Did you ever go to a restaurant and order a nice big salad? And when you were only half way done with it, everyone else at the table was finished with what they ordered? And sat staring at you while you kept eating and eating that salad? Feel like you had been chewing that salad for days? Figured you would NEVER see the bottom of that bowl? No matter how delicious the salad was?
Well, that is kinda how I am feeling about Route 44. I have been sewing and sewing and sewing, and only today did I finish my 25 four patch square in a square blocks. Whew. Glad that part is done, because, Friends, I was having Issues with that block. It was SO HARD to get the four patch corners to meet up nicely. As you can see from the top block above, I got three out of four. I am going to attack that one with a hot steam iron tomorrow and see if I can get it to behave.
Any tips on how to avoid that issue? Is it my wonky trimming? Has anyone made this quilt? Do the puckers come out when it's quilted? It is driving me crazy, and I know it is because I haven't been careful about something.
Oh, and in case you thought I might be seeing the end of the stitching tunnel, you would be mistaken.
I have 24 of these blocks to make and I all I have done is make the four patches. Hope these blocks go better! Sometimes I just get so annoyed with myself. Why can't it all be perfect?
58 responses to “Are We There Yet?”
No suggestions to help your dilemma – haven’t made this one but I’m loving the way it’s coming together. Yes, I’ve felt the same way with another quilt or two. Wondering if I’ll ever get it together. Let us know what you do with your blocks. Hope we get to see it when it’s finished.
~Adrienne~
No suggestions to help your dilemma – haven’t made this one but I’m loving the way it’s coming together. Yes, I’ve felt the same way with another quilt or two. Wondering if I’ll ever get it together. Let us know what you do with your blocks. Hope we get to see it when it’s finished.
~Adrienne~
The Square in a Square is a tough block to make for those of us that are nit picky perfectionists. I think that the same issues you find in the Flying geese block are pressent x 2. With my fit to be geese ruler I’m all set on the Flying geese but I really have not found a proper trick to work on this one. I bought Open Gate’s Fit to be Square ruler but since I avoid the block like the plague I haven’t had a chance to give it a try. Hats off to you for your perserverance.
The Square in a Square is a tough block to make for those of us that are nit picky perfectionists. I think that the same issues you find in the Flying geese block are pressent x 2. With my fit to be geese ruler I’m all set on the Flying geese but I really have not found a proper trick to work on this one. I bought Open Gate’s Fit to be Square ruler but since I avoid the block like the plague I haven’t had a chance to give it a try. Hats off to you for your perserverance.
It may be hard now, but remember how beautiful it will be when done. Also, take a break from it if you need to.
It may be hard now, but remember how beautiful it will be when done. Also, take a break from it if you need to.
no brilliant suggestions here either, just glad to hear someone else has troubles getting all the corners to match! Quilt looks wonderful so far! I love to follow your blog.
no brilliant suggestions here either, just glad to hear someone else has troubles getting all the corners to match! Quilt looks wonderful so far! I love to follow your blog.
You are doing Great! You are making better progress than I have going right now but hope to work on mine next week. If you are suffering a few puckers (not pleats) most of the time those can be quiltted out or disguised in the machine quilting. I am sure you’ll never see it when its finished. You are doing such a great job. Enjoy the journey…. xoxo
You are doing Great! You are making better progress than I have going right now but hope to work on mine next week. If you are suffering a few puckers (not pleats) most of the time those can be quiltted out or disguised in the machine quilting. I am sure you’ll never see it when its finished. You are doing such a great job. Enjoy the journey…. xoxo
This is going to be a pretty quilt! How do you iron your seams where the points of the 4-patches meet? Mine are always so bulky and I just can’t come up with a perfect solution. What works for you? Nancy in WI
This is going to be a pretty quilt! How do you iron your seams where the points of the 4-patches meet? Mine are always so bulky and I just can’t come up with a perfect solution. What works for you? Nancy in WI
Storm at Sea gives the same issues. Press the seam open. *gasp* Yes, it’s the best way to distribute the seam as there is no where for it to go. Or clip the seam on both sides and only press that one small section open. I clip and press on every block that I make. Jo Morton describes this in most of her books.
