To Square or not to Square

I square them up now after tearing a top apart too many times. Makes life much nicer!

I know, it stinks, doesn't it!!! I HATE squaring my blocks more than almost any other part of quilting... therefore I often 'forget' to...and it usually comes back and bites me in the A$$$...

It it mostly because no matter how careful you are, your needle may not be hitting 1/4 consistently...by a thread or two... and some fabric goes off grain more easily and and and.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by coffeebreak

But my question is...why? If you used a square template and rotary cut the square, sewed 1/4" seam lines all around...shouldn't your square be square and the size you measured for? This is one of those little things that has bugged me so bad (doesn't make common sense!) and odds are if I could get over it I'd not hate squares so much!

---

I sure learned my lesson! I did not enjoy using up my quilting time to rip apart rows that's for sure. I will be squaring everything from no on. I did not like my two hour dates with my seam ripper. Be safe and square is my motto going forward.

Thanks all:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aliaslaceygreen

I know, it stinks, doesn't it!!! I HATE squaring my blocks more than almost any other part of quilting... therefore I often 'forget' to...and it usually comes back and bites me in the A$$$...

It it mostly because no matter how careful you are, your needle may not be hitting 1/4 consistently...by a thread or two... and some fabric goes off grain more easily and and and.....

---

But if you cut your squares the size you want...say 3" squares...and then "square them up" using the smallest as the size to square to...then your squares are no longer 3" squares, which alters every other measurement of the quilt...doesn't it?

I just did squares for my Strawberry Shortcake quilt....I nneeded them 3,3/4 finished sq. to meet with the panel I am using. I cut them 4,1/4 PLUS A SMALL SMIGEON, just past the quarter mark.I just finished sewing them up and measured each square and they are 3,3/4 and all will match up fine. So...to get a 3,3/4 inch square you have to cut 4,3/8 (about), more than just the 1/4 seam allowance. So why do they say allow for 1/4 seam allowance when that doesn't work all time? Probably no answer for that...but it is extremely annoying!