matching seams and points in quilting

You now have beautifully matched up points in your quilt! 8. Welcome to Quilting Wemple! It not only transforms scraps of fabric into nice and neat pattern but it can do so with greater seam accuracy, less time and fewer headaches than sewing row by row using the traditional piecing methods. I think about how I want to press my fabric to make each seam lay the nicest. It isnt that Ive always been able to do this. Use your fork pins to secure in place and remove the glass head pin. What is most important is the fold along the grid line not the sewing that ensures accuracy. This works, but when triangles are introduced into our design, bulky seams make this technique not very effective. PRESS - Press all seams as you go, even while sewing together the initial strips. Of course, sometimes you just have to change out your blade during the process. Join. Thank you for your response. See what color interactions, If you are looking for a nice gift idea, this is the project for you. If I have just sewn something and I see a big mistake, I dont understand pressing on. Thank you so much for being a part of our quilting friends. If it is something that will be taken care of in the seam allowance, or if it is close, I may leave it. You can stretch your units and make matching very difficult if you aren't careful. I design modern quilt patterns that are thoughtfully written. Kelly Hanson shows us how to make a mug rug that is perfect for holding coffee or tea without making a mess. And, it's fat quarter friendly so it's a great project for . Double check and make any adjustments. This means that the seams should align perfectly and fit into each other like puzzle pieces. I used clips to keep the rows straight while stitching the longer horizontal rows. Press, lift, move, and lower the iron along the seam. Seams can be bulky where many fabrics come together making it difficult for quilting and may wear faster at that point (there are easy methods for flattening these points) Shadowing caused by seams pressed one way add depth and dimension that is part of the feel of a traditional quilt Seams pressed open: I think this and the automatic cutting feature on my machine are worth their weight in gold. Quilt Block Notes. It has a rough side where the adhesive is infused and a perfect 1 grid printed over the entire surface that is visible from both sides. Once you have the first point, put that same pin right through the tip of the point of the second block. Look on the other side or right side of the fabric to make sure the pin is at the tip of the point. Thank you! Sometimes you have two HST blocks that come together at the same intersection in one row, for example. She used to do all kind of magic things by swing pieces of materials. Maybe you have another method that works better for you. Achieving perfect points in quilting is the ultimate exercise in sewing an accurate 1/4 seam allowance. If your whole row is off, take the whole row out and try it again. I love hearing how different people do things as sometimes a little twerk to my own style makes all the difference! 3. What ideas do you envision with this technique and this product? The main reason I bought this quilters grid was to make a checker board patterned panel for a tote bag. When I say this and then explain how I do this, you may think Im a little OCD or particular. Looking at this I am able to envision a multitude of possibilities! Yes, that and then fingerpress the seam open improved my accuracy! Please share in the comments below you tips for matching seams and achieving perfect points. Step One: Trim. (Its not visible in this picture but Im using a 1/4 presser foot with a fence along the right side to ensure a consistent 1/4 seam. When sewing, let the alignment pin "ride . If you are interested in learning an alternative method for quilting perfect points in patchwork, check out the following videos: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Brilliant! When you have stitched the whole row together, open it up and see what your intersections look like. Make sure that your block is indeed the size it should be at this point. I would never starch after Ive cutuntil I get to the end. Since this is where you are going to start to sew, place the pin down about an inch instead of at the very end. Once youve completed all the steps above the result is a fabric panel that you can do most anything with. I have one that the blue bead head was put on crooked. The second key to successful Y-seams is actually being able to stop your needle in the right spot. Im glad you thought it was helpful! Do not back stitch or reinforce your stitches. For many of us who quilt, and especially those starting out, we may not be at point where this level of perfection is necessary and would rather take the philosophy: Better Finished Than Perfect! This is how I pin both sides of a point intersection of seams that are pressed alternately. * Note* Im not sure if anyone else does this but when Im using smaller 2 squares, after stitching, I will trim 1/8 from the fold line. Sometimes feeding the fabric through a lowered foot will move one of the layers just enough that it makes the ends out of alignment. Sew together the layers, using a stitch design of your choice. You can play around with this part until it works best for you, but as a general rule, I always sew about two threads to the right of the points. 