Storm at Sea gives the same issues. Press the seam open. *gasp* Yes, it’s the best way to distribute the seam as there is no where for it to go. Or clip the seam on both sides and only press that one small section open. I clip and press on every block that I make. Jo Morton describes this in most of her books.
If only the picture in our heads came out from the needle exactly as we see it! At some point you’ll have to be satisfied that you have done the best you can do–and let it go. They look terrific!
If only the picture in our heads came out from the needle exactly as we see it! At some point you’ll have to be satisfied that you have done the best you can do–and let it go. They look terrific!
Nicole, you are too picky! The seams look perfect to me. Remember, if the man on the galloping horse can’t see it…. I’m looking forward to making this quilt myself; bought the pattern when you all blogged about it. i’ll send you pictures of mine which will make you feel better about yours!
Nicole, you are too picky! The seams look perfect to me. Remember, if the man on the galloping horse can’t see it…. I’m looking forward to making this quilt myself; bought the pattern when you all blogged about it. i’ll send you pictures of mine which will make you feel better about yours!
If I ever made that block I would probably construct it with a square piece of the solid in the center and piece it diagonally with triangles. It would be less seam allowances to match up. I might try making one today. Is there a reason it couldn’t be sewed that way?
If I ever made that block I would probably construct it with a square piece of the solid in the center and piece it diagonally with triangles. It would be less seam allowances to match up. I might try making one today. Is there a reason it couldn’t be sewed that way?
In my very limited experience with quilting, the “galloping horse” rule is one that I choose to live by! My quilting teacher said so! My 3rd quilt that I just finished piecing for my dad for Christmas, shows vast improvement with star points than my 2nd quilt, so I’m pretty proud of myself. Live and learn and improve.
In my very limited experience with quilting, the “galloping horse” rule is one that I choose to live by! My quilting teacher said so! My 3rd quilt that I just finished piecing for my dad for Christmas, shows vast improvement with star points than my 2nd quilt, so I’m pretty proud of myself. Live and learn and improve.
My last quiltalong had several square in a square blocks and I wasn’t very good at piecing them either. I think some of them I snipped into the seam allowance so the seam could lay a bit flatter. That was a pain too, but I think it helped a little.
My last quiltalong had several square in a square blocks and I wasn’t very good at piecing them either. I think some of them I snipped into the seam allowance so the seam could lay a bit flatter. That was a pain too, but I think it helped a little.
The only way to get perfect Square in a Square units is to paper piece them. Every other method winds up being good, very good or not even close. That’s the bad news… or the good news, depending on your point of view.
The good news ~ and this is good news ~ is that it will improve with some steam, with quilting and then with washing. I think a quilter probably first used the phrase about “it all coming out in the wash”. 🙂
The only way I get units like this to match up is to trim using a regular square ruler. The lines of the ruler are lined up on the points/corners of the inside square or block. No matter what else is going on, those points will match up when I pin the squares together. Even then, there are always one or two that defy “perfection”. If it makes you feel better, they make me crazy too. 🙂
The only way to get perfect Square in a Square units is to paper piece them. Every other method winds up being good, very good or not even close. That’s the bad news… or the good news, depending on your point of view.
The good news ~ and this is good news ~ is that it will improve with some steam, with quilting and then with washing. I think a quilter probably first used the phrase about “it all coming out in the wash”. 🙂
The only way I get units like this to match up is to trim using a regular square ruler. The lines of the ruler are lined up on the points/corners of the inside square or block. No matter what else is going on, those points will match up when I pin the squares together. Even then, there are always one or two that defy “perfection”. If it makes you feel better, they make me crazy too. 🙂
Just remember Nicole, if you want perfection…DON’T make quilts!!! There will always be one seam that drives you crazy, one point that isn’t ‘quite’ there…but in the end, after it’s quilted and washed for that wonderful crinkley look, you can’t find the things that you were unhappy with. Besides, all the fun will go out of your project if it has to be perfect, because you will never finish it. Hugs…
Just remember Nicole, if you want perfection…DON’T make quilts!!! There will always be one seam that drives you crazy, one point that isn’t ‘quite’ there…but in the end, after it’s quilted and washed for that wonderful crinkley look, you can’t find the things that you were unhappy with. Besides, all the fun will go out of your project if it has to be perfect, because you will never finish it. Hugs…
Nicole It all looks good to me you are little Miss Perfect.
