I told myself before I do one more thing with Viola, I absolutely have to get my Civil War Stars sewn together and off the design wall. I have run out of space on the smaller design wall to the left and it is time to move Viola on to the bigger one.
Sewing these stars into rows has really been a bit of a seam abutment nightmare. I could have solved this problem by making lattices between all the blocks, but then I would have had to make all those lattices. Ugh. I do hate making lattices.
So what do I do when the seams just don't abut right? I will tell you what I do. I clip the seams and fold and press it the way I want it to go. I know some of you may be gasping in horror at that idea. But honestly, we clip seams all the time in garment sewing and it works out all right. Why not clip seams in a quilt top so they will press flat and lie nicely in opposing directions? It makes for a bit of steamy pressing, but the top looks pretty flat and good to me.
Eight rows done, and that represents a fair amount of time, I can tell you. More than half way done! I hope to report back to you on Monday that this top is together.
Have a great weekend everyone.
60 responses to “Clear Off That Design Wall”
i hate to do lattice, too, but then it looks really good and neat and you don’t have to worry about nesting seams. I think there’re always pros and contras for or against it. I love your stars but tell the truth: how much time did you spend with arrange and rearraning them? That always take me forever;-)
i hate to do lattice, too, but then it looks really good and neat and you don’t have to worry about nesting seams. I think there’re always pros and contras for or against it. I love your stars but tell the truth: how much time did you spend with arrange and rearraning them? That always take me forever;-)
i hate to do lattice, too, but then it looks really good and neat and you don’t have to worry about nesting seams. I think there’re always pros and contras for or against it. I love your stars but tell the truth: how much time did you spend with arrange and rearraning them? That always take me forever;-)
I have an insane fear of clipping or grading seams … so much so that I refuse to do any curved piecing/applique. I came to quilting from garment sewing, but I still can’t quite move past that irrational fear. Your stars are looking fabulous! Love them.
I have an insane fear of clipping or grading seams … so much so that I refuse to do any curved piecing/applique. I came to quilting from garment sewing, but I still can’t quite move past that irrational fear. Your stars are looking fabulous! Love them.
I have an insane fear of clipping or grading seams … so much so that I refuse to do any curved piecing/applique. I came to quilting from garment sewing, but I still can’t quite move past that irrational fear. Your stars are looking fabulous! Love them.
I hate lattices, too, but sometimes like the look so they become a necessary bother.
To help seam intersections nestle well, I press the seams in adjoining rows in opposite directions and that seems to handle most bulky woes.
I have serious design wall envy over your TWO design walls and the fact one is really wonderfully large. That’s a price I pay for a small, small sewing room. Sigh!
Looking forward to seeing the Civil War Stars all together. Enjoy!
Hugs!
I hate lattices, too, but sometimes like the look so they become a necessary bother.
To help seam intersections nestle well, I press the seams in adjoining rows in opposite directions and that seems to handle most bulky woes.
I have serious design wall envy over your TWO design walls and the fact one is really wonderfully large. That’s a price I pay for a small, small sewing room. Sigh!
Looking forward to seeing the Civil War Stars all together. Enjoy!
Hugs!
I hate lattices, too, but sometimes like the look so they become a necessary bother.
To help seam intersections nestle well, I press the seams in adjoining rows in opposite directions and that seems to handle most bulky woes.
I have serious design wall envy over your TWO design walls and the fact one is really wonderfully large. That’s a price I pay for a small, small sewing room. Sigh!
Looking forward to seeing the Civil War Stars all together. Enjoy!
Hugs!
The stars are going to look awesome Nicole. Clip away I say! I clip all the time on my tiny little Jo Morton blocks. it is the only way to get them to behave! Hope to see the finished top on Monday. it looks so good!
Mary
The stars are going to look awesome Nicole. Clip away I say! I clip all the time on my tiny little Jo Morton blocks. it is the only way to get them to behave! Hope to see the finished top on Monday. it looks so good!
