Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

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You Simply MUST Trim

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I know I have harped on this subject in the past, but it is so important, I feel I must get up on the soap box again.

This past weekend I made 40 quarter square triangle blocks for one of the borders for my Summer Wind Moor is Moor quilt.  A quarter square triangle block is made of two half square triangles sewn together and then cut apart, giving you two quarter square triangle blocks.  They resemble little hour glasses.

You may think that if you cut properly and sew with an accurate scant quarter inch seam that your little hour glass blocks would come out just fine and dandy—ready to go.  However, you would be mistaken.

These blocks require trimming.  I love the Precision Trimmer ruler.  See in the photo above how the edges of the block hang out over the 3 1/2" measurement line?  That is how much the block is off!

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You line the diagonal lines right along your seam lines and trim off the excess on two sides.  Swing the block around, reposition the ruler and trim the remaining two sides.  It seems like a lot of trouble, but honestly, your blocks will be dead-on perfect if you take the time.

And besides, when you look at the pile of trimmings left over, and add up the total measurements the blocks were off the correct size, it adds up to a big mess if you had left the blocks as they were.  No way would things have lined up.

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If you don't have the Precision Trimmer, you can certainly work with a normal ruler, but the clear markings on the Precision Trimmer make it really easy.  You can trim blocks up to 6 inches.

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Added later:  In answer to some very good questions–

Why aren't the blocks the right size in the first place?  Did the designer screw up?

    Many designers know that seam allowances can vary a lot, so they make their blocks a teensy bit bigger so they can be trimmed down the the perfect size.

Where can I get a Precision Trimmer?

    I got mine at Eddie's in Sunnyvale.  You can also go right to the source and order one:

http://www.marshamccloskey.com/prectrim6.html

40 responses to “You Simply MUST Trim”

  3. While you’re at it, how about mentioning the importance of pressing the seams flat without twisting them. That just drives me crazy.

  4. While you’re at it, how about mentioning the importance of pressing the seams flat without twisting them. That just drives me crazy.

  11. Is the measurements a pattern mistake? Why wouldn’t the designer have caught this, OR is this just the normal thing and you are supposed to~ measure afterwards and trim? Obviously, I haven’t used any bought patterns (except for Thimbleberries and she is ALWAYS right on everything).

  12. Is the measurements a pattern mistake? Why wouldn’t the designer have caught this, OR is this just the normal thing and you are supposed to~ measure afterwards and trim? Obviously, I haven’t used any bought patterns (except for Thimbleberries and she is ALWAYS right on everything).

  15. i neither cut that accurately or sew that accurately so i find that i MUST trim my blocks. in fact, when i cut for half-square triangles, i go up 1/8″, and i still only just make it when i trim down. oh well, i’m not making show quilts!

  16. i neither cut that accurately or sew that accurately so i find that i MUST trim my blocks. in fact, when i cut for half-square triangles, i go up 1/8″, and i still only just make it when i trim down. oh well, i’m not making show quilts!

  23. Nicole, I learned the importance of precision trimming very early on, THANK GOODNESS!!! Now about those little left over strands of fabric. Do you throw them away? The Humane Society around here asks the fabric shops to save thier scraps for pet beds. I saw one and they are the fluffiest, softest beds you can imagine. Throw the entire thing in the washer and dryer and it holds it shape perfectly. I started saving mine about 6 months ago. Any scrap too small to use goes in the dog bed bag and it doesn’t take up any room to speak of. I already have half a large leaf bag full. In just a couple of months, my little furry folks should have a nice new soft bed. I could make one now but I want it to be large enough for both of them and really full and nice.

  24. Nicole, I learned the importance of precision trimming very early on, THANK GOODNESS!!! Now about those little left over strands of fabric. Do you throw them away? The Humane Society around here asks the fabric shops to save thier scraps for pet beds. I saw one and they are the fluffiest, softest beds you can imagine. Throw the entire thing in the washer and dryer and it holds it shape perfectly. I started saving mine about 6 months ago. Any scrap too small to use goes in the dog bed bag and it doesn’t take up any room to speak of. I already have half a large leaf bag full. In just a couple of months, my little furry folks should have a nice new soft bed. I could make one now but I want it to be large enough for both of them and really full and nice.

  25. Thanks fot this, Nicole – I always trim mine, but this ruler makes it look a lot easier – more retail therapy for me – yay!
    Cheers!

  26. Thanks fot this, Nicole – I always trim mine, but this ruler makes it look a lot easier – more retail therapy for me – yay!
    Cheers!

  31. Thanks for the reminder. What a valuable lesson!! I’ve always used a regular ruler to square up my blocks but I think I might have to have one of those precision trimmers.

  32. Thanks for the reminder. What a valuable lesson!! I’ve always used a regular ruler to square up my blocks but I think I might have to have one of those precision trimmers.

  35. Thanks for the great information.
    The past week I have made a table runner using very similar pattern but when I tried to add the next border that was also pieced it did not fit, now I know why I need to trim thanks again.
    Sylvia 🙂

  36. Thanks for the great information.
    The past week I have made a table runner using very similar pattern but when I tried to add the next border that was also pieced it did not fit, now I know why I need to trim thanks again.
    Sylvia 🙂

  37. I always make mine a tad bigger, spritz a little starch, iron and use that trimmer. I get much better results that way! :~)

  38. I always make mine a tad bigger, spritz a little starch, iron and use that trimmer. I get much better results that way! :~)