Hugs Mary.
Nicole It all looks good to me you are little Miss Perfect.
Hugs Mary.
this looks great to me 😉 I love your choice of fabric – Old Primrose Inn was my very first Moda charm square purchase.
this looks great to me 😉 I love your choice of fabric – Old Primrose Inn was my very first Moda charm square purchase.
I’ve sewn some of those quilts that seem endless. It will all be worth it in the end when it looks so gorgeous. Then you won’t even notice any imperfections anyway.
I’ve sewn some of those quilts that seem endless. It will all be worth it in the end when it looks so gorgeous. Then you won’t even notice any imperfections anyway.
I don’t think you would want to be perfect…then you may not have fun! And I’ve read over and over, Amish say that mistakes should be left in quilts because only God is perfect….LOL, as I get so irritated with myself with mistakes!
Love the way this one is coming together. I still am new enough with quilting that I would be very “a-scared” to even try all those points. Looking good!
I don’t think you would want to be perfect…then you may not have fun! And I’ve read over and over, Amish say that mistakes should be left in quilts because only God is perfect….LOL, as I get so irritated with myself with mistakes!
Love the way this one is coming together. I still am new enough with quilting that I would be very “a-scared” to even try all those points. Looking good!
Love the way it is coming out but it is times like you are feeling is when I question myself, Why do I do this? Why do I sew and nothing is coming out perfect. But it is our love for it and this is going to be beautiful when you get it finished and quilted and if one square doesnt match no one is going to know because of it all over beauty.
Love the way it is coming out but it is times like you are feeling is when I question myself, Why do I do this? Why do I sew and nothing is coming out perfect. But it is our love for it and this is going to be beautiful when you get it finished and quilted and if one square doesnt match no one is going to know because of it all over beauty.
Whenever I sew triangles, I trim them with the Fons & Porter triangle trimmers, or the Easy Angle ruler — any ruler with the quarter-inch offset will do.
The blocks are beautiful. You always choose wonderful fabrics for your projects.
Whenever I sew triangles, I trim them with the Fons & Porter triangle trimmers, or the Easy Angle ruler — any ruler with the quarter-inch offset will do.
The blocks are beautiful. You always choose wonderful fabrics for your projects.
Looks great to me! You know from looking at so many, many quilts that you don’t look for mistakes, sewn-in points and all the other hiccups that can befall us as we merrily and carefully sew.
This week I’ve been working on DS1’s quilt at last. It was started so long ago that it’s a good thing fabric doesn’t rot if you just keep it dry! It’s been a learning process for making the side center unit that are a sort of stretched Peaky and Spike (my personal nemesis), I’ve now made 8 blocks and discovered when making block 7 how to keep them the needed 4″x6″ size.
Hugs!
Looks great to me! You know from looking at so many, many quilts that you don’t look for mistakes, sewn-in points and all the other hiccups that can befall us as we merrily and carefully sew.
This week I’ve been working on DS1’s quilt at last. It was started so long ago that it’s a good thing fabric doesn’t rot if you just keep it dry! It’s been a learning process for making the side center unit that are a sort of stretched Peaky and Spike (my personal nemesis), I’ve now made 8 blocks and discovered when making block 7 how to keep them the needed 4″x6″ size.
Hugs!
My goal when I’m piecing is to make my units/blocks flat. This involves paying close attention to the directions the seams are pressed to reduce bulk. And, looking at how the blocks join together. So, sometimes – (gasp) as Sharon said – you have to press seams open. I know this makes some folks squirm, but it does reduce and spread the bulk. I think the way we quilt nowdays – quite often an overall or edge to edge design – we don’t have to worry about seams coming open. I have made many (many!!!!) quilts and have not had any problem with my seams ever coming open.
