Re: Unsquare squares....

julia sidebottom · 2003-07-23T18:52:26+00:00

I tend to cut my pieces a bit larger than a pattern calls for because ofjust what you are saying. Pressing each section and squaring up thosepieces as I go along. The end product will come up almost square withsometimes only a few threads off if you square each piece as you go. Ifdoing a 1/2 square triangle you press open the square and using thediagonal as a guide cut two joining sides to the size your pattern callsfor then turn your piece 180 degrees so the opposite pieces that havenot been trimmed down can use the diagonal to trim them to the rightsize. Press each part as you go so you will be able to square up piecesa bit easier. When you put the block together it should be very closeto the 12 1/2" (or what ever the size of the block is suppose to be)then square again. If you are still a bit off, as long as it is not tosevere you can adjust the seams when sewing the blocks together. Worksfor me just about every time. There is a bit of grace because you canmake minor stretches to get the blocks to align up just the way theyshould. juliasbDannielle Beitzell wrote:

Jul 23, 2003 24 Replies

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Dannielle Beitzell 22 years ago

Ok, but you asked for it! The picture is big...so be warned!

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-- Dannielle from NY

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CNYstitcher 22 years ago

My son loved the picture......of course, he asked if it was me . I suppose that is because I do the same look at him when we are in silly mode

Larisa

Dannielle Beitzell wrote:

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julia sidebottom 22 years ago

It is very strange that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't work at all! Here we are talking about how things need to square up for a perfect block, the seams being so exacting and so on and then paper piecing that should (just about always) have no problems. I found these things happening to me last night. I was working on a

6" star block and low and behold the first 2 I made were just a wee bit shy of what they should have been. Not to sure how that happened either. I tried both straight stitch>

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Dannielle Beitzell 22 years ago

Well, thanks to all of your tips and tricks, I have managed a beautiful square that is actually square and the correct size to boot! I figured my problem was in the seam allowance, and that was the key! I put on a thick stack of post-its and made it a scant 3/4" (I know what that is now!) seam allowance which made my square beee-ooootifullll!

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL! (Yes, I felt like shouting at the top of my lungs!)

-- Dannielle from NY

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taria 22 years ago

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