Bigger is Better
The saying bigger is better doesn't always apply, but when it comes to me and piecing it's usually true. Take these little cross blocks.
When we were first asked to make them, I couldn't wait to get started and thought they were adorable. Don't get me wrong, I still think they're adorable but I've gained some perspective. I struggle for accuracy when the fabric pieces are smaller. These are made using 2.5 inch squares and rectangles and they did not make it easy on me. I've pieced them together, ripped them out, and re-pieced them, only to still have them slightly off. I don't know why it makes a difference but whenever I have to press to one side, I have this issue. I think that's why I've always pressed my seams open. It makes my work flatter and my scant quarter inch seam works perfectly. I press to the side and I always have to adjust my sewing to something between a scant quarter inch and a fat eighth inch seam.
How about you? Do you ever struggle with accurate size with smaller pieces and does pressing make a difference?
When we were first asked to make them, I couldn't wait to get started and thought they were adorable. Don't get me wrong, I still think they're adorable but I've gained some perspective. I struggle for accuracy when the fabric pieces are smaller. These are made using 2.5 inch squares and rectangles and they did not make it easy on me. I've pieced them together, ripped them out, and re-pieced them, only to still have them slightly off. I don't know why it makes a difference but whenever I have to press to one side, I have this issue. I think that's why I've always pressed my seams open. It makes my work flatter and my scant quarter inch seam works perfectly. I press to the side and I always have to adjust my sewing to something between a scant quarter inch and a fat eighth inch seam.
How about you? Do you ever struggle with accurate size with smaller pieces and does pressing make a difference?
Hmm, usually a scant quarter inch seam allowance gets me through the tricky stuff (with a good resizing trim after the press). Sorry to hear you've had such trouble with these cute blocks!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry they were such trouble. I always have problems no matter how I iron, which is why I always have to do practice block or two. I love the blocks you made!
ReplyDeleteI struggle with small pieces too, especially if the pattern hasn't sized it up to allow for trimming. 1.5" and smaller seems to be my tricky spot. I made the Fat Quarter Shop's Snapshots cake block over the weekend which has 1.5" squares attached to the corners of some rectangles. I think it's tricky because I have nothing to hold onto when feeding it under the needle and my lines sometime stitch wonky!
ReplyDeleteI'm finding no steam helps keep things straight and for some reason I can do a better scant 1/4" on my Husqvarna than my small Pfaff which seems to be a true 1/4" no matter what I do!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a really accurate quarter-inch foot on your machine? It might explain the problem. The only time I have problems like this is when my seam allowances are off. (My Janome foot looks like this: http://www.sew4home.com/sites/sewmk.mervideo.com/files/1218-Photo-102.jpg)
ReplyDeleteYep, having the devils own trouble with Farmers Wife, all its itty bitty pieces :(
ReplyDeleteEven though I make pretty complicated quilts at times, I am seriously terrible at seam allowances. One of these days I am going to have to sit down and really work on it, because I swear I'm getting worse rather than better!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting. It's probably just what you're used to. I usually nest my seams by pressing them to the side so my piecing is off when the pattern asks for them to be pressed open. www.quiltartbymegan.com
ReplyDeleteThe smaller the pieces make it so much harder! These look great though, I actually want to do this pattern with low volumes and solids. I will be interested to see how these go once you work out the details.
ReplyDeleteSmall is definitely more difficult!! I find this out every Halloween when I'm making costumes and figure I'll start with the smallest one since it will be "the fastest". Hah! And I always press open, since I'm totally OCD when it comes to matching seams (although I'm getting a bit better) and the open seams help me get everything lined up better. And, like you said, the measurements seem more accurate. These are cute, though!
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