Bad squares

[Navymom25]

Help! I'm making a quilt that I found in the last Block magazine, sidewalk chalk. All went well sewing the strips together, I measured after stitching and they were the right size. Now that I have added the larger strip and cut out the triangles the squares are off size-wise. What can I do to rescue my quilt? Do I just square them all up to match the smallest square? I don't know what I did wrong and this isn't even my first quilt!

[icul8rg8r]

That's what I would do - square them all the same size. Maybe someone has a better idea?

[Preeti]

Welcome to the forum, NavyMom25!!!

[Kathytown]

I haven't been quilting very long but I will say this - it doesn't seem like any of my blocks come out to the size that I intend for them to be...I always end up having to square them down. Maybe I'm just not as precise as I should be when I'm cutting and sewing my 1/4 in. seam... but, quite frankly, I don't want to have to think that hard with every little thing I do...I'd rather square them all up!

[Meghan Plamondon]

My first attemps at making a block were so bad- I didnt pay attention to the 1/4 inch seam. I thought I could just eye ball it. Well, now I know. I had to practice and find out the sweet spot on my sewing foot where it would give me the right size. Now my blocks are much better. You really save a lot of time and the quilt comes out better if you can get the 1/4 down right in the beginning. There are a few quilts that are more forgiving on the seams, so they might be good ideas for the first quilts.

[Navymom25]

Thanks so much. - for the advice and the welcome

[tesspug]

The perfect 1/4 inch seam continues to elude me, and I have been quoting for years. I also find when I press the blocks go out of square. You might try using starch or Best Press to keep them in line. But I think you still have to square the blocks up to the smallest one. Hopefully with practice they will get closer to being the same size, but I find it is easier and less stressful if I just embrace the differences. It is hand made.

[Bubby]

Welcome to the forum. Yes, the only thing you can do is make them the size of the smallest triangle. This type thing can happen even to experienced quilters. Maybe you put the line on the ruler on the seam on some and on the edge on others....just a guess.

[Terry L]

Hi Navymom, welcome to the forum looks like you have gotten some pretty good advice here so happy quilting

[stationarymom]

Hi
Navymom welcome to the forum from Massachusetts.Good luck with your quilt.