Wednesday 14 May 2008

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 !!)

3 comments:

sewkalico said...

Gee, I don't think I'd be happy either, but I would possibly just try one side of the 3rd round. It may be that you just have to trim your initial block or that you need to be using scant quarter inch seam allowances.
Cute mini-quilt. (ps I love handquilting!!!)

Mad about Craft said...

I have seen this quilt on someone else's blog recently and if I see it again I will report back, especially if that person is having problems

Unknown said...

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - this looks beautiful in the blue as well :o)