I am designing a quilt that has a checkerboard boarder (and sashings) I am using red, white and a polka dot pink. The theme is Strawberry Shortcake (the doll). I want the squares to be 2". So, I cut strips (like jelly roll style) 2,1/2" wide by the length of the fabric (usually 44"). I double and triple check measurements to make sure the 2,1/2" wide and everything is even and cut with rotary and self healing matte and template.

Then I sew the strips together in the color order I want. In this case it is red, white, pink. and have about 12 inches length of the colors. Then I take the template and even off the end, and cut 2,1/2 inch strips across, so now I have a strip of squares sewn together (instead of sewing each square together individually, this is the short cut to do that, I learned it on Quit in a Day)

I pressed seams to the dark color and turned it over and they squares looked narrow. I know that they will still be 2,1/2" on the top and bottom sides as those sides have not been attached yet. However, the sides that have been attached... I took my seam gauge and measured the square (that should be 2" side to side) and it is 1,3/4 inches! I turned over and set my seam gauge to 1/4inch and measured the seams and they were all exactly 1/4 inch on each side. I measured the square seam to seam on the wrong side and they are 1,3/4 inch! All of them are like this! I measure on the right side seam to seam and they are 1,3/4 inch.

What have I done wrong that they are not 2" seam to seam? I measured every square and they are all like this....1/4 in allowance, but the square is 1,3/4in and not 2".

Have I missed something that when you cut you cut 3/4 inch bigger to allow 1/4" for each seam and 1/4" "extra" for.....what? I dont' get this! Simple math...but it isn't adding up.

Please help me on this! My GD quilt is in your hands!!!!!