"Extra" seam allowance?

Hi, as an on-again-off-again lurker this is the first place I thought to ask when I had a question. :)

My son's toddler quilt was my second quilt and though it had no triangles, only squares and rectangles, it had *lots* of seams and pieces. Now that he's about to turn three he's really grown attached to the quilt and has started to drag it around the house with him. That just tickles me pink. But, a couple of the seams that came out a little short in seam allowance when I was piecing the top have opened. I tacked them with fusible web for now and I'm more careful about washing and drying it - washing on cold/gentle and hanging to dry now instead of tumble drying. I expect it will eventually be worn out but I'm trying to prolong it!

So here's the question that long-winded story is leading up to. My daughter is now 10 months old and I'm starting on her toddler quilt (her newborn quilt can be seen here:

Meghan

Hi, as an on-again-off-again lurker this is the first place I thought to ask when I had a question. :)

My son's toddler quilt was my second quilt and though it had no triangles, only squares and rectangles, it had *lots* of seams and pieces. Now that he's about to turn three he's really grown attached to the quilt and has started to drag it around the house with him. That just tickles me pink. But, a couple of the seams that came out a little short in seam allowance when I was piecing the top have opened. I tacked them with fusible web for now and I'm more careful about washing and drying it - washing on cold/gentle and hanging to dry now instead of tumble drying. I expect it will eventually be worn out but I'm trying to prolong it!

So here's the question that long-winded story is leading up to. My daughter is now 10 months old and I'm starting on her toddler quilt (her newborn quilt can be seen here:

Meghan

I always do 3/8ths seam allowances, just can't live with that skimpy little quarter inch!

Becky

If you still wanted to do a 1/4" seam allowance, you could shorten your stitch length which would add more durability. Megan

Also, you can use a shorter stitch length + backtack which may be a bit sturdier. When choosing fabric, pick the ones that are tightly woven rather than loose as in "homespun". As to son's beloved quilt, why don't you put some appliqués on the "turning loose" areas. Let him help you choose the bugs or bears or whatever his little heart wants. That way it will still be his cherished quilt and even better. Polly

As Mary Ellen Hopkins says "the only important thing about a seam allowance is that you are consistent". So, if you want to use a 3/8 inch seam allowance, go ahead. Just make sure that you do it everywhere, though.

Mardi

Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot com. ____________________

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I'd prefer to use slightly larger seam allowances, especially for scrappy quilt tops that have a bit of a mix of fabric types (cotton and poly-cotton). I also started making clothes for myself before I got into quilting (which is where my stash comes from!).

You can make seams any width you want -it's your quilt! The reason for 1/4" is partly bulk -all the little seams add up to quite a bit of fabric, which makes a full-size quilt quite a bit heavier than a single piece of cloth would be. The extra weight might not matter so much in a small quilt. And if you're hand quilting, you don't want to sew through more layers than necessary. So the "scant quarter inch" has sort of evolved as the smallest possible likely-to-be-stable seam. And as you pointed out, it was the smaller seams that started to give way. The best solution/prevention is more quilting! Roberta in D

Hi, as an on-again-off-again lurker this is the first place I thought to ask when I had a question. :)

My son's toddler quilt was my second quilt and though it had no triangles, only squares and rectangles, it had *lots* of seams and pieces. Now that he's about to turn three he's really grown attached to the quilt and has started to drag it around the house with him. That just tickles me pink. But, a couple of the seams that came out a little short in seam allowance when I was piecing the top have opened. I tacked them with fusible web for now and I'm more careful about washing and drying it - washing on cold/gentle and hanging to dry now instead of tumble drying. I expect it will eventually be worn out but I'm trying to prolong it!

So here's the question that long-winded story is leading up to. My daughter is now 10 months old and I'm starting on her toddler quilt (her newborn quilt can be seen here:

Meghan

If you're paper piecing and don't mind the extra bulk, you can make the seam allowances larger than 1/4". I've seen this recommended for flimsy fabrics that unravel easily. It won't affect the finished size of the pieces.

--Lia

Meghan wrote:

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That is true if you are rotary cutting. But if you are marking around templates then you can add any seam allowance you like.

Hehe - I did that with my first quilt. I didn't know you weren't "supposed" to press the seams open - my quilty friend said it was very important to press your seams, so I did! ;) So far it's none the worse for wear.

Meghan

Hehe - thanks. I had quilter's block for months, so I started working on my daughter's baby scrapbook, and that seemed to have gotten the creative juices flowing again so to speak!

I spent half the day getting the first butterfly pieced together (too many kids for quick quilting around here) and then after it was all done and pressed, I noticed where I'd forgotten to trim a seam... and managed to cut into the block, like an idiot. *sigh*

Meghan

Thanks, I did change the stitch length after this suggestion!

I've been thinking of this, I'm just not sure what to applique. The seams have come undone between the blocks and sashing so they're in odd places, and the design of the quilt doesn't really lend itself to applique, but I'll figure something out. I even thought of trying to match the fabrics in a patch so you can't tell from a distance. ;)

Meghan