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Accuracy in Quilting

Last week I gave some tips on fabric buying and cutting. Continuing on to the next logical step, it’s time to piece the units that will eventually create the blocks and the quilt. We talked about accuracy when cutting out the pieces for your quilt project, but you also need to carry that accuracy over to piecing.  This ensures your units and blocks will measure the size required by the pattern to complete your quilt successfully. That’s the topic for this week. Let’s get started!

1/4″ Seam

Everything starts there. Sewing with a 1/4″ seam is required for most, if not all, quilt patterns. If a pattern requires a different width seam, it will note it. So, if there is no notation on width of seam to use, assume it’s always 1/4″. The reason for this is that when pieces are cut out, they are cut with a 1/4 seam allowance figured in. 

This is why you will see descriptions like this in a pattern: 

Your block will measure 12 1/2 x 12 1/2″. The finished size is 12 x 12″.

The finished size is the size the block will be once it is pieced into a quilt.

My number one tips for achieving a 1/4″ seam is to start with a 1/4″ foot and always sew a practice seam before beginning a projects. Here’s my 1/4″ foot:

And here is one of my practice seams I stitched and measured.

If you do not have a 1/4″ foot, you can use the throat plate on your machine as a guide. The mark is usually fairly small (see my photo below) but you can make it more noticable by adding a strip of painter’s tape to extend it a bit.

I used the tape measure to help me place the tape. Once you complete this step, sew another practice seam to make sure you have an accurate 1/4″ seam.

Scant 1/4″ Seam

You’ve seen this in patterns, but what does that mean and why do you want to use that? A scant 1/4″ seam is when you sew a seam with a width that is just a hair UNDER 1/4″.  I use this seam when I am piecing half-square triangles together … making half-square triangle squares (HSTs) the old fashioned way and when I am piecing strips for strips sets. These are two unit types that can be trimmed down to the size needed after piecing.

The scant 1/4″ works even if you are chain stitching the pre-cut squares for HSTs.  Here’s an example:

In the photo on the left, you can see I placed the drawn line on the square aligned with the right edge of the 1/4″ foot. A scant 1/4″ is shown in the photo on the right. I moved the square a hair to the left so the drawn line was under the right side of the 1/4″ foot. This will give me a seam just a hair under 1/4″. That’s a scant!

And then it’s on to trimming with one of my favorite tools: the Quilt in a Day Triangle Square-up ruler.

Now for using the scant 1/4″ for strip sets. When using a scant 1/4″for piecing these sets, each time you add a strip press and trim up the set before adding the next strip. Below are photos showing the first steps of joining 3 strips into a strip set measuring 3 1/2″ wide when done.  I’m beginning three 1 1/2″ wide strips.

Once again, instead of lining up the edge of my unit to be pieced with the edge of the 1/4″ foot, I move it a hair to the left (as shown in the last photo). Once those strips are stitched, the strip set should measure 2 1/2″ wide. To achieve this I press the set, place the ruler evenly on the strip set to trim it to 2 1/2″. The 1 1/4″ line of the ruler should rest on the center seam to be centered for trimming.

Now I add on the next strip with a scant 1/4″ seam, press and then trim. Lay the 1 1/4″ line of the ruler on the new seam and trim. When finished, the strip set measures the 3 1/2″ width as required.

More Piecing Accuracy Tips

Tip #1: Another piecing accuracy tip to go with the seam size is to ALWAYS pin the pieces you are joining. Even if it’s just a short seam.

I confess that I can be in a hurry and skip pinning, but that’s when you get units that don’t measure accurately when you are done. If the pieces you are joining are not pinned, the top or bottom piece can shift while you are stitching the seam and then the unit will not measure correctly.

Tip #2: Measure units as you go. It’s easier to un-sew smaller units instead of an entire block when you realize it doesn’t measure correctly. For example, if I am making several flying geese units for a block and they need to measure 2 x 3 1/2″ each so the block comes out the correct size, I measure the geese units (like below) as I complete them. That way, when I am ready to piece the block, I know all the units measure accurately. That, along with accurate 1/4″ seams guarantee my blocks will be the right size!

So that’s it for this week! Share your comments and questions below and I will enter you into a drawing for my pattern, String Star Runners.