Mary
The stars are going to look awesome Nicole. Clip away I say! I clip all the time on my tiny little Jo Morton blocks. it is the only way to get them to behave! Hope to see the finished top on Monday. it looks so good!
Mary
I love the stars without the lattice!! …and you’ll find me clipping seams too 🙂 Works just fine. 🙂 love watching y’all sew up voila viola! 🙂
I love the stars without the lattice!! …and you’ll find me clipping seams too 🙂 Works just fine. 🙂 love watching y’all sew up voila viola! 🙂
I love the stars without the lattice!! …and you’ll find me clipping seams too 🙂 Works just fine. 🙂 love watching y’all sew up voila viola! 🙂
It’s going to be a fabulous quilt, and worth the effort!! Sally
It’s going to be a fabulous quilt, and worth the effort!! Sally
It’s going to be a fabulous quilt, and worth the effort!! Sally
Wow! I love this quilt.
Wow! I love this quilt.
Wow! I love this quilt.
I love all these stars!
When I know I will have a lot of seams, I press all of them open rather than to the side.
I love all these stars!
When I know I will have a lot of seams, I press all of them open rather than to the side.
I love all these stars!
When I know I will have a lot of seams, I press all of them open rather than to the side.
I noticed that in the Lori Holt stitch alongs, she demonstrates almost totally pressed open seams. I am seeing more designers go that route. After all, we pressed seams open on clothing for years. Personally, it was difficult for me to learn to press seams to one side when I started quilting. Not that all that helps on finishing your stars. You make lots of lovely quilts. It’s natural that the finishing of some overlaps with the starting of the next one. We know they will both be worth the effort. Stitch on Nicole, and keep blogging all about it.
I noticed that in the Lori Holt stitch alongs, she demonstrates almost totally pressed open seams. I am seeing more designers go that route. After all, we pressed seams open on clothing for years. Personally, it was difficult for me to learn to press seams to one side when I started quilting. Not that all that helps on finishing your stars. You make lots of lovely quilts. It’s natural that the finishing of some overlaps with the starting of the next one. We know they will both be worth the effort. Stitch on Nicole, and keep blogging all about it.
I noticed that in the Lori Holt stitch alongs, she demonstrates almost totally pressed open seams. I am seeing more designers go that route. After all, we pressed seams open on clothing for years. Personally, it was difficult for me to learn to press seams to one side when I started quilting. Not that all that helps on finishing your stars. You make lots of lovely quilts. It’s natural that the finishing of some overlaps with the starting of the next one. We know they will both be worth the effort. Stitch on Nicole, and keep blogging all about it.
I’ve taken “there are no quilting police” to heart & I clip seams a lot! I figure if it makes them nest & lie flat that’s a good thing! I’m finding I also press seams open when it helps the overall look on the top…again, keeping in mind that I will not be arrested for doing so! Have a nice quilting weekend!
I’ve taken “there are no quilting police” to heart & I clip seams a lot! I figure if it makes them nest & lie flat that’s a good thing! I’m finding I also press seams open when it helps the overall look on the top…again, keeping in mind that I will not be arrested for doing so! Have a nice quilting weekend!
I’ve taken “there are no quilting police” to heart & I clip seams a lot! I figure if it makes them nest & lie flat that’s a good thing! I’m finding I also press seams open when it helps the overall look on the top…again, keeping in mind that I will not be arrested for doing so! Have a nice quilting weekend!
I hate sewing rows together on a big quilt. You have hit the halfway mark. Forge ahead….you got this!
I hate sewing rows together on a big quilt. You have hit the halfway mark. Forge ahead….you got this!
I hate sewing rows together on a big quilt. You have hit the halfway mark. Forge ahead….you got this!
Do whatever works! No one will see it anyway! LOVE the stars. You are an inspiration to me to get projects completed! Have a great weekend.
Do whatever works! No one will see it anyway! LOVE the stars. You are an inspiration to me to get projects completed! Have a great weekend.
