Need advice

bkay2000

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I have been working on the "quartered stripes" quilt. About 1/3 way through, I decided I didn't like it. It was just, "too much blue". My friend suggested white sashing, which helped a lot. Given I had already cut it all out and bought the backing, I started working on it again.

I've finished the squares, but they aren't square. If I cut them to make them square, they won't look square. The one pictured was off about 1/8" on each side until a couple of minutes ago. I figured out that I had pulled on the bias to get the stripes to line up. If I pull across the short direction, it gets more square.

So, I have a different questions than the ones I started with. If pulling them on the bias doesn't solve the problem, how would you square them up? If you added the sashing to 2 sides, could you square up that unit taking the extra from the white?

I had planned to sash the sides of the squares and then, use one long strip between rows. I could do it the other way, by sashing two sides, then add the side and the top at the end.

I'm just not sure how to proceed.

bkay

Featured Answer

toolgranny

9 years ago

I'd draw the square on a scrap like muslin or the back side of something, lay it on top and iron it to fit that square. Remember, it will stay square once quilted. I love the block by the way. It would also look good on point with a solid color in between each block.

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Comments (7)

littlehelen_gw
9 years ago
Your question is beyond my quilting experience, but it's a lovely block! Toolgranny seems to have a reasonable solution, and on point layout might fool the eye and you won't see an out to square block...?
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geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
9 years ago
I agree with Linda/Toolgranny. Also, check your scant 1/4" seam allowance. Not too much blue......pretty block.
glassquilt
9 years ago
I've been pulling & tugging fabric to straighten since I started sewing. Fabric seems to go askew with handling & ironing. Besides the bias stretching, the warp & the woof stretch at different rates. Gentle tugging of block / block pieces does straighten out the shape.

Sometimes all that's needed is to ease the seam and the slightly longer side magically fits the shorter one.
wanda_va
9 years ago
It's a beautiful block, and definitely not too much blue. I have done what toolgranny suggested...and moistened the block, which made it behave better. That said, if it is only off by 1/8", I would imagine that you can coax it to do what you want. Good luck, and I can't wait to see the finished product.
FlamingO in AR
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I would add a larger than needed sashing on all 4 sides of each block. Then I would put my square ruler on it and turn it left or right and trim so you have wonky blocks. Then when you sew them together, no one will ever know that the pretty squares inside the white aren't perfect.
bev2009
8 years ago
bkay2000, did you ever finish this quilt? The block is so pretty I would love to see the finished quilt.