twiglet wrote:
Morning, Wendy
I tried putting strips of "steam-a-seam" on the back of my ruler; you know the kind that sticks by itself on both sides with paper. It comes in a role various widths and won't stick permanently until ironed. I think you can get it in big rolls too with paper on both sides but I only have the 1/4" wide stuff. Somebody on one of the shows said that it would work well and it does but not with a seam down the centre. I will look out for the dots when I go shopping on the web. I wish I could go to Birmingham next week so I could see all the goodies available here in UK or maybe it is a good thing for my credit card that I can't
I will take a picture of the poor machines although it rather reveals what used to be my children's favourite biscuits
Marianne

Sounds like you are doing fine, I look forward to seeing your blocks .

You don't need to trim the seam allowance just the size of the blocks. If your block is right then it doesn't matter if your seam allowance went a bit wrong. If your ruler is moving try the little dots you can get to stick on the back to keep it still so you can cut accurately.

You're going to have to take a picture of your sewing machine and tin for us

Your fabrics are so nice, Wendy. They are soft and mellow but at the same time crisp and fresh.
Margo, thank you very much for your blog post link. Although I read the blog I did not take part in the triangle exchange so must have missed this gold nugget. I quite agree that your posts should go together in the classroom.
All the pin-wheels posted looks so perfect. I tried the method recommended by Laura Nownes yesterday without luck. My sewing machine wishes it could pull its cover over it all by itself because it has been "hacked" and is very ashamed . At the moment it has a biscuit tin attached with masking tape to its extension table so I could get a 4" square lined up. Does anybody know a good shrink for my machine?
Despite the machine's funny look the way to sew the HSTs worked really well and I like the method; my trouble is that I am absolutely no good at trimming afterwards – even with the seams ironed open. My ruler wobbles, then I wobble and get stressed. I have tried this method before with drawn lines and have had the same problem but I found that the stuck on piece of paper with the seam allowance drawn according to my ruler gives me almost accurate seam allowances – I did not even have to have a seam bumper attached when sewing the patches together I tried the exact same method but cut the squares 3 7/8" and the pin-wheel produced is my first ever perfect aligned one although slightly oversized 6 5/8" but that I can hopefully trim down to 6 ½" without making a pig's ear of it.
Today I will try the paper-pieced version Annis recommended. Seeing Margo's video also made me want to try the blocks without pressing the seams open. I like the way the seams can nestle together when the seams are pressed to one side. Because of the necessity to open the centre with this way of pressing will this be a weaker point in the quilt if it is a bed quilt? Before this sampler I have always pressed seams open and I know that quilted tablemats will disintegrate at the seams just like clothes can do if the seam allowance has been trimmed back and there is strain at the seam. Sorry to maunder on. This project has my head spinning with all sorts of possibilities and problem solving. One problem now is how I am going to change the bobbin without taking the tin off again : When I finished all my pin-wheels I will take photographs.
Have a lovely Sunday
Marianne

Wendy - Your blocks look great and I absolutely love those colors!

Nancy

Margo wrote:
Thanks for the forum page, but I believe you still deserve the classroom, Margo!

Big thanks !!

Hey Rita! Ask and ye shall receive!

[url]forum/the-classrooms-discussions-and-questions/5692-margos-assorted-videos[/url]

Rita, I have asked several times for all of my videos to be put in my "classroom", but so far it hasn't happened. I know that John and Guru Bob are really busy working on the new web site, so I guess some things are still on the back burner.
In the meantime, I try to catch references to things people are looking for and try to provide a link when I can.

Hmmmmm....maybe I can just set up a forum page with those links??? Stay tuned!!

Thanks for that link Margo - I have saved it to my favourites. I really wish that it was on your classroom page along with your 1/4" seam test. Is there somebody i could email to make that happen or what?

Wendy, they are lookin' good girl.

Brilliant Margo, so many tips in a short video - the pin placement, sewing line, dealing with short fabric and squidging the centre. Thanks

Hey Wendy! Here is another technique you might want to try to get that center flat: [url]daily-blog/103-good-advice/14753-margo-turns-hsts-into-pinwheels[/url]

There seems to be several techniques to accomplish almost everything in quilting. The trick it to try different things until you find the one that works best for you.
Have fun!

Learnt a lesson today - listen to the instructions

I made my 4 pinwheels very carefully, trying to be so acurate then had trouble squaring them off at the end the ruler was rocking on the join in the middle. Ok so you press the seams open. Made another and wow it makes so much difference .

Sewdreamy wrote:
I didn't know that. We have small college in my town. I should check it out. Thanks for the heads up.