IceBlossom, Have been using a leader when I start a chain stitch. But when I am first joining two block only, I never have. Guess i should do it all the time..

I will see if the leader solves the problem If not, then I will have to go against the automatic tension that the computer does.

It's habit and I use a leader now at the start of everything (even if I'm doing a rare garment project), except if I'm sewing two strips together of uneven length, then I'll start on the long end of the bottom piece.

I chain everything I can as much as possible, and start with those leaders for the last 10 years because I feel it does help my accuracy -- some people also use enders but that hasn't been so much of an issue for me. Strips or pieces into sub-units, sub-units into blocks, blocks into rows... I prefer to do all of one set at a time, that is, if I have to make 1000 HST, I make all of them before moving on to the next step. It gives me consistency which is a good thing -- but not if I make 1000 mistakes. Then you learn to correct those or turn them into something "not so planned". With scrappier projects I can't always do that but I try to at least do 4 sets of things at a time.

Keep in mind when you are sub-cutting strips that your stitch size should be on the small size so that too much doesn't come apart when you cut it.

I have quilted a king sized quilt on my domestic machine. Never again. Probably. To state the obvious, the middle was difficult to maneuver. I used SID and just went slow and concentrated on what needed to be under the needle. Also, it was hot with all that quilt in my lap all the time.

AAshley, Now that I've had a chance to maneuver this 35 block top, I can understand what you are saying. It's very difficult. If not tor pinning everything, and rolling up things where I could, it would have been real fun.

I have another picture of the blocks joined with sashing. Never done this before, but I think it helps when each of your blocks is a little different size, especially the first blocks I created. I got much better the more made. Laying out all of the blocks and trying to sort them not only by colour, but size helped me get everything put together mostly in a rectangular way. I had to do a little creative adjustments while pinning things together in order to adjust for that little 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch difference in length between adjoining block rows.

I'm sure the colour arrangement isn't to Everyone's taste, but like I said, I had to use whatever I had on hand to create this. For my first big front, I am pretty happy. Only have a few puckers here and there.

I've gotten a bit more done on the quilt top. I'm calling this Stars and Bars. I just thought it needed something more on the edges. Now all I have to do is put head and foot sashing on, and it will be ready to put together for quilting.

CaleyH- The quilting process is a progressive learning experience, and iwe all can learn something every day. Keep at it,

I don't want to pick on your block, so please take this a constructive. I don't know the sewing sequence you used in sewing your HSTs, But if you look at the two on the right, the reason the points don't match exactly is a simple problem with the seam allowance. A little wider one on the bottom HST will bring the points closer.

I always look at the back and ensure the seam allowances are equal widths.

OMQ, Thanks. I've been at this a little over two months. Really never sewed anything before, except for repairing seams by hand.

I am learning slowly but surely. My biggest problem is that I am close to the 1/4 inch seam, but I still tend to wander a few 32nds here and there.

Because those seams vary a bit on each square, I tend to be a little smaller on my 12 inch squares, and that means that occasionally I lose a point here and there. No biggie. The 12 inch squares are also, occasionally a little lop sided. I used to try to make them perfectly square, but that cause me to lose a little of the 1/4 inch allowance for when i then attached another square or strip. I now don't worry about a tiny lop sided square. I just put things together, and have to be happy with what I come up with.

Regardless, I am not looking for perfection. I want to enjoy what I am doing. I figure that over the months and years, I will improve on how I do things.

I no longer have to be a perfectionist like when I was in the military, or doing a civilian job. I just try to do as well as I can, and in the process, have fun, regardless of the tiny imperfections.

Thanks

Caley

Finally got the last of the bars attached. I put squares in the corners. Seems the quilt top is a tad lop sided. So I had to do some creative adjusting to get it all together.

Maybe one of these years, I will be able to sew blocks without being off that fraction of an inch. All those fractions add up when it comes down to a complete quilt top

The perfect seam allowance is something we all work at, pretty much all the time. We each have to find what works for us and there are many solutions. The big thing I think is consistency, some times you are going to run a little big or a little scant, or maybe your machine makes that decision for you, but you learn to work with what you have.

I prefer to press open, I feel I get more exact matches, but I also have to pin the heck out of everything. I also am a fiend on prewashing and pressing. So much pressing and I frankly,dislike ironing for the most part. I have friends who press to the side if they press at all and never prewash (ok, usually I can tell -- but sometimes they get tremendous results) I like to do all of one step at a time, so if I have to make 1000 HST for the top, that is what I do. Other people go block by block. I used to be all about being very very precise, gave that up and the last ten years I've been riding on the cut/sew large/trim down for accuracy bus. It may be a fun and fast bus, but there is still a lot to be learned on just how to do that.