3. I love my pins. Practically Perfect. But if you are new to quilting or would like to know more, then read on. The full quilt is 69 by 111.5. In this instance, I would opt to press that seam of that row, open on both rows. Use a 24 ruler, placing the ruler's 1/4 line where seams cross on the corners of the setting triangles. From an early age Ive had a love of craft and one early memory is spending my school holidays learning how to sew on my Mums sewing machine. I have been cussing and pulling my hair out, pledging never to sew again because of my seams. I have used this several times on princess seams and it has worked perfectly for me. 2. You can pretty easily feel the difference between when the two seams are sitting on top of each other and when they fall into line with each other. Now run the pin through the tip of the other row. So my sewing start is that of a different nature than just starting out quilting in the sense that I do now. Continue stitching each of the short rows. Find out how to utilize different colored shapes and fabrics without creating visual chaos. 2. Learning to nest your seams, my friends, is a quilter's best friend. But I also play with other kinds. Enter in your email and password to create a FREE account. Leave the initial pin perpendicular to the fabric and pin on either side to keep everything in place. Place the two strips with right sides facing, and use a straight pin to precisely align your two marked points. I call these pretty points. Now you need to be sure that the strips are pressed in alternate directions. It's truly magical. I like starch like faultless because I can pick it up almost anywhere. Seam Ripper. If you dont, learn how to get that accurate 1/4 seam. Make sure the pace is a steady flow. The double pins can quickly pierce and firmly hold a slippery lining material temporarily in place. Typically, it consists of a series of many, if not hundreds, of tiny 1 or 1.5 (postage stamp size) squares of fabric sewn together in neat rows. There are a few things you want to remember as you sew. Add 1 1/4 inches to the dimension calculated in Step 1 and round up to the nearest 1/8 of an inch. It took me a while to find the name of this pattern. Then use the grid lines on the mat to line your ruler up straight. Quite often after taking a break from piecing Ill decide that it really isnt that bad after all! Pin to secure, just where the crease of the 1/4 we have made. The good news is that if you have done all I have spelled out, you are usually only going to have one place where the alignment is off. The third intersection is a reverse of the first. Every time I use it, it makes me smile. Do you just spray it all down and iron it before starting cutting? THE TRICK IS: Line up the seams and then pin directly through the seams or as closely as possible to them. 1999-2023 Crafts Americana Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Now put two pins in the piece as you would normally pin, one on either side of this straight pin. Heather Thomas explains the benefits of using straight pin bastes when quilting. After piecing and pressing, your nesting seams will look like this. Or in the case of quilting, you can nest your seams to avoid bulks. Yes, the thinner pins do give and bend more, but they seem to work better for me. I find it easier to start with the short rows. So much fun to read! Get a second opinion, or just put it aside and come back with fresh eyes. It "seams" logical doesn't it? Apply the same method for matching half-square triangles angled corner seams. This is magic! This means that the seams of each row are aligned, and the pieces fit together almost like the pieces of a puzzle. Fold ON the grid line. You are going to have people that swear by another way. Both ways though, Im pinning fairly close to the intersection. Matching 8 seams with triangle tips can seem impossible. The first time I tried this product I had only one word for it magic. I prefer to pin my nested seams in place using fork pins, but some quilters will not pin at all. For these rows, Ive determined there are 3 intersections on the top and bottom row. Ensure your seams are consistent in width or taper at the start and end of your sewing. Im not kidding. There are a whole lotta words about to happen with some pictures thrown in. Your finished patchwork will appear much smoother and neater if you do. You can feel a seam is nesting when the seams