Elaine’s Tech Tips™
One of the most frustrating aspects of quilting is making a block and realizing that the block is either too large or too small. This is a result of one of three things: inaccurate cutting, lack of a scant and consistent ¼” seam allowance or poor pressing. While squaring up your block will not fix all the above, it is an important step to help compensate for these inaccuracies, if for no other reason than to make you aware of the size issue before you finish.
If the block is too small, you may have to modify the other blocks or simply add a coping strip of fabric around the block to make it the same size as the others. If the block is too large, you may lose some of the design if you need to square it up to match the size of the other blocks.
The following techniques for squaring up will help to ensure that your blocks end up the size they need to be.
squaring up a block in sections
If you are working on a block that consists of sections, make sure that each section is the correct size before sewing the block together. While this technique takes a bit more time, it does ensure that the block will be fairly accurate when it is finally sewn together.
Let’s assume you are making a block which has 9 sections. Four of the sections are half square triangles; four are rail fence blocks and one 9-patch.
Read more in our Spring 2012 issue.
Article by Elaine Theriault
crazyquilteronabike.blogspot.com
Bio: Elaine made her first quilt at the tender age of 13. The urge to quilt resurfaced when her daughter moved from a crib. The rest is history – she now teaches several days a week, makes quilts on commission and quilts for others on the long-arm.
