How do you keep strip quit piecing straight - suggestions?
 

A friend just pieced a strip quilt and it is crooked in the middle. We talked through her process all seems okay with how she pieced it but it still has a slight hour-glass shape in the middle. Over 1/2 inch difference in width at the middle when compared to the top and bottom. An suggestions as to why this happened and how to prevent it? Thanks.

Carla

When I've had this problem, I've usually either not pressed seams correctly or not been as careful as I should have with keeping my 1/4" seams consistent. Usually the later is the biggest problem.

The first thought that came to mind is stretching while sewing, then possibly the pressing (ironed instead of pressing).

I can't believe I'm writing this -

but 1/2 inch variation in the middle is not all that dreadful!

On a Missouri Quilt Co video they said to sew each strip from opposite ends to help keep the lines straight.

I have found by cutting the strips in half aka there is less bowing of the strips. I posted this tidbit awhile back

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...y-t153631.html

Good luck!

When I sew stripes together, I dont start every strip at the same end, I sew 2 together, then when I add the third one, I start sewing it on on the opposite end, of where I sewed the first 2. I switch back and forth till Im done. Hope this helps.

Yes, agree with you, 1/2 inch in not horrible normally but the problem is you can actually see it. We took some stripes off and turned them the other direction and sewed back on the strip set. That helped a little bit. Then we tried squaring up the strip set some and that helped too. We are just going with it now. Concerned if it is really going to show once the binding is on.

My friend did say she held the strip at the long end and 'ironed' down the middle. Maybe this was the cause. Thanks for your response.

Some fabrics have more "give" to them than others. Starch might help next time. Alternating the ends sewn from will help. If all strips are cut the same length prior to sewing, mark the half and quarter points, pin those and the ends and ease any extra while sewing should also help.