verna2197

boy oh boy am I getting so frustrated. Took my block apart and redid it. Still won't come out right. Am getting so so frustrated. I just don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

Elisabrat

walk away. thats what I have to do. seriously you will only get more unhappy by the second. walk away. tomorrow you look at it and its like a light went on. tada!

if you are doing a specific block you can share which one and why its giving you trouble and so many here are glad to help you figure it out. honest swear to God there is NO dumb question here on the quilting board. i ask them all the time so they can not be dumb right everyone?

jaba

Are you using your ruler or your mat to measure? I use the ruler only and make sure my fabric is on the outside of the line. If you just barely measure you're going to be scant. I take the width of the line on the ruler and go to the outside. If this doesn't help cut all your pieces another 1/8" and I think you will be fine. Also sew on the outside of your 1/4" mark for seam allowance..

verna2197

I am doing the Hunter Star and I measure with my ruler not the mat. My directions say cut 3 7/8" squares. I have done this, then it says cut from background 3 1/2" squares which I did. Still doesn't come out right. I am using a 1/4" quilting foot.

jaba

I think if it was me...I'd cut all the pieces 1/8" larger and then trim if I had to.

TheMamaHauser

I'm in for 6 sets Good excuse to go shopping after the 1st!

TheMamaHauser

My best suggestion is to move your needle a little bit to the right of where it is when you use the 1/4" foot. That gives you the "scant". I have a computerized machine and so my 1/4" measurement is 4.0 on the needle placement setting. I move it to 4.5 (I believe these numbers are millimeters but can't swear to it). That might help your accuracy a bit.

Elisabrat

OH OH I cut anything that says say 3 7/8 inch blocks well I cut them 4" then I sew them together then trim the block down to that 3.5 inchs this is what your maybe not doing. also if you cut that only 3 7/8 and didnt go scant 1/4 inch seams you will have trouble ending up with 3.5 inchs when your down sewing that square together. I was given this tip by themamahauser early on and boy what a difference instantly to me. Jaba is right cut a tiny bit larger and also learn to love that scant quarter inch. just a smidge in front of your 1/4 measuring line in front on the machine. tape it! then you can see where a real quarter inch is and place the fabric right in front of it

TheMamaHauser

Hey Brat, I know for a fact that your machine will let you do the manual needle adjustment. Instead of setting your position to "1", keep it at "0" and move the needle over using the bottom set of the vertical adjustment buttons. (I can send you a picture if you need it to make sense of that statement.)

DustysMomma

I wish I had needle adjustment on my machine. I'll be making mine big & trimming it down. I also plan to pick up a square ruler this weekend.