Tolerance?
 

For some specifications, there is a plus-minus allowed for the size of a part.

When you are making (or trying to make) - for example - a 12.5 inch unfinished block - how much larger or smaller than the expected/targeted/hoped for size are you willing to deal with?

How much fudging/easing/stretching are you willing to do when assembling blocks into a quilt top?

Because I prefer not fighting with my blocks, I've learned that it is easier - in the long run - to have them all approximately the same size. They go together so much easier then.

For me - 12-3/8 to 12-5/8 inches would be a tolerable size range for a 12-1/2 inch (unfinished size) block.

I have also learned - that the smaller the block - such as the Dear Jane ones (Jane A. Blakely Stickle quilt) - the less wiggle room.

If I am using sashing I don’t worry too much up to 1/8. If the block is very basic with minimal seams to line up (such as a 12” block with seams meeting at 4” increments), I don’t mind a bit of easing.

if the block is complicated with many small pieces and multiple seams to align I try to be perfect and will keep ripping until it is. Fortunately I don’t make a lot of complicated blocks.

i do notice the words “that will do” coming out of my mouth from time to time when I am making the 22nd block out of 25. That doesn’t happen on 5 out of 25. In other words the longer I work on a project the less of a perfectionist I become. I move onto the ‘let’s just get this over with’ stage!

What usually happens for me is an uneven edge, with the block shearing off at the corners. This happens even when I have meticulously checked the size of all of the units and sub-units. I can cope with a generous 1/8 in. seam allowance.

Funny...I've been thinking of that word a lot lately. "Patience" and "tolerance," go hand in hand, but they mean different things in the sewing world.

I think that my quilting tolerance has become smaller over the years, as I've become a better quilter. Still, I'm far from perfect, so for making blocks, I would say that they should be within 1/4" to 1/8" of each other. I don't like to stretch seams too much and so, I find myself re-doing seams, instead of stretching, in order to make things go together better. Also, I'd rather have all blocks off by an 1/8" and create a slightly, small quilt, than to try the almost, impossible task of making them the correct size.

I'm too much of a perfectionist. If a block is supposed to come out at 12.5", I will alter seams in it until it does.

I would find that range acceptable for me for a 12 1/2 inch unfinished size. I look at the "wiggle room" in terms of percent of the whole block. That 1/4 inch range which you gave is an error of only 2% of the size. Also if you assume that the range is tolerable, you more than likely have a few at the larger size and a few at the smaller size and that amount can be eased in.

For my blocks 6" or less, they need to be spot on. In a 6" block, 1/4" wiggle room is a 4.5% error and for a 4" block it is a 6.25% error. I have been known to rip apart small blocks to get them perfect.

If I am using sashing - I use the same thought process. A 1/8" variance on a 3" sashing is not that noticeable imho but a 1/8" variation on a 1" sashing ?? - I can pick it out a mile away!! lol

But - I am not a happy camper when a 12-3/8 inch block is next to a 12-5/8 inch block.

On my own blocks I will give about about 1/16 of an inch if the block is to small. Of course I love it if it si a bit larger so I can square it up with a hair to trim off. On blocks I make for an exchange they have to be as close as possible to 12.5.

If I have at least 1/4" away from any points I'm happy. I'll deal with the other stuff as I go.