I have and use a lot of tools and gadgets to help me, but I did a lot back in the day without more than basic supplies like folded paper, plates (and cans for circles), and string and a straight edge.

Fabric can be treacherous, it wants to move and shift and stretch. We want it to do what we tell it to do. It's like the joke about the mule, sometimes we have to get the fabric's attention!

You are doing extremely well for just starting.

from Don-isewman
 

Looks very very nice And your points at joining is very precise

Update; I've beem very slow with finishing my quilt. Had to almost stop due to severe allergies. I get to the point where people are thinking I'm dying from Covid. No temperature or any other symptoms other than feeling really icky.

I finally got my binding going. Have the back sewed. I watched Melanie Ham's how to do binding, which was in two parts. It's probably most understandable on this subject I've found. Took me three tries to finally figure out how to join the two ends.

Now I just have to finish the front part.

My quilting was a stitch in the ditch effort, though because of the blocks not being exactly 12 1/2 inches square in all of them, I ended up having to just quilt each block as I went. During the process I ended up not getting the thread colour quite right, so I have three blocks that are a bit strange due to the colour not being more subtle.

I did order grass green thread so that at least my border has matching colour thread.

Will post a picture when I finally get things done.

I definitely feel a great deal better today, enough so, that I finished binding, my Stars and Bars quilt. I like the looks, even though there are tons of imperfections due to both my skill level, and lack of knowledge about thread colours and such.

But, here is the finished product, or nearly finished. I may try doing some more quilting, but need to practise on individual squares first.

Very nice indeed!!

Wow! What an accomplishment! It's so pretty! :) Nice work.

I know my blocks were not on point when I made my first quilt. I still struggle at times! Great job on the block!

It looks nice.

I wish you many hours of comfort snuggling under your quilt.

It seems you have learned lots and lots with this project.

bearisgray, The problem where I live is that right now in the last 3rd of November, we are still in the mid 80's during the day, and mid 40's as the low. Still just using a blanket and sheet on the bed. So the quilt is just a bed topper for now.

I'm back at it. I just finished making a boatful of HST's. I had purchased several layer cake packages, and decided to use those, along with what I have in my stash. Having only eight of each colour combination, I just couldn't figure out what I could put together with those limitations.

So I tried what is in the attached picture. The center came out fairly uniform, but as things went out, I had to get creative to try to keep things matched up. On the edges, I just had to use what I had left over.

The results are a blindingly colourful quilt.

I'm back with my completed HST quilt top. I rearranged the blocks again to create one big square in the center, bordered in all four corners with small squares. Some colours are a bit out of range, but then, that's what you get when you are limited to eight HST colour combos.

I think this quilt will only be a wall hanging type. It's about 75 x 75 inches. Each HST is finished 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches, with a border that will be 3 1/2 inches wide when the quilt is finished

WOW!!! All I can say about your quilt just WOW! I've been quilting for years and I wouldn/couldn't make a quilt like that.

misseva, I hope that means you like it. It is kind of brightly coloured. I hope you still can see after viewing the picture. It took me two tries to get the blocks arranged the way I wanted them. Then I had to go back after piecing the long strips together, and redo about 20 of the blocks, as I ended up goofing mostly at the beginning of each strip. Got the first two blocks either out of order, or somehow managed to get them rotated. I still have two blocks that aren't a mirror image of the opposite end, and have decided it isn't worth tearing apart the quilt top to fix that minor problem.

Yes, it does mean I like it - no make that I LOVE it. Bright is my favorite color. And scrappy, I love scrappy. And regarding getting blocks out of order - I use a design wall and I have to first pin the blocks together BEFORE I take them to my machine (while they're still hanging on the wall) and then sometimes I get things turned wrong.

Thanks so much misseva. I won't be quilting this until I receive my Baby Lock Jazz 2. Seems the vendor had a run on them, and I missed out. So I wait until the vendor gets another shipment. I sure look forward to being able to quilt something other than a straight stitch.

You are going to be a star. great work!

With such a great start you will soon be a quilter extraordinaire. Believe me quilting is a terrific hobby.

sewingsuz and bibi, Thank you both so much. Not sure about being a star, or quilter extraordinaire. Piecing things together is fairly easy, though tedious. When it comes to quilting the sandwich, not that's something I still have to learn.