 679
Default

The glue does work, but another trick is to watch which side is "longer" and put that on the bottom. The feed dogs work to help even it all up. Sometimes it could mean switching sides from intersection to intersection, but it you do it when first sewing 2 blocks together, it could go a long way in making the seams more even. Clear as mud?
SittingPretty is offline  
Old 01-13-2013, 06:11 PM
  #77  
Senior Member
 
captlynhall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: League City, Texas, USA
Posts: 625
Default

Originally Posted by pinkyrue01 View Post
Hi everyone! I'm a beginner but I've been trying to quilt for the last 6 months. Will I ever get better at matching seams? I watch a lot of tutorials and they just speed on through rows and everything looks great. Even if I go super slow my seams don't ever seem to match. Is this just something I'll get with practice?
On my first quilt, the seams did not match up very good. Then, I took a beginners quilt class, and the hands on experience made all the difference. Now my seams line up very well. Maybe not perfect all the time, but the difference is obvious. So I would suggest, if you can, to take a class. By the way, the tutorials are great and I have learned so much from them, but nothing quite matches up to a good teacher in a class room environment.
captlynhall is offline  
Old 01-24-2013, 07:07 AM
  #78  
Member
 
umademesew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 7
Default

I feel your pain! This is why I choose a lot of scrappy type patterns. I had a lot of problems with matching seams, too. You have received great advise. A couple of things that have helped me is to stitch at the seams. That's right. Don't take on the long seam, first stitch at every seam intersection. Then, you can sew the long seam. The other thing that helped me was to make sure my fabric is going in opposite directions. By this I mean that if your top fabric seam is facing towards your machine, the bottom fabric seam is facing away from it. This helps to match the seams. Several of the top quilters taught me to do it this way.
Good luck with your future quilts. I look forward to seeing what you do.
umademesew is offline  
Old 01-24-2013, 07:13 AM
  #79  
Senior Member
 
bunniequilter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Buried Under My Stash up in Canada!
Posts: 545
Default

practice and patience, and did I mention practice?
bunniequilter is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
quiltnchik
Main
107
05-15-2011 06:10 PM
Blinky
Main
10
11-20-2010 02:57 PM
sewcrazygirl
Main
32
08-25-2010 10:41 AM
stefanib123
Main
88
08-06-2010 02:36 PM
sondray
Links and Resources
0
07-16-2009 03:58 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter