A 9 puckered 9 patch.....What do you do?

So you cut some squares to make a 9 patch. You sew them together. You press the seams toward the dark side. Now you go to assemble the 9 patch and have seam allowances (1/4"). Hopefully you are able to make all the dark squares on the same "side" so that all seams are pressed the same way. If not, the you have seams going various directions. Now..you sew 3 squares together, to make 3 rows of which you then sew together to make the 9 patch. And you press seams

You turn the 9 patch over to press on the right side...and you get what I call hills and valleys..meaning..the square is the valley because the "hills" are the seam allowances..whether they are going toward the square or away from it...there is that 1/4" of 2 layers of fabric that make the "hilll" on all four sides of the square...making the square start falling into a valley. You press and you can press the allowance area on each side of the seam nice and flat...but you can't press that center part of the square. Therefore you have this square that sags and looks puffy, simply cause of the 1/4" seam allowance layers.

This is part of my problem...I make nice 9 patches..but then I press them and the patch can't be pressed out flat. The center of the square can't be pressed at all because it falls lower than the seams around it. I try to use the tip of my iron to press best it can be done, but still...it looks bad because of the "hills and valleys"

So......what do you do? What... do... you.... do? I want a flat 9 patch..not a puckered looking one!

Well, you could "go with the flow" and use puffy batting, and then the valleys would be made into hills, and the seams would be the valleys! This is what I did on my D9Q I made for my friend's baby. It looked good when it was quilted, I stitched in every ditch I could find, and it turned out all puffy and soft. Very cuddly for a baby!

I press open to avoid those issues. Sorry this happened to you. Happy Quilting!!

Use steam and see if that helps!

If your ironing board surface has a bit of give this shouldn't be an issue. If the foam or whatever is under your cover is flattened out completely this could be causing your problem. It might be time to recover your ironing surface. The padding should allow enough give so that you don't get the hill and valley issue.

As Jean said, it's because of the seam allowance...which in the long run is no big deal because when you get the batting in and the quilt is quilted you won't know the difference. Don't fret over small things...just go with the flow and don't point out your "errors" to anyone and no one will know the difference (unless of course they are a perfectionistic quilter themselves). PRecision in quilting is important and pressing your seams to the dark side for the most part is correct, however, it doesn't have to be perfect and if you have to press your seams towards the lighter side so that your seams "nest" than do it. Relax, take a breath and have fun...that is what is important! Happy Quilting!

I believe (maybe) perfection comes with time. None of my quilts so far have been perfect. But I'm a beginner. Everyone who has received one of my quilts really believes they ARE perfect! My seams don't always match perfectly, and I've had to "make do" more than once. I learn something new with each one. The important thing for me is....this is what I'm enjoying, it's my escape, I feel as though I've found my passion and I get to meet some really awesome ladies along the way! When I make the same mistake over and over I hit the off/on switch on my machine and go make a cup of coffee, go sit outside and clear my head. Come back later. Things usually work better when I sit back down and try again.

Jean....I LOVE that quilt! Too cute!

coffee break check your bobbin tension too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EnumclawGramma

I believe (maybe) perfection comes with time. None of my quilts so far have been perfect. But I'm a beginner. Everyone who has received one of my quilts really believes they ARE perfect! My seams don't always match perfectly, and I've had to "make do" more than once. I learn something new with each one. The important thing for me is....this is what I'm enjoying, it's my escape, I feel as though I've found my passion and I get to meet some really awesome ladies along the way! When I make the same mistake over and over I hit the off/on switch on my machine and go make a cup of coffee, go sit outside and clear my head. Come back later. Things usually work better when I sit back down and try again.

Jean....I LOVE that quilt! Too cute!

---

I agree with Gramma, you improve over time. I finished a quilt that I started in February. I know I've improved my accuracy since then, and I wasn't happy with the seams I sewed just a few months ago. I'm trying to improve with accuracy each time I start a quilt.
But I am also learning not to " swaet the small stuff" and what does and does not matter in the end.

