BirdyFeathers

here is a smaller one I tried and I lost the point with my border. I even tried using a scant 1/4 seam allowance on some and still lost my points. The points aren't as lined up on this one, but it shows how the borders took my edge points.[ATTACH=CONFIG]430234[/ATTACH]

Peckish

Okay I think you have several things going on here. First, when you iron your segments, make sure you are moving the iron in an up-and-down motion, and not wiping the iron across the fabric, which will stretch the bias. Second, I think you need to square up your hourglass segments before sewing them into the block. That one in the center left is way too tall. The hourglass segments should be the same size as the reddish fabric you're using in the corners.

BirdyFeathers

yeah I noticed that with the center left one too. Makes the square wonky. I think I might be stretching them some when I press, pulling the fabric. I'll have to keep practicing, hopefully I get this right before the day is out LOL. Thanks so much for your help. I appreciate it!

mckwilter

When you look at the quarter square triangles, the outside red triangle is smaller than the inside red triangle, which means that you are not cutting your squares evenly before you begin to sew them back together.

cjsews

Use a pencil to mark 1/4 inch seam allowance on all sides of your block. Now you can see where the seams will take away as all pieces are attached. If your points are all good as the first picture of the square, it should work out fine. When you square up your block, use the diaganal line on your ruler along the seam. Put the half way measurement at the center of the block and trim from all sides.

mckwilter

It is easier to HSTs without cutting the squares into triangles -- cut the squares larger, draw center line on back of one square, sew 1/4" down both sides of line, cut triangles apart on centerline, then draw center line on back of one HST, place 2 HSTs right sides together, sew 1/4" down both sides of line, cut apart on centerline. Then square up the QSTs using your favorite method. That way, you don't have to handle the fabric on the bias and there is less chance of the blocks stretching.

BirdyFeathers

Thank you so much for all the helpful info! I will be working on squaring them up better too. I didn't square them up much in the practice square because I already didn't have a seam allowance and was afraid that I would get into my star too much.

bearisgray

Maybe this illustration will help?

QuiltingVagabond

This block requires that each segment of the 9 patch be the exact same size before you sew them all together. I am working on a quilt with some of these and there is not much "fudge factor".

If you measure each of the 9 segments, you will see where you are not square.

Gay

Just looking at this block shows me that not many units are very square. Measure the centre piece, and the left side seems larger [top to bottom], and the outer units continue the problem. Can you mark the back of each piece and units. with a dot in each corner, or lines, in the correct finished size as in the illustration above. this might help

Good luck