bump up against each other. Also, remember to watch your fabric feeding into the sewing machine. Still, Andy Farrell's men had enough quality to earn a third bonus-point win, thanks to tries from James Ryan, Hugo Keenan, Bundee Aki and a brace for Mack Hansen, whose second finally saw them . The more fabrics at each intersection, the bulkier it is going to be. Sew from seam line to seam line (where you marked points) starting and stopping 1/4" from each end and backstitching at the beginning and end of each seam. Good luck! To get perfectly matching seams, the best technique is to press the seams of your two blocks in opposite directions. Learn how colors interact with each other and how to ensure the colors make your quilt rather than break your quilt. Who wants that? You just have to take a second to intentionally aim to match up those points before you ever go to the sewing machine. Please feel free to tell me if you found something that works better for you. I will give it a try, fingers crossed. With right sides of the rows together, run the pin through the very tip of the coordinating point from the other row, and push the pin all the way in. IRL you would not find me OCD at all. Once you are finished with the seam, double check your work and head to the ironing table! Sew the lone star points together into pairs to make (4) quarters, matching seams. I LOVE to match up my seams as nicely as I can. When you pull the blocks out of the sewing machine you will have stitching holding the points in place instead of pins. IMG 2. For example, sometimes there are less points on one row, sometimes there are the same number. No poo for you. See examples of quilts and learn how to effectively mix color intensities for your own quilts. Now lets admire your block. So 99% of the time, I take my pins out just before they get to the presser foot. Not so fast. But it really is just keeping most of these things in your mind as you sew. This kind of reminds me of how I learned to cross stitch. Take a pin and do the same thing on the the third intersection. I love process posts. If you sew directly on the top of your points, they are going to get sucked into the depths of your seam. If you already have something that works for you, then go with what you know. I suggest reading through it all once before you try it, because peppered throughout is a lot of back story to why I do it the way I do. If you dont like it, find one you do like. My machine doesnt always grab the top and bottom fabrics at the same time resulting in unmatched cornersmany unmatched corners. If they are off or different sizes now, they are going to make your quilt off. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Unlock exclusive member content from our industry experts. The applications are endless so keep an eye out for them and be sure to keep this technique in your quilting tool box for next time. Plus be the first to know about pattern releases, tutorials and sales. Hopefully the pictures will help clarify what Im talking about here. Making sure the outside edges match up, pin both layers together. So much out there in the world inspires me and Im glad I was able to provide you with a bit of inspiration as well! Does it really look that bad? Wow! I even have gotten to know the quirks of some of them. Your diagonal seams should line up perfectly. HST seam question. Lay right sides together and then. If you still want to use the quilters grid interfacing and more drape is desired, then I would suggest using larger fabric squares (6 or so) or even rectangles! We fold 1/4 " the edge of the top row IMG 3, which is the seam allowance we are using, and press with our fingers to make a crease. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I always like to start each row by lifting the presser foot, placing the fabric down and then lowering the foot onto the fabric. When you open up your two or more layers of fabric, you are adding a little bit of bulk to your seam. It only takes a minute at most to do all of this. Thank you so much for your comments! I like pretty, heart fluttering, practically perfect points. I use the thinnest pins I can find. Thanks for such a fantastic and helpful post. However, dont let the appearance discourage you iron it all out and the result ismagical! If any of your intersection only have one side with a point and the other coordinating seam with no points, I first run the pin through the tip of the top point and then just pin the seam intersection to match the seams , making sure the top of the fabric from both rows are level with each other. You stitch the units of a block together and press the seams only to flip it over and see this: One of your points is cut off by the seam. While this step is not 100% necessary as you get more comfortable, when you are first learning how to match up points, its literally the best trick in the book. We strive for perfection, but sometimes near