So, enjoy the journey – think of the “rules” as “guidelines” – and you’ll have fun!!!!
My goal when I’m piecing is to make my units/blocks flat. This involves paying close attention to the directions the seams are pressed to reduce bulk. And, looking at how the blocks join together. So, sometimes – (gasp) as Sharon said – you have to press seams open. I know this makes some folks squirm, but it does reduce and spread the bulk. I think the way we quilt nowdays – quite often an overall or edge to edge design – we don’t have to worry about seams coming open. I have made many (many!!!!) quilts and have not had any problem with my seams ever coming open.
So, enjoy the journey – think of the “rules” as “guidelines” – and you’ll have fun!!!!
I feel your pain! I will never see the end of the depression quilt pattern……never…….maybe that is why it is the depression quilt????????
I feel your pain! I will never see the end of the depression quilt pattern……never…….maybe that is why it is the depression quilt????????
Despite your cries of woe, I just this minute purchased Route 44 and Ashcombe. They both have that look of scrappy quality to them. Now I can hardly wait for presents in the mail!! Thelma’s Route 44 sure is pretty. Yours will be just a beautiful. You’ve just hit a bump in the road.
Despite your cries of woe, I just this minute purchased Route 44 and Ashcombe. They both have that look of scrappy quality to them. Now I can hardly wait for presents in the mail!! Thelma’s Route 44 sure is pretty. Yours will be just a beautiful. You’ve just hit a bump in the road.
Beautiful! Don’t give up the ship…it is turning out beautifully! ;0
Beautiful! Don’t give up the ship…it is turning out beautifully! ;0
Your blocks look great. Remember that if it looks good from two feet away it’s fine. Most of us have a hard time with things when we are working on them because they are so close when it’s really not bad at all.
Aside from that, I know this won’t help now, but if you make this quilt again, here’s what I am doing (only works if using a single background)…
The block with the setting triangles I actually made as a puss in the corner block with a 4-patch in the middle. Less seams in general and a lot easier to match the seams.
The other block with the four single 4-patches set on point I actually pieced with a solid square in the middle and setting triangles around the edge. Again, less seams and much easier to match points since the seams are then offset and not one on top of the other.
Love the pattern and again if using scrappy backgrounds this wouldn’t work out quite as well. These couple of changes are making this way more enjoyable for me at least.
Can’t wait to see yours done!
Your blocks look great. Remember that if it looks good from two feet away it’s fine. Most of us have a hard time with things when we are working on them because they are so close when it’s really not bad at all.
Aside from that, I know this won’t help now, but if you make this quilt again, here’s what I am doing (only works if using a single background)…
The block with the setting triangles I actually made as a puss in the corner block with a 4-patch in the middle. Less seams in general and a lot easier to match the seams.
The other block with the four single 4-patches set on point I actually pieced with a solid square in the middle and setting triangles around the edge. Again, less seams and much easier to match points since the seams are then offset and not one on top of the other.
Love the pattern and again if using scrappy backgrounds this wouldn’t work out quite as well. These couple of changes are making this way more enjoyable for me at least.
Can’t wait to see yours done!
Sorry, no suggestions. I try to stay away from these types of blocks. I love the four patches and your choice of fabrics, and when your quilt is finished, it will be beautiful. Sometimes we have to turn a blind eye to little imperfections in order to keep going.
Sorry, no suggestions. I try to stay away from these types of blocks. I love the four patches and your choice of fabrics, and when your quilt is finished, it will be beautiful. Sometimes we have to turn a blind eye to little imperfections in order to keep going.
I have been teaching quilting for 20 years and when a student ran across the problem, I would paste the block to my front, have her stand at least 10 feet away and ask her if she could see any problems. Nuff said.
Yorr blocks look great, as usual.
Lisa
I have been teaching quilting for 20 years and when a student ran across the problem, I would paste the block to my front, have her stand at least 10 feet away and ask her if she could see any problems. Nuff said.
Yorr blocks look great, as usual.
Lisa
WEll, that hard work turned out just great!!! Such a gorgeous block!
WEll, that hard work turned out just great!!! Such a gorgeous block!