Ask Quilting Questions Here

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Priscilla — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:13:35 GMT

I am not sure what the question was but I do know if you put your short piece of fabric on top it will fit if you give it a little stretch as your sewing. Once quilted it will lay flat. Not sure if I got the question right. I have seen borders that are like the waves in an ocean. Now how does one fix this. Take it apart and cut the borders 1/2 inch shorter than the quilt. And make sure your borders are on top as you sew. If you put them on the bottom make sure they are cut the same length as the quilt. Top and bottom makes a difference on how you work your material. It really stands to reason. Not everyone sews the same. And most machines do not have the same tension. And some of us do not get the seams "exactly 1/4 inch from top to bottom when we sew" or they are just cut wrong. ME ME ME. Not that I know much. Just a suggestion. I think sometimes we try to be a little too picky. Not saying any of you are but I have some customers that are. Nice and neat but things don't match up good. I am sloppy but my quilts look good and stand up to punishment. They have to be I sell them. I am not a fussy quilter. I just do the chain piece thing and listen to Beethoven. Did that make any sense?

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Thea — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:24:04 GMT

Kris, I think you are right - i just bi-pass them in the store...I think they are beautiful but know that some of the fabrics in the group won't get used by me so would rather buy quantities of fabrics that I can use... I think the first time I saw Bali Pops they had a stick coming out and they were like a sucker shape... was really cute...

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Kris — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:57:20 GMT

Patti:

What are bali pops?

They are jelly rolls made up of Hoffman batiks. I think they (Hoffman) are the only ones that use that term.

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Nana — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:58:50 GMT

Patti

Bali pops are 2 1/2 in strips cut width of fabric out of bali batiks. Usually sold in the rolls like jelly rolls.

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Patti — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:45:24 GMT

What are bali pops?

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Patti — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:43:55 GMT

I do that with some pieces now and it sure makes it easier and so fun when the blocks go so perfectly together!

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Thea — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:39:04 GMT

I like doing the half square and quarter square triangles by EB's method and then cutting them down to make them perfect... it is much easier that way!

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Patti — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:34:33 GMT

I have a tendency to want to play around with block sizes, and sometimes use a couple different type blocks to a pattern. EQ5 will give me the measurements to cut to the nearest 1/8 (or 1/16th?)of an inch and sometimes that is not exact enough and things end up a little off.

Take a block with equally divisable pieces, and change the size and that can result in some pieces that are difficult to measure exactly. Put a bunch of those together, then sew next to the less complicated blocks, and a little bit off can be too much. Throw in a few points you don't want to chop off and what do you get? Something you refer to as "stupid quilt."

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Kelley — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:25:43 GMT

I find with triangles using a scant quarter inch works well then u have some play room...

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

sissi — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:09:44 GMT

wow...thank you everyone....I feel better that I'm not the only one that has had or have this problem.

I will try and press properly and see what happens - no steam!

Thanks

You're a great group!

Celine

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Tink922 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:08:10 GMT

Nana:
If I end up with only 1 or 2 imperfections I feel pretty good....usually its alot more....LOL>

I totally agree, Nana! Besides, there's only 1 perfect person in this world and I'm not Him. So, I prefer to think my imperfections add character to my projects. :-)

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Nana — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:08:01 GMT

Marie

If I end up with only 1 or 2 imperfections I feel pretty good....usually its alot more....LOL>

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Thea — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:14:21 GMT

marie, One thing one of my teachers taught me which I totally forgot is that you can draw your square on a piece of muslin - pin that to your pressing mat - place your block in it and press it to match the square - rectangle - circle - triangle (whatever shape) - and you should have success... it is amazing what a little pressing can do to take what might have been a perfect block but got stretched out of shape by pressing...

i press everything but I do know when I was first starting out I didn't press correctly!

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Marie — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:54:37 GMT

Thanks to all for that refresher course, we all need to be reminded of those good practices once in a while. BTW I always allow myself one or two imperfections in my quilts to remind me that only God is perfect.

Re: Why can't I get my pieces to match properly???

Kris — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:03:09 GMT

Angel:

I have a top in the works with the same issue. Its made with all Bali pops...and those things are ridiculous. none of them are cut at 2.5 inches.wide. Which makes everything all wacky. ( never will I buy Bali pops again ).

Angel that's too bad. I made a quilt with Bali pops and I loved it so much I bought more to make another. Maybe this was a bad batch that you got.