My first true quilting project (I done a couple of doll quilts for my Granddaughter) is a king size 9 patch, red and black. I was putting all the rolls together last night to see how many more I need to do, and boy can I tell the difference in the first blocks (rows) and the rows I am doing now - my cutting has improved, my seams are better ( I believe that has a lot to do with me get a 1/4 foot); I almost trashed the top last night as my rows were not completely matching up. I told my partner, you know I really should have started with something a lot smaller for my first project. But I decided to complete the top -- it will be our quilt, and I know that each one I do will improve. My biggest problem now I think is pressing in the right direction so the seams don't twist with I put the rolls together. My Grandma always said practice makes perfect, I know I my quilts will never be perfect, but with practice I get get better.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by K. McEuen

If your ironing board surface has a bit of give this shouldn't be an issue. If the foam or whatever is under your cover is flattened out completely this could be causing your problem. It might be time to recover your ironing surface. The padding should allow enough give so that you don't get the hill and valley issue.

---

I made an iron board like Jenny shows with the canvas as they said that was best for pressing seams to make them open/flat for the pieces to stay the right size..they said a padded covered board isn't good for pressing the seams to keep measurement. D if you do, D if you don't I guess! But I will try what you suggest with the padded board

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine

Well, you could "go with the flow" and use puffy batting, and then the valleys would be made into hills, and the seams would be the valleys! This is what I did on my D9Q I made for my friend's baby. It looked good when it was quilted, I stitched in every ditch I could find, and it turned out all puffy and soft. Very cuddly for a baby!

---

I can see that would work. That is the kind of batting I used to use until I started learning new techniques and the general consensus was to get that thinner batting. I also have the problem of the quilt being to stiff when i meander FMQ....this coudl solve that problem too, altho I wonder if it is to thick to meander. I have done STID on this kind of batting before. Maybe I should go back to where I was!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rebeccas-sewing

Use steam and see if that helps!

---

Well, I have been told not to use steam on pressing as it shrinks the pieces which causes the pieces to not match up correctly causing rows not to match etc....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mimis-quilts

As Jean said, it's because of the seam allowance...which in the long run is no big deal because when you get the batting in and the quilt is quilted you won't k! Happy Quilting!

---

I am not a perfectionist, but I do want things to look right. I have tried to "go with the flow" but on these placemats I just made I STID and then did a straight stitch through the squares (forming an X in the center of the square) and because of the "valley" in the squares...they wrinkled when I did the stitch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EnumclawGramma

I believe (maybe) perfection comes with time. None of my quilts so far have been perfect. But I'm a beginner. Everyone who has received one of my quilts really believes they ARE perfect! My seams don't always match perfectly, and I've had to "make do" more than once. I learn something new with each one. The important thing for me is....this is what I'm enjoying, it's my escape, I feel as though I've found my passion and I get to meet some really awesome ladies along the way! When I make the same mistake over and over I hit the off/on switch on my machine and go make a cup of coffee, go sit outside and clear my head. Come back later. Things usually work better when I sit back down and try again.

Jean....I LOVE that quilt! Too cute!

---

I am intermediate beginner! I am advanced on something, but beginner on others! And I do love doing it, but also want things to look right. If this was a quilt, I wouldn't fret about it, and cover it up with some meandering! But these are placemats I am talking about and to have that pucker right there...just looks bad to anyone. And I do learn from my mistakes (meandering covers alot of them!) but in this case.. I just wanted to throw them out..they look bad. I have 4 rows of (what should be )3"squares. Three rows are square, and the last row(whether the top of bottom) are rectangles cause I had to trim them to where they all had the same fit. Maybe placemats are just not my calling!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kelliedi

coffee break check your bobbin tension too.

---

I do check tensions....what are you saying I should look for? I do test stitches first to test my needle position to be 1/4 inch for the allowance and look at the stitch to see that both sides are sewing evenly and all that...what else do I look for? I have a Singer 9960

[QUOTE=cherokeerose;121646]My first true quilting project (I done a couple of doll quilts for my Granddaughter) is a king size 9 patch, red and black. I was putting all the rolls together last night to see how many more I need to do, and boy can I tell the difference in the first blocks (rows) and th

Sounds like you have quite a project going! Good luck on it!