Do whatever works! No one will see it anyway! LOVE the stars. You are an inspiration to me to get projects completed! Have a great weekend.
Nothing wrong in making it work for you. I do it all the time. Who’s going to take it apart and check my seams? And in a hundred years and on a galloping donkey, who’s gonna care?
Nothing wrong in making it work for you. I do it all the time. Who’s going to take it apart and check my seams? And in a hundred years and on a galloping donkey, who’s gonna care?
Nothing wrong in making it work for you. I do it all the time. Who’s going to take it apart and check my seams? And in a hundred years and on a galloping donkey, who’s gonna care?
are you kidding? i’ve done that numerous times! nothing bad has happened and it lies flat! have a lovely weekend…
are you kidding? i’ve done that numerous times! nothing bad has happened and it lies flat! have a lovely weekend…
are you kidding? i’ve done that numerous times! nothing bad has happened and it lies flat! have a lovely weekend…
I have never clipped the seams, but I do press them whichever way I want too. Hey, whatever works to make it be flat! Your stars look wonderful. I had to laugh when I read that you were making yourself finish this before moving it off the wall for what you really wanted to work on. I do that sort of thing all the time for motivation.:)
I have never clipped the seams, but I do press them whichever way I want too. Hey, whatever works to make it be flat! Your stars look wonderful. I had to laugh when I read that you were making yourself finish this before moving it off the wall for what you really wanted to work on. I do that sort of thing all the time for motivation.:)
I have never clipped the seams, but I do press them whichever way I want too. Hey, whatever works to make it be flat! Your stars look wonderful. I had to laugh when I read that you were making yourself finish this before moving it off the wall for what you really wanted to work on. I do that sort of thing all the time for motivation.:)
Wow, that is a pretty quilt Nicole. But then all of your quilts are beautiful. Love seeing your work!
Wow, that is a pretty quilt Nicole. But then all of your quilts are beautiful. Love seeing your work!
Wow, that is a pretty quilt Nicole. But then all of your quilts are beautiful. Love seeing your work!
I was just looking at all your finishes for the last few years! WOW!! You are amazing!! I am speechless!! I bow to you and all of your incredible quilts!!!
I was just looking at all your finishes for the last few years! WOW!! You are amazing!! I am speechless!! I bow to you and all of your incredible quilts!!!
I was just looking at all your finishes for the last few years! WOW!! You are amazing!! I am speechless!! I bow to you and all of your incredible quilts!!!
Gorgeous Civil War Stars. Here’s hoping you get it all done this weekend. Who will be the lucky recipient of this quilt?
Gorgeous Civil War Stars. Here’s hoping you get it all done this weekend. Who will be the lucky recipient of this quilt?
Gorgeous Civil War Stars. Here’s hoping you get it all done this weekend. Who will be the lucky recipient of this quilt?
I’m with you regarding clipping and re-pressing. I wish designers would always give pressing directions to make our quilting lives much easier. I’m not 100% keen on pressing seams open but sometimes it’s the easiest solution.
I’m with you regarding clipping and re-pressing. I wish designers would always give pressing directions to make our quilting lives much easier. I’m not 100% keen on pressing seams open but sometimes it’s the easiest solution.
I’m with you regarding clipping and re-pressing. I wish designers would always give pressing directions to make our quilting lives much easier. I’m not 100% keen on pressing seams open but sometimes it’s the easiest solution.
I love the layout for your quilt! I have completely fallen off the wagon on making my stars but maybe I’ll catch up when the weather turns colder. Making all the lattice does seem daunting. I haven’t decided on a layout for mine yet.
I love the layout for your quilt! I have completely fallen off the wagon on making my stars but maybe I’ll catch up when the weather turns colder. Making all the lattice does seem daunting. I haven’t decided on a layout for mine yet.
I love the layout for your quilt! I have completely fallen off the wagon on making my stars but maybe I’ll catch up when the weather turns colder. Making all the lattice does seem daunting. I haven’t decided on a layout for mine yet.