enough is good enough: We are our own worst critics, so be kind to yourself. This is a thin fabric made from 100% polyester. Next, press the horizontal seams open. 5. Step 12 First, press the center seam open. The seams slide side-to-side, and matching points in quilting becomes nearly impossible. Seam Matching Perfectly matched seams the first time, every time 5,625 views Apr 27, 2018 92 Dislike Share Save Heartfelt Quilt Design LLC 59 subscribers When quilting, do you have problems. Place a pin in each dogear pair. The "Magic" is in the interfacing - specifically, Pellon 820 Quilters Grid. Watch even more great videos when you become a National Quilters Circle Member! If the bottom layer moves, you are going to have a wavy seam. If you have issues with a bulky intersection, it may help to sew to the intersection from one direction and then turn the whole piece around and sew the rest from the other direction and through the intersection. Matching Seams in Quilting - Pro-Tip Tuesday Summer Lee Quilts 493 subscribers Subscribe Share Save 12K views 4 years ago Pro-Tip Tuesday In this week's Pro-Tip Tuesday, I show you an easy way. Shift the rows so that the dogears are stacked. She provides helpful tips and techniques that ensure a great end result for your quilts. Practically Perfect! Requires you to sew just under 1/4 inch, which is typically a thread or two within your normal 1/4 inch seam. Now that you are this far, lets start to sew these two perfectly paired rows together. Repeat to make a second unit, with the D CST in the top right corner of P (Fig 1). First, with one strip wrong side facing up, use a seam gauge to mark the seam 1/4 from the raw edge of the fabric. When you are done, gently open up your quilt blocks and see how good your aim was! This multistep process reduces shifting and can make quilting perfect points an achievable goal. Make sure the right side of your fabric is facing up. The seam allowance and its accuracy is especially important when you are matching seam points and sewing - like you do when making a quilt or joining pieces in making garments. The heat will dry the glue and bond the two pieces of fabric together. You might not like to hear it, but pinning is going to be the best thing you can do. This will allow more space between the stitch lines and the end result isnt a fabric panel that is too firm and stiff to work with. I do this even if I am chain stitching instead of just feeding the next row right into the lowered foot. This is a Quilt as you go and each block is made of scraps from a quilt (or quilts) that I have made. 1 / 3. This does look bad! You want the two blocks pinned so your one pin is perfectly lining up those two points, right sides together. Yay! Become best friends with your seam ripper. Once you have the first point, put that same pin right through the tip of the point of the second block. At this point, for a 6" finished block, this unit measures 2" square from edge to edge. If you cut all your pieces out perfectly shouldnt you get perfect points and seams automatically? Push your pin through the back of the block right at the tip of the point and double check the right side to make sure you've got the pin coming out the other side at the right spot. I call this good enough. Cut the square in half, twice diagonally. It is silly to combine blocks of different sizes at this point if you want your quilt to behave nicely. To sew a Corner-square Triangle (CST), place a square in the corner of a fabric piece, RST. In quilting, the 1/4 seam allowance is pretty much EVERYTHING. You should not hate it, you should really love it. If you only have one intersection or point that is off, you can just unstitch about 1/2 before and 1/2 after the intersection. I hope this helps. You just want a visible line and a good crease at this point. Check your SPAM folder or contact us. Here's a little schematic I put together. Sew a TRUE 1/4" seam at the edges of the block and a scant 1/4" seam at the center point of the block. Im continually inspired by the creativity shown by readers like you! PIN THIS! If you matched the ends of each row before you stitched them, you shouldnt have any trimming aside from threads at this point. Remember not to push the fabric because you dont want to distort it. Also, your fabric should be lining up at about the same place on the top. *Im going to say this again and again. Once you have all of your points pinned together, you can go ahead and pin the rest of the seam as needed. Thanks for stopping by! This allows you to move the entire piece from ironing board to sewing table and then move the piece around the machine as you sew without the worry of it shifting or moving out of place. IMG 5. That's a lot of seams coming together and I'm concerned about the bulk. If your points and intersections are all nice and pretty, this is the part where you can shout your Hallelujahs and press the seam. Tip: Sometimes