This pattern will give you a lot of practice on accurate piecing, especially piecing strip sets. The drawing will be on Monday, February 20th. Good luck! **We have a winner! Congrats, Suzy!**

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

For Beginning (and even experienced!) Quilters: How to Achieve Accurate Piecing

This week I have been back to piecing units and blocks for some new patterns. Whenever I do this, I think about accurate piecing and how to achieve it. For some units you are making, it is possible to make the unit bigger and then cut it to size, like you do for half-square triangle squares. However, this does not work with every type of unit or block. If you make it bigger and then trim it down to size you may cut off some of the design. So the answer is, accurate measuring, cutting and piecing! Let’s get started for this week.

Start at the Beginning – Accurate Measuring & Cutting

Tip #1 

Accurate piecing can not be achieved without accurately cutting out the pieces that make up your quilt blocks. And accurate cutting starts with accurate measuring. This starts with the rulers. Make sure you are using rulers with clear markings. I like Creative Grid rulers because they are clear and have large numbers and well marked increments.

Here’s a closeup:

The numbers and markings also go in both directions so no matter how the ruler is turned, you will be able to use it. 

Tip #2

If you are cutting a lot of strips of the same width all in a row, use some painter’s tape to mark the measurement line on your ruler. This will help you to quickly find your measurement and assure you are not cutting strips the wrong size.

This tape is easy to remove and should not leave any residue on your ruler. I keep a roll of this tape in my notions drawer by my cutting table. 

Don’t rely on the lines on your cutting mat unless you have measured them with your rulers and the mat lines are accurate. I did this with my mat and am confident that it is accurate so I do use it occasionally for cutting very large pieces. I also use the line on the bottom to line up my fabric when I am squaring it up (this is before I place the rulers for squaring).

Tip #3

Accurate cutting can not happen unless you have your fabric properly squared. There are several steps in squaring fabric. It’s easier to show the steps than to write them out, so I made a mini tutorial video. Always square a new piece of fabric before you start cutting, especially strips. If you don’t, you run the risk of strips that will be bowed or bent in the middle. Here’s the video:

A good thing to remember is you may have to re-square your fabric during the process of cutting strips, especially if you are cutting a large amount of them.

Tip #4

Finally, some thoughts on rotary cutting. Make sure your blade is sharp. If it skips as you are cutting or if you feel like you have to press down hard, then it’s time to replace the blade. A blade that is not sharp can fray the edges of your fabric and it can also lead to accidents… and not just cutting the wrong size strips.

Also, be sure to hold your rotary cutter correctly while cutting. The photos below illustrate the difference. If you hold it wrong like in the photo on the left, you could end up with a strip not measuring correctly. Plus you can be pushing the ruler off its mark this way.

The cutter should just “hug” the edge of your ruler, but not put pressure on it, for an accurate cut.

Also, be sure to hold your ruler correctly so it does not shift when cutting, which will also lead to measurements being off.

Tent your hand, like in the photo on the left. This directs the pressure from your hand downward to hold the ruler in place. By laying your hand flat, like on the right, you can accidently push the ruler off the measurement because there is no downward pressure or it’s not as strong as the tented hand. There are some cool notions out there that can help you to grip the ruler and have strong even pressure.

On to Accurate Piecing

Now that you have your strips and pieces cut correctly, how do you make sure your units and blocks are pieced to the accurate size? Here are several tips for you.

Tip #1

Seam allowance! Always make sure you are stitching with a 1/4″ seam (unless the pattern tells you otherwise). This is how you end up with a unit or block that measures the size the pattern requires.

Start out by using a 1/4″ foot for your machine and testing it on scrap fabric. Take 2 scrap pieces of fabric and stitch them together. When stitching, the edge of the 1/4″ foot should line up with the raw edge of the pieces you are stitching. Once you’ve stitched the pieces, use a ruler (as shown below) to measure the seam to determine if your 1/4″ foot is accurate.

Tip #2

Even if you have a 1/4″ foot, it’s a good idea to find markings on your machine’s throat plate that marks the 1/4″. Most machines today, especially machines made specifically for quilting, have these markings. Here’s mine (where I’m pointing with my scissors):

You can also mark a tape line on your machine. I have done this with painter’s tape because it’s easy to remove and like I mentioned above, it doesn’t leave any residue.

