Monday, June 05, 2006

Quilt Swap help

I recently participated in a block swap & was a bit disappointed when I vound the blocks weren't all the size they were supposed to be - but I found help
quote from -
http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltingcommunity/a/swap_blocks.htm

Working with Swapped Quilt BlocksIf you get a block that isn't quite large enough, try pressing it first to see if it grows a bit--blocks are usually too small, not too large.
If that won't quite do it, or if the patches on the outer edges of the block are a bit uneven, use freezer paper to prep the blocks for sewing. Gridded freezer paper makes the job easier, but you can work with plain freezer paper if that's what you have on hand.
>Cut a piece of freezer paper the exact size your unfinished blocks should be.
>Draw two straight lines on the freezer paper's unshiny side--one along the vertical center and one along the horizontal center.
>Draw two diagonal lines, each from one corner to the opposite corner.
>Draw any other lines you feel will help you position the block on the freezer paper.
>Place a block on the ironing board, right side down Position the freezer paper on top of the block, shiny side down.
>Align the block with the freezer paper image, matching up strategic parts of the block with the drawing. Using short applique pins, stab through areas to keep the two from shifting apart.
>When the block and the drawn image are aligned as well as possible, press the paper onto the block. Remove the pins.
>Inspect the edges of the block. They probably won't all reach the edges of the freezer paper, but they should be well enough into the outer quarter-inch area to catch the seam as it passes by.
>Repeat for all blocks that need to be squared up.
>To sew blocks together, align freezer paper edges and check to make sure the patches are matched under the paper. Secure with pins if you like. Sew a seam 1/4" inward from the edge of the paper.
>Assemble into rows then join rows. Do not remove papers until all adjoining blocks are sewn together. Leave the papers around the outer perimeter of the quilt until borders are added.
This method helps prevent skewed quilts by keeping the blocks in-square while you work on them. Your 1/4" seams will be where they should be based on the pattern--and that's sometimes a whole lot different than where they would be sewn if you match-up the edges of inaccurate

MayGod always bless you