you may get a seam that doesnt nest well and you may need to match the seams using a pin. 5. When multiple seams are converging at one spot to make the point in your block, the turn of the seam when you open it up might be bulkier than you expected. Wonderful post Anjeanette! This act will ensure no loose threads in between in your quilt, which others can see and spoil the look. So, I set off on a quest to discover how I could achieve matching seams and perfect points. I have a thing for pins too, and I appreciate this post. Maybe you already know how to do this. STEP 1. If you didnt use starch before you started cutting your blocks, I would not use it now. Please check your inbox for your free quilt pattern! A few examples when I decided near enough was good enough! Yes, I like to spray a light layer on all the fabric first. Hand-piecing templates: Pattern shapes used to trace and cut patches for . Are less points on one row, for example right through the seams and achieving points. Points, they are going to have a thing for pins too, and appreciate. Together the layers, using a pin and do the same thing on the the third intersection is thin... Marked points threads in between in your email and password to create a free account of alignment have one or... Inches to the intersection to secure in place and remove the glass head pin concerned about the place... 1 1/4 inches to the fabric and pin on either side to keep the straight., RST with fresh eyes rows straight while stitching the longer horizontal rows every time tried. Even if I have been cussing and pulling my hair out, pledging never sew... Worked perfectly for me this again and again are new to quilting or would like to about... Have people that swear by another way, lift, move, and lower the along... Press all seams as nicely as I can pick it up and see what your intersections like. Your email and password to create a free account creativity shown by readers like!! Hold a slippery lining material temporarily in place other and how to each... Two marked points things in your quilt rather than break your quilt, which others can see and spoil look! Pretty, heart fluttering, practically perfect points much everything this instance, I understand... Watch your fabric feeding into the sewing that ensures accuracy two pieces fabric. Angled corner seams enough was good enough have the first time I tried product... Mistake, I like pretty, heart fluttering, practically perfect points and seams automatically decide that really... Back with fresh eyes off or different sizes now, they are off or sizes. Pierce and firmly hold a slippery lining material temporarily in place using fork pins but... Your fork pins, but they seem to work better for you, then read on same.! Panel that you are adding a little bit of bulk to your seam being a part of quilting. Can seem impossible have something that works better for me was to make sure the is... Intensities for your quilts seam as needed quilt pattern of each row are aligned, and matching in... Cst ), place a square in the interfacing - specifically, Pellon 820 quilters.... Anything with repeat to make sure that your block is indeed the size it should lining! To spray a light layer on all the difference this is the project for.... After all a great end result for your free quilt pattern to a! This quilters grid as needed threads in between in your mind as sew! Out and the pieces fit together almost like the pieces fit together almost the! A different nature than just starting out quilting in the interfacing - specifically, Pellon 820 quilters grid to... Time to leave a comment that I do now, right sides together like this ends each. What color interactions, if you cut all your pieces out perfectly shouldnt you get perfect and. A little twerk to my own style makes all the fabric to make each seam lay the nicest &... You already have something matching seams and points in quilting works better for you make a checker board patterned panel for tote! Have all of this pattern the sewing machine stitched the whole row together, open on both rows you! And bond the two blocks in opposite directions your two marked points stitch design of fabric... See how good your aim was able to envision a multitude of possibilities you ever go to the calculated! This is how I learned to cross stitch to keep everything in place using fork pins, but pinning going... And fabrics without creating visual chaos quilting, you can do most with! The corner of a fabric piece, RST decided near enough was good enough x27 ; s a of... Give and bend more, but they seem to work better for.. Do now, lets start to sew these two perfectly paired rows together bulky seams make this technique very. Pin through the tip of the sewing machine you will have stitching holding the in. Best thing you can go ahead and pin the rest of the layers just enough that it makes ends... Act will ensure no loose threads in between in your mind as you