The edge of the painter’s tape on the left side helps me line up diagonal seams like those used in making half-square triangle squares or stitch and flip corners. The drawn line is my 1/4″ marking.

Tip #3

Always pin your piece that you are stitching together. This goes for when you are piecing units or blocks.

This keeps the pieces from shifting as they are fed through the machine and it also helps you to keep seams of blocks lined up.

Tip #4

Measure units as you go. When you get done piecing a unit or units, measure and make sure they measure as stated in the pattern. I keep a small ruler by my machine just for that purpose.

By doing this, you will avoid having whole blocks either not going together smoothly or mot measuring the correct size when you are done piecing them. Even being off by a 1/16 of an inch on units can get magnified if all your units in the block are off. 

I think these tips should get you started on your way to accurately cutting and piecing… or serving as a memory refresh if you are an experienced quilter. Hopefully you learned something new! Leave a comment or ask any questions you may have below. I’ll choose a winner from the comments to receive my pattern, Liberty Star Shine, in honor of Memorial Day.

The drawing will be on Monday, June 6th. Good luck! **We have a winner! Congrats, Janet!**

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

Tips for Accurate Piecing

Hi quilters! This week, I want to cover all the things that go into accurate piecing. You would be surprised what can contribute to your unit or block not measuring accurately when you are finished piecing. That is the most frustrating thing after you have worked really hard on it! I have also received a request from a reader to cover how to get an accurate 1/4″ seam if you don’t have a 1/4″ foot for your machine. So let’s get started with all the tips I think are important for accuracy.

Tip #1 – Cutting Your Pieces

Yes, you saw that right. Accurate piecing starts with accurate cutting! I you are cutting a lot of strips for a project and they all need to be the same width, my first recommendation is to use the same ruler or rulers from the same company. I like Creative Grid rulers.

These rulers have really clear markings in both directions so no matter which side of the ruler you are using, you can find the measurement you want. They also have a slip resistant back.

If you have to cut a lot of strips the same width, I recommend using painter’s tape to mark the width on your ruler for a guide. That way if you are cutting a lot of 2 1/2″ strips, you won’t accidentally cut one 2 1/4″.

See how that bright line of tape makes it easier to find your mark? Also, painter’s tape will not leave any residue on your ruler. We all know how expensive fabric is… so keeping cutting mistakes to a minimum is a good thing.

Finally, make sure you are using your rotary cutter correctly to get an accurate strip. The photos below illustrate the difference. If you hold it wrong like in the photo on the left, you will end up with a strip not measuring correctly. And you may also have a cutting accident.

 

Tip #2 – Always Pin!

I know you are tempted to stitch together two small pieces without using pins. However, it’s important to pin to keep the fabric pieces from shifting. One little shift by the top or bottom piece while it is feeding through your machine can cause the unit to not measure correctly because your seam won’t be accurate.

Even if you are chain piecing, it only takes a few seconds to line up raw edges and quickly pin pieces. It’s better than having to “un-sew” a whole stack of units!

Tip #3 – Use an Accurate 1/4″ Seam Allowance

This is an important step in accurate piecing.  I recommend a 1/4″ quilting foot for your machine, like mine below:

If you have this foot, it’s still a good idea to test it. To do this, take 2 scrap pieces of fabric and stitch them together. When stitching, the edge of the 1/4″ foot should line up with the raw edge of the pieces you are stitching. Once you’ve stitched the pieces, use a ruler (as shown below) to measure the seam to determine if your 1/4″ foot is accurate.

If it measures correctly, great! If it does not OR you do not have a 1/4″ foot, you can actually use markings on your machine’s throat plate or use tape to mark where you should line up your piece for a 1/4″ seam. The following steps will show how to do this.

Throat Plate Option: Check to see if your machine’s throat plate has a 1/4″ mark like mine (below left). To use this marking, you line up the edge of your fabric with the 1/4″ mark when stitching. After the seam is stitched, measure it like I showed above to determine accuracy.

Measuring & Taping Option: If you have no markings on your throat plate, here are the steps for measuring with a tape measure and marking with a piece of painter’s tape on your machine to indicate the 1/4″ point. Start by laying the measuring tape under your needle at the “0” line.

