Squaring up the block

When I did my sampler quilt with 14" squares we were told to make a template to do the squareing up if we didn't have a big ruler. I made mine out of a piece of plastic kitchen flooring which worked quite well. I had a big 15" square for my next birthday!

Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)

Make a cardboard template if you're in a rush. If not, go right out and get yourself a bigger ruler! Something larger than the biggest size squares you normally make, plus a long one for cutting strips. Roberta in D

"Dannielle" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@24g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...

What kind of block are you squaring, Danielle? If it's an appliquéd block, you'll want to study the 'extra' fabric and see how to center the appliqué. Polly

In a pinch, fold the block in quarters, right side together. Then use your 9 inch ruler to square up. This works for me at 2 in the morning. I'd do a test piece first.

Kate T. south Mississippi

You can divide most pieced blocks into sections. Use the block's center then square it in 4 sections of 6-1/4 each. Be sure to mark in the seam allowance or with a pin where the center of each side should be- or you'll end up cattywompus! Listen to Polly about an appliqué block and centering the appliqué.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

They are pieced blocks. I read somewhere about using freezer paper for a template, and that sounded really reasonable to me. I was just curious if anyone else had any great ideas that were fool proof!

Dannielle

Oh! I hadn't thought of that. I would think that the seams would cause the block to fold funny on me and I wouldn't get it square....Hmmm, maybe I'll have to try this one too!

Thanks! Dannielle

Do you have more than one ruler? In my early days, when I couldn't bring myself to pop for a 6x24 ruler, I used to two 6x6's next to each other to measure 12". (In your case, you could put the 6 and the 9 side by side). You need to place them carefully to avoid a little bump where they meet up, but it *is* doable.

Find the center of the block and measure 6 1/4" inch from that and straighten your first side. Then, line the block up with a straight line on your cutting board and go from there.

Lenore

Dannielle

Howdy!

Got a rotary cutting mat? Those lines on the mat are wonderful for squaring up blocks. Keep the block flat, slide your ruler along the edges, you can do this, easily. Good luck!

R/Sandy