World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of July 26, 1999:
Our question this week comes from Anne Noble
Several years ago I started a quilt. I now find I have about 30 blocks of a shoefly pattern that - due to my inconsistancy in my seam widths and inaccurate cutting - are not all the same size. Some are up to 1" larger than others. Any ideas on how I can salvage my mistake.
SARAH LEWIS :
SEW A BORDER ON EACH BLOCK THAT IS SMALLER THAN THE LARGEST BLOCK. THIS BORDER SHOULD BE THE SAME AS ON OF THE OUTSIDE BORDERS OF THE ENTIRE QUILT.
Jan Cormier :
I'd use the largest one as a medallion (it could be set on point like a diamond even) and sort the rest by size to use in rows around this medallion center. Separate the blocks when you start joining them with a coordinating print or solid, or both. You can use some of the coordinating fabrics (or another fabric) for additional blocks if you need to fill in. 30 blocks probably won't be enough to make a bed size quilt.
Susan Orr :
Add borders around each block to make up diffrence in size. use a fabric thats not busy.use those blocks within the quilt to creat another design within the design.
tami & mom :
use soft fuzzy fleece on the back of your sampler--- pla y up your inconsistancies!
Vikki Favreau :
you can make a scrappy sampler by
putting in different sized sashes and
then sewing together as in a scattered
setting....i would add a few more small blocks to
make it interesting
Theresa :
I would group them by size first, then play with layouts, perhaps you have enough the right size to do a solid row top and bottom then use sashing to separate the rest. Perhaps graduating the sashing witdth, getting wider as it goes towards the middle? The sashing sraws the eye away for the block. Alternatively once you have sorted the blocks by size see what you have anough similar sized blocks to do, for example, pillow shams would use up one or two each, valence for drapes use up a few, tote bag for grandma for Christmas, use up two and so on.Then make new blocks for your quilt, carefully, check each one as you finish it!
Alice :
To add to Nancy's idea - deliberately cut all the squares askew. Cut one side at any angle then square it off on your cutting board. I saw a quilt made this way and it was very attractive.
lindainchester@webtv.net :
I do not quilt, but my daughter does. I am sure that she would put your squares on a cutting mat, and trim them all of equal size with a roto cutter. Hope this works for you.
Elena :
Well, maybe you can use the ones that are closest in size. For instance, 20 of the blocks may be all about the same size. Trim those matching blocks down to the smallest size. Now they are all the same size. Use the oddballs in another project - like a pillow or something. I hope it works! I have a problem with seam widths too, and finally ended up taping a guide to my machine at 1/4" seam allowance.
Pat Neff :
When our bee had a block exchange, I received
15 blocks that were all "about" the same size,
but not quite. I picked a white-on-white
background fabric, and added a 2 inch sashing
of that around all the blocks. Then I trimmed
them until they were all the same size as
the littlest one, and joined them all using
colored sashing between them. Once they are
all together, you don't really notice that
the original blocks were different sizes!
Robin :
I would try to find the smallest one and then trim it down. Also, maybe adding sashing may help the inconsistecy.
When all else fails.... rip and recut in a more accurate way...
Nancy :
Add wide borders around each block then cut the blocks to the same size. The borders will be different sizes in the end, but that can be very interesting. Or, after adding larger borders, you can cut the blocks to size at a bit of a slant. The blocks will be square in size, but will be a bit askew. That can be very interesting as well.
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