Sewing skills improve with time. We should be striving for excellence....NOT perfection! We are always most critical of our own work because we sit right on top of what we are sewing and see every minor flaw. Don't point out your flaws to everyone and they most likely won't notice at all. Cheri, where do you live?? I'm on my way to help you.....:)

I have been quilting for years and have yet to make anything, that there is something not matching. Squares not aligned, points cut off. I make what ever it is, for who ever I am making it for, and end the end they love it. Don't be so hard on yourself. Rip it out and start over, or just do it how it is. Unless you are selling or being judged on them, I wouldn't worry about it. Way more important things in life to stress over.

I saw Jenny talking in a tutorial once about sewing in opposite directions when sewing strips together....could this be that?

Read article the other day at this website about making smooth seams with your nine patch http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com/lavi...-a-poppin.html. Maybe this would help with the bulk at the seams.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by coffeebreak

I can see that would work. That is the kind of batting I used to use until I started learning new techniques and the general consensus was to get that thinner batting. I also have the problem of the quilt being to stiff when i meander FMQ....this coudl solve that problem too, altho I wonder if it is to thick to meander. I have done STID on this kind of batting before. Maybe I should go back to where I was!

---

I use low loft polyester batting on these, it makes things softer. I had my latest quilt machine quilted by MSQC, and I love the pattern they used to quilt it. However, the quilt is not as cuddly as the ones I've done with SITD and poly batting. It does make a difference. However, it depends on if you want the quilt piecing to be featured, or the quilt pattern to be featured, then you decide which needs to stand out more. Piecing--SITD. Quilting--FMQ or hand quilting. Throw it together, meander! That's my take on it, at least.

I get those bumps too in some of the things that I make. But I think that if the seams are pressed to one side, it's the nature of the beast. One thing that I constantly re-learn in the sewing room is that my stitching will never be perfect. Not all of my seams are going to line up, no matter what I do, my geese tend to be directionally challenged and lose wings whenever they take flight, and some of my squares become rectangles. The Rip-It Frog has taken up residence and refuses to leave, even if I threaten to kiss him! I have decided to call all of these little menaces "spirit holes" because nothing is supposed to be perfect! At least that's what I tell myself every time I take a square from under the presser foot and see just how badly it's off! A challenge, to be sure, but still fun! And in the overall scheme of things, as my husband keeps telling me, Nobody will see those blocks that don't line up perfectly. If they do, then they are looking too durned close and need to go back home! LOL

I need to say this.....I'm thinking you need to do strip sets, not try to sew individual little pieces together - make the strip sets cut to 3 1/2 or whatever the size you want, then press one row to one side the next row the opposite and so on.... that should work much better. Hope that helps - Happy Quilting

I'm with Kathy on the strip piecing to make 9-patch blocks. It certainly makes construction a lot easier. If you're making them by cutting out squares that makes the process more difficult. I mentioned steam pressing your block after it's complete. That might take out the puckering. I use steam all the time and have no problem with it. I even use steam when I'm pressing during the construction of a block. Just make sure you press down on the fabric and don't iron back and forth. However, I don't iron at all when I'm piecing using anything cut on the bias. I iron the block after it's been completely sewn together.

This certainly helps the 9-patch lay flatter but make SURE you don't clip those little threads. She should've really stressed that. If you clip them it may weaken the seams.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Janet J

Read article the other day at this website about making smooth seams with your nine patch http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com/lavi...-a-poppin.html. Maybe this would help with the bulk at the seams.

---

I agree with Janet and Rebecca. When I take the time to do the little swirl (as Eleanor Burns does as well). it does help those hard bumps. And using sizing spray when pressing doesn't shrink the fabric, it actually helps to strengthen it I think.

WOW that is pretty. Love the colors.

I visited your blog and as a quilter of 4 years I want to do all I see. Well getting there I think. My reason for writing I so loved the coin type quilt you made for the Patient, And you phrases. I got up lifted. Your furbabies are beautiful and your Basset Hound reminded me of ours Preacher. . Love the kitty she is adorable. Cat lover way back. WEll thank you for a lovely visit to your blog HUGS((())) PSS I am going to make a coin quilt now

If your talking specifically of where all four seams come together Eleanor Burns has a technique to fix that. Here are the links to a couple of videos I found. I use this anytime I can't get my seams to lay flat. Good luck!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5eCQklknOk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tCAtWBOyDU