What the heck happened?

[Kajenkids]

I was making the back to a quilt Thursday. It's basically giant strip sets (24 total strips varying from 2-8" tall by the 74" width I needed for the back). I cut the pieces all the same width and sewed them together. When I was done, I tried to fold it down the middle, top to bottom. Here's where the "what the heck happened?," happened... In order for that fold to be straight, the outside edges got progressively wonkier until the bottom piece was off by over 10 INCHES!! WHAT??? I mean, I could tell that the sides weren't lining up right, but you know how you talk yourself into thinking it's not that bad...?

So now, to complicate your pondering, I took the whole thing apart, pressed and best-pressed the snot out of it, put it all back together and it is perfectly square. Huh???? I mean, I'm thrilled it works now, but what did I do wrong in the first place?

Appreciate any help so I don't make this mistake again. It was a 2-day time waster!

[K. McEuen]

Did you start each seam from the same side the first time?

[Kajenkids]

Did you start each seam from the same side the first time?

Yes. I also sewed half together, then the other half, then the middle seam. The second time, I sewed strips sets of three and then sewed those together. I tried to remember to alternate ends... Do you that could be the answer? I mean, the difference was a disaster!

[K. McEuen]

Yep, that was why I asked.

[rebeccas-sewing]

If you had sewn the strips together, consecutively, reversing ends each time you started a new strip, I think you would've had a better end result.

[jjkaiser]

Did you press your seams open the second time you put it together? Wow 10" difference is a lot! I can't see what ypu did wrong but glad it came together for you.

[Kajenkids]

Did you press your seams open the second time you put it together? Wow 10" difference is a lot! I can't see what ypu did wrong but glad it came together for you.

Nope - still to one side. I pinned the heck out of it, sewed three together at a time reversing ends and used half a bottle of Best Press... but it worked! I just can't get over that they are the SAME PIECES!!

[jjkaiser]

Well that is definitely a mystery! Maybe some of the math geniuses on here can figure this out but if it was me it would just be bugging the hell out of me trying to figure out why!!!

[Patty J]

I just made the Broken Bar quilt and Jenny said if the strips were more than 20-24 inches long they tend to get wonky. when sewing them together. Just another idea, Good thinking to rip all apart and resew them using Best Press. Glad that it worked out for you. Pat