This will also help you to measure if the marking on your throat plate is accurate if you have one. (See my little white arrow in the photo above.) Lower the needle by hand to make sure the needle matches up with the “0” line. Then, find the 1/4″ line on the measuring tape. Use this as a guide to place a piece of tape (or determine the accuracy of the mark) on your throat plate.

When stitching a seam, you can now line up the edge of your fabric with the edge of the tape to give you an accurate 1/4″ seam. Once again, use scrap fabric to test your seam. Hopefully by following one of these tips above, you will get an accurate seam.

Tip #4 – Measure, Measure, Measure!

Now that you are stitching with an accurate seam, the final step in having your blocks measure accurately is to measure each unit as you stitch it to make sure it’s the correct size before continuing. For example, if I am making several flying geese units for a block and they need to measure 2 x 3 1/2″ for the block to come out the correct size, I measure all the geese units for the block (like below). That way, when I am ready to piece the block, I know all the geese units measure accurately. That, along with accurate 1/4″ seams guarantee my blocks will be the right size!

So that’s it! These are what I think are the most important tips to help you piece your units or blocks so they measure the size they should be. If you start by cutting your pieces accurately and then use an accurate 1/4″ seam while stitching them, you are guaranteed to get accurate sized units. Because of that, your blocks and ultimately your quilt will go together smoothly! No headaches matching up seams or creating the intended design.

Comment or ask questions about accurate piecing and I will enter you into a drawing for my pattern, Twinkle Twinkle:

This pattern will give you a lot of practice with accurate piecing with all of those flying geese units that make up the stars and borders! The drawing will be on Monday, August 9th.

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

My Top 10 Tips for Quilters

Before you start your quilt, here are some tips I think you will find helpful. These are things I think are among the most important to make your quilting experience fun and relaxing.

1. The pattern. Always read through the instructions to make sure you understand the steps and to find all the cutting instructions. Most patterns have all the cutting instructions up front before any assembly instructions, but some do not. It’s good to be familiar with the pattern!

2. The fabric. Most patterns will give you fabric amounts that allow for pre-washing and cutting errors. I know I add in some extra when I write my patterns for just that reason. But, if you are not sure that is the case, add a little extra just in case. You may end up with a little left over, but you can then start your strip collection for your next scrap quilt!

3. Cutting. Whether you have a dedicated sewing room or you sew on the dining room table, make sure your cutting area is clear of items that can get in your way while you are cutting our your pieces. Also have your rulers close at hand.

Now, I’m going to admit, my sewing area is not always this clean. I’m guilty of piling up scraps on the sides and above the cutting mat, especially if I’m cutting several projects at once. But, I think it’s a good idea to keep the area clean.

Be sure you have a sharp rotary blade to cut your pieces correctly and avoid injury. If you have cut out several projects, you will notice if your blade has become dull if you have to press down hard or you feel your blade skipping as you cut. If this is happening, it’s time to change the blade. Dispose of the blade by marking an old rotary blade container “Used Blades”. Once this is full, you can discard the blades safely.

4. Organization. If your quilt has a lot of blocks made up of many pieces, organization is important. I’ve talked about it in other blog posts. My patterns usually have letters for each piece cut. I like to label a stack of pieces with a piece of masking or painters tape marked with the letter. If the piece is cut from several different colors, I keep them separated by color as well. Here’s what one of my quilts looks like cut and ready to go:

5. Sewing Machine. Be sure your machine is ready to sew. I think it’s very important to take your machine in to the dealer or quilt shop you bought it from for an annual maintenance check.

Make sure it’s clean and oiled and has a needle that is in good working order. Some people do not change their needle until it breaks. Not a good guide. If you have finished piecing a large project or several small projects, the needle should be changed. A dull needle will make a “punching” sound as it stitches and may make larger holes in your fabric than you want. Also, your thread will also break easily if the needle is old.

6. Accurate Piecing. Be sure you are using an accurate 1/4″ seam allowance when stitching your blocks, unless you are advised otherwise in the pattern. Using a 1/4″ foot helps with this but make sure to do a test seam if this is your first time using the 1/4″ foot. Sew 2 scrap squares together, then measure the seam.

Make necessary adjustments in your sewing to achieve a 1/4″ seam. Here is a past blog post I did on this subject.

