I get so disgusted...ready to give up

Girl, where do you live? What you need is a sewing buddy who can help you out. If you were close enough to one of us, I'm sure we'd be ever so glad to help you. My sewing isn't in the class with some of these gals and I keep hanging in there. I'm finishing a pinwheel quilt made from leftover blocks and I really like the colors, etc. Made with WallMart fabric from a few years ago, etc. It was turning out so cute.....was doing a Baptist fan quilt stitch by hand. When I was almost through, my sister, who has quilted for many years, told me I should have worked out from the center!! UhOh!! I was almost finished and it had taken me a while...probably won't do Baptist fan again....it is sooo slow for me. Then, I realized that I had a bulge of quilt top that had moved as I quilted. All was pinned closely, etc. I wasn't about to take out the whole quilt. I did what one of our ancestor quilters would have done and adlibbed. I took out my quilting to the point of smoothing out the bulge then I quilted with a similar looking design and worked in the extra fabric the best I could. It works for me. I have so many other projects to do and didn't want to spend days redoing this one.
Oh, then the binding ended up being a pain. Very simple quilt has taught me a lot. Mainly don't ever cut off what you think is extra fabric on a quilt back....until you are sure....very sure that it is to be cut. Did that more than once. Dummy!! Measure 3 or 4 times then cut. This quilt has been a pain in the .....neck, ahem.
My point is ....we all have some things to learn and can help each other. If nothing else maybe we can share a laugh and then tackle that sucker again!! Brenda in Bama

I think I know your problem. How small are the squares you are working with?? I noticed when I made a doll quilt with small squares I did not pay attention to the bias (left to right). When I would sew the squares together one on bias and one not the squares did not match up. Now I know I need to pay attention to the way I am sewing the fabrics together. stretchy to starchy~hope that makes sense.

If I need to clarify let me know.

Hello-I have been moved to make my first post because I feel your pain!

I just recently discovered what a difference a pressing board makes. It is amazing how much fabric stretched and wonked (a word?) before I made my board. Do a search to find a tutorial on how to make a pressing board. You will not believe the difference. The canvas grips the fabric and the batting makes the board the right amount of soft. I made the one from Sharon Schamber Youtube tutorial but there are others out there too.

Don't give up.

imp

If you are sewing cut triangles it is probably because you are sewing on the bias and takes nothing to stretch it all out of shape. If you were to post a pic it would be easier to see what the problem is.

Hi again,
Are things getting better? Relax!! Breathe!! Start with a charm pack or two. These are already cut into 5 inch squares.
If you want to make some cute small blocks these are easily cut into exact sizes so you could cut them into halves or even quarters and they should all work and fit together exactly. I've made the cutest star blocks from these and using the primitive muslin charms for the backgrounds. If you want to know how, I'll attempt to explain to you.
Something you also might try is sewing by hand just to be sure you are getting everything together just right. You can even draw a seam line on the backs of the pieces with an ordinary pencil...I started that way and everything goes together exactly. Also this is much simpler than it sounds. Let me know.
Hugs, Brenda in Bama

Oh pink berry quilt! Thank you for your post! I never knew about this stretchy to starchy thing, NO WOONNNNDDDDER... As they say!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Patrice

I got much better after I started using a 1/4 inch foot. I never sew without it now. but still not always perfect. I also before sewing my blocks together I will trim them all up to the the same size.

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I've always been using my 1/4 inch foot but found that some seams were still off. I've found that taking the time to test your 1/4 inch and then adjusting your stitching for that helps a lot.
Don't give up!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Impatience

Hello-I have been moved to make my first post because I feel your pain!

I just recently discovered what a difference a pressing board makes. It is amazing how much fabric stretched and wonked (a word?) before I made my board. Do a search to find a tutorial on how to make a pressing board. You will not believe the difference. The canvas grips the fabric and the batting makes the board the right amount of soft. I made the one from Sharon Schamber Youtube tutorial but there are others out there too.

Don't give up.

imp

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I made the iron board out of the wood for the hard surface for pressing the squares/seams and that does help, but what I have found.... once the quilt top is done...pressing that on the regular padded iron board cover...really make a big diff in pressing the "hills and valleys"...hills being where the seams are and the valleys being the center area of the squares. On the wood surface, it all puckers...but that bit of padding on the board..is just enough to accomodate the valleys to the height of the hills and athe top looks nicely pressed!