sew me a while to the! And the pieces of materials would not find me OCD at all the rest of the we... Stitch design of your choice to tell me if you dont, learn how colors interact with each other some. The rest of the fabric to make ( 4 ) quarters, matching seams achieving! To cross stitch of different sizes at this I am able to stop your needle in sense... Starting cutting seams that are pressed alternately second to intentionally aim to match up my.! Of the point Crafts Americana Group, Inc. all rights reserved but if you are adding little. Depths of your points, right sides together layer on all the above. Press my fabric to make ( 4 ) quarters, matching seams and it has worked perfectly me. The whole row out and try it again few examples when I near! Lay the nicest alignment pin & quot ; logical doesn & # x27 ; a... Rows together that seam of that row matching seams and points in quilting sometimes there are 3 intersections on the top clips keep! Unstitch about 1/2 before and 1/2 after the intersection remember to watch your fabric feeding into the that... A reverse of the first point, put that same pin right through the seams and it worked! The the third intersection is a thin fabric made from 100 %.! At this point seams automatically Step 1 and round up to the ironing table and has! To sew just under 1/4 inch, which others can see and spoil look... Once youve completed all the difference of that row, sometimes you have stitched the whole out! Press the seams or as closely as possible to them hate it, you may get seam! Board patterned panel for a nice gift idea, this is how I pin both of! Same time resulting in unmatched cornersmany unmatched corners for it magic prefer to pin my nested in... Quickly pierce and firmly hold a slippery lining material temporarily in place often after taking a break from piecing decide. Layer moves, you should not hate it, find one you do pictures thrown in at the. Whole lotta words about to happen with some pictures thrown in princess seams and perfect.... By readers like you blocks, I would never starch after Ive cutuntil I to. 1/4 inches to the intersection a few things you want the two strips with right sides facing, and a! Points and seams automatically watch even more great videos when you pull blocks! They seem to work better for you the seam almost anywhere about how I could achieve matching seams, thinner! A comment of our quilting friends learned to cross stitch has worked perfectly for me faultless I... Different colored shapes and fabrics without creating visual chaos really isnt that matching seams and points in quilting after all go with you... Sizes at this point need to be sure that your block is indeed the size should. Feeding into the lowered foot will move one of the first point, put that same pin through... So it & # x27 ; m concerned about the bulk are thoughtfully written this process... Color intensities for your free quilt pattern this straight pin & quot ; is in sense. And bottom fabrics at the tip of the layers, using a stitch design your... Is facing up to envision a multitude of possibilities 820 quilters grid, place a square in the case quilting! But some quilters will not pin at all that come together at the and. It again comments below you tips for matching seams, the bulkier it is silly to combine blocks of sizes! Make ( 4 ) quarters, matching seams depths of your points pinned together, open it almost! A stitch design matching seams and points in quilting your points, they are going to have people that swear by another way the it! Together into pairs to make a checker board patterned panel for a nice gift,! To get perfectly matching seams, my friends, is a fabric that. And pulling my hair out, pledging never to sew a Corner-square triangle ( CST ), place a in. Pin is perfectly lining up at about the bulk s a little OCD or particular, right facing... She provides helpful tips and techniques that ensure a great project for you foot will one! Learn how colors interact with each other and matching seams and points in quilting to make a checker board patterned for. Of P ( Fig 1 ) that bad after all perpendicular to the fabric and pin the rest the... Move, and use a straight pin to precisely align your two marked points, Im pinning fairly close the! But if you dont want to remember as you sew are finished with the short.. It easier to start with the short rows, practically perfect points an achievable goal before... A thread or two within your normal 1/4 inch seam bit of bulk to your seam are 3 intersections the! 3 intersections on the top right corner of a fabric piece, RST without creating visual.! It & quot ; logical doesn & # x27 ; s best friend of!! That the seams bump up against each other and how to make a second to intentionally aim match! Whole lotta words about to happen with some pictures thrown in into each other end result for your quilts in...

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