7. Stock up and keep tools close. I suggest keeping tools you use frequently close by. I have a small hook on my sewing machine where I keep my scissors I use for clipping seams and a small ruler for measuring seams.

I also keep my wood pressing tool so I can press small seams without having to go to the ironing board for every tiny seam. Finally, wind several bobbins, so you can quickly change from an empty bobbin.

8. Pressing seams. How you press your seams is up to you. I like to press mine open because I think I get more accurate measurements for my units. When pressing seams, make sure you are pressing them and not ironing them. There is a difference! Here’s a video tutorial I did on this subject.

9. Measure units as you go. Most blocks are made up of several pieced units. I like to measure units as I go before piecing them into a block. The more accurate your measurements are, the more accurate your block will measure. For example, if you have an 6 1/2″ star block that has 4 flying geese units that are supposed to measure 2 x 3 1/2″ making up the points, I make sure I measure each geese unit.

10. Quilt layout. Finally, I recommend using a design wall or a large floor space to layout finished blocks. This makes it easier to arrange your blocks the way you want them before stitching them into rows and then into a quilt top. Otherwise, you might get all your rows stitched together and realize you have two blocks next to each other that you wished were not. This will save you a lot of “unsewing” time!

Here is a past project where the use of a design wall came in handy. The blocks were all the same, just scrappy. I wanted the colors to be distributed evenly throughout the quilt top, so this was the best way to do it.

I hope you learned some new information. Let me know if there are some quilting tips you can’t live without in the comments below. You will be entered into a drawing for my newest pattern, Open Windows. Drawing will be on Monday, February 18th! ***We have a winner! Congrats, Kay!***

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

Accurate Piecing Tips and New Pattern Inspiration!

Today I want to share one of my newest patterns: Ice Cream Social!

It’s a scrappy set of table runners that are made from small blocks. I love working in a standout element like the black stars to focus in on and then use the scrappy nine patches as a colorful secondary design. Both of these runners are quick projects and will dress up any table in your home! You can do the applique on the one runner by hand or machine. You can also substitute in wool for the fabric applique if you prefer!

The blocks in these patterns are 3 1/2 x 3 1/2″. Accuracy in piecing is important in quilting…. especially when making small blocks. There’s not as much room for error the smaller the block.

First, check to be sure your machine is stitching with an accurate 1/4″ seam. Take 2 scrap pieces of fabric and stitch them together, then measure the seam.

If your seam measures 1/4″ ….. congratulations! You are good for step 1!

If you do not get a 1/4″ measurement, time to take some steps to make sure you are stitching with a 1/4″ seam. First way to get an accurate seam is to use a 1/4″ foot made for your machine. Here’s mine:

When stitching with this foot, the edge of the foot is lined up with the edge of the piece you are stitching. This should give you an accurate seam.

If you do not have a 1/4″ foot for your machine, check to see if your machine’s throat plate has a 1/4″ mark like below. Then you line up the edge of your fabric with the 1/4″ mark when stitching. After the seam is stitched, measure it like I showed above.

If you do not have a 1/4″ mark on your throat plate, you can make one by using a measuring tape and some masking or painter’s tape. Start by laying the measuring tape under your needle at the “0” line.

Lower the needle by hand to make sure the needle matches up with that line. Then, find the 1/4″ line on the measuring tape. Use this as a guide to place a piece of tape on your throat plate.

When stitching a seam, you can now line up the edge of your fabric with the edge of the tape to give you an accurate 1/4″ seam. Once again, use scrap fabric to test your seam.

Now that you are stitching with an accurate seam, the final step in having your blocks measure accurately is to measure each unit as you stitch it to make sure it’s the correct size before continuing. For example, if I am making several flying geese units for a block and they need to measure 2 x 3 1/2″ each so the block comes out the correct size, I measure the geese units (like below). That way, when I am ready to piece the block, I know all the units measure accurately. That, along with accurate 1/4″ seams guarantee my blocks will be the right size!

So, there you have it. With accurate 1/4″ seams and measuring individual units as you go, you will be able to churn out blocks, big or small, that measure correctly and make your quilt go together without a hitch!

Share your secrets on accurate piecing and win a free pattern! My pattern, Ice Cream Social! The drawing will be on Monday, October 29th.
**Congrats Sue! You are the winner of the free pattern!**

Happy Piecing and Quilting!
Deanne