Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
Help With HST and Squares! >

Help With HST and Squares!

Help With HST and Squares!

Old 03-18-2012, 09:39 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 69
Default Help With HST and Squares!

I am doing the Bunny Patch from Quiltmaker March/April '12. I did the HST's as it suggested in the magazine, with the 1/4" stitch that my machine has.

The HST's it starts with 2 5/8 squares, and the squares I'm joining the HST's to are 2 1/4. But it seems when I join the HST's and the squares that the squares are slightly smaller than the HST's.

Could it be a problem with the pattern? Or maybe my technique? How should I go about compensating for the different width squares when sewing rows/strips together?
ammorgan is offline  
Old 03-18-2012, 10:11 PM
  #2  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
Default

How are you sewing your HSTs? It isn't clear from what you wrote. Did you start the HSTs from the 2 5/8" square? Do you end up with one HST from that square? I can't see how you end up with a 2 1/4" HST from that measurement without trimming.
MadQuilter is offline  
Old 03-18-2012, 10:13 PM
  #3  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 69
Default

Ah sorry, forgot to mention how I sewed them! Took one of the 2 5/8 squares, drew a diagonal line on the back, then stitched 1/4 in from the diagonal line then cut on the diagonal line
ammorgan is offline  
Old 03-18-2012, 11:07 PM
  #4  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,586
Default

What size is your square?

Duh, never mind I see you said 2 1/4. If you cut your square 3 1/8", draw a diagonal line, sew 1/4" on either side of the line, then cut on the diagonal line, you will end up with 2 hst's that are 2 1/4"

Last edited by virtualbernie; 03-18-2012 at 11:11 PM.
virtualbernie is offline  
Old 03-19-2012, 12:01 AM
  #5  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 69
Default

Only problem with that is I've already cut all the fabric and started sewing it together already.
ammorgan is offline  
Old 03-19-2012, 12:10 AM
  #6  
QM
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Northern California mountains
Posts: 12,538
Default

The formula for HSTs is add 7/8" to the finished size you want for cutting the squares. I cut mine at 1" over to give a little space for corrections and trimming. Some prefer 1 1/4". I bet your pattern has a typo, unfortunately, not uncommon. So, on the quilt I just started, I want 4" (finished) HST units, so I cut 5" squares. I will trim to 4.5" for 4" units in the finished quilt.
QM is offline  
Old 03-19-2012, 02:09 AM
  #7  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Small town south of Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 1,692
Default

I agree with the others that you need to start with larger HSTs, but, since you have already cut all the fabric, trying truing up your HSTs to 2 1/4". I'm having the same problem right now, using Terry Akison's quick strip method for HST and some are way off base. I finally figured out that I have to trim them down to 2" and although I still have to compensate a few of them, it is working. I hope this makes sense to you. I do know one thing for sure, I won't be using that methoid again and I will go up to the next inch (ie 2 5/8 will be 3" ) and trim them to the size needed.
quilterella is offline  
Old 03-19-2012, 03:56 AM
  #8  
Super Member
 
moreland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Posts: 2,160
Default

Originally Posted by ammorgan View Post
Only problem with that is I've already cut all the fabric and started sewing it together already.
I think your only solution now is to backtrack and trim the larger blocks to be the same size as the smaller blocks. It is tedious but you'll be glad you did it, in the end.
moreland is offline  
Old 03-19-2012, 05:12 AM
  #9  
Power Poster
 
dunster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,133
Default

If you mean that your squares are cut to 2 1/4" (unfinished size) then that means they're 1 3/4" finished. To make HST's that finish at 1 3/4" you would add 7/8", meaning that you would cut the squares for HSTs at 2 5/8", just as your pattern says. If your HSTs are coming out larger then they should be trimmed. But you didn't say how much larger they are - if it's just a smidgeon then you're doing them right and you'll just be trimming a thread or two. Usually people have the opposite problem and their HSTs are too small. I would start measuring the HSTs and the squares and see if the squares are cut to the right size too. Both should be measuring 2 1/4" before you join them. It's much better to trim them before sewing them together, provided you can trim to the correct size for the pattern. Of course if your pattern only has these HSTs and squares, then you can make them any size and it will come out right, just not the same size as the pattern.
dunster is offline  
Old 03-19-2012, 09:23 AM
  #10  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
Default

Dunster is spot-on. Prepping the pieces to be the same size makes assembly sooooo much easier. I always cut my HST squares oversize and trim them to the correct size. It is worth it to me. Sounds like you need to trim the regular squares instead. A little annoying but you'll still have a usable batch.
MadQuilter is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Boston1954
Main
22
02-10-2018 01:28 PM
Jupitermap
Main
16
02-09-2018 02:42 PM
leatheflea
Links and Resources
42
12-18-2012 12:25 PM
Lakelady
Main
3
11-04-2011 04:27 PM
henryparrish76
Pictures
46
01-12-2010 07:25 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