Quilting Quandary !

I posted a while back that I had bought the fabric to have a stab at making this , and at the moment about all I am good for is a little sewing, so I decided I would make a start and just try a couple of rounds (as one does !!! ) The centre didn't take too much brain power, and I ended up with a reasonably accurate 12 1/2 inch square!

The trouble has started on border 2, diamond in a square , I cut out all the pieces needed and put together one border and , don't ask me why, measured it up against the centre block - Ooops!!! it doesn't fit!!! (Do not ask why Blogger has turned the photo!!!)

What on earth have I done wrong, even I can't possibly loose 1/2" in 12 - can I??? Read the pattern thoroughly again, measured all my remaining squares and triangles again, measured my finished squares again and , except for a cat's whisker of a difference on 2 of the finished 'diamonds' - everything was correct. I then went back to the pattern with my calculator and worked out what the length of the finished side would be using their measurements and the answer I came up with was ........ 11 7/8 inches NOT the required 12 1/2 !!

This next photo shows the block with the 'cut' triangle just placed at the end - Am I right in thinking that this pattern has an error in it, ie , no seam allowance on the end quarter square triangles ?

So, the quandary is, do I carry on with something I have doubts about or just forget the quilt altogether and use the fabric for something else ?? I was really taken with this pattern,and I know I can rectify this particular problem, but I certainly do not want to have to spend my time having to proove every measurement on every round- which is what I will do now that I've lost confidence - life's too short for that !!!! For the moment I have walked away from it completely and put it out of sight !!!

The really frustrating part of the story is that I have tried to contact Quilting Treasures by email to ask for their help and they are rejecting my mails as I cannot enter a recognised US mail address on their web site!!

On a happier note - I was visiting Anne' s Blog when I spied a lovely little mini quilt (scroll down a little) so I thought I would had a go at making a similar one. I am not really a red person, so I did this instead, and, guess what - no pattern !!!!

The 9 patch blocks are 1 1/2 inches finished, and the quiltie is approx 12 x 10 inches, and no particular reason for making it, just wanted to try ! I am going over to the UK at the end of the month for 3 weeks , and this will be going with me so I can try a little hand quilting on it (did I say hand quilting !!)