Quilter's Q & A List

No. 

A reliable sewing machine, rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat are sufficient for most projects. Accuracy develops through practice and careful technique rather than expensive equipment. 

Only buy what you need, as you find you need it! there is a lot out there, I know, I have most of them but only use a few

A good question and one that really depends on the fabric and your preferences. 

Short answer - not really, but...... how stable are the colours in the fabric you are using and will the fabric shrink?

Honestly, I very rarely prewash and I use a range of fabrics. When I give my quilts away though, I often put in a box of colour catchers, or a sheet explaining colour leakage and the best way you can avoid it.

I would caution mixing, prewashed and not prewashed - while I think mainly of colour leaking - there is also shrinkage to consider. 

Confidence grows through repetition and understanding. Start with structured patterns, practise consistent seams, and allow mistakes to inform improvement. Skill develops gradually, often in small, measurable increments.

One step at a time, one block, one small quilt, one larger quilt..... time and practice

A dedicated quarter inch foot is the best investment you could make.

Most machine brands will have one. Check with your authorised dealer, or search on google. I have them on all of my machines.

There are other alternatives. Seam allowance tape is available, also check your machine foot plate - most of them have 1/4" seam markings - not always easy to see - but you could place tape along side it to highlight it. 

To square up a block, align a quilting ruler with seam intersections and trim excess fabric evenly from all sides to the correct measurement. Squaring up ensures blocks fit together accurately in the finished quilt.

There are squaring templates for all unfinished blocks sizes 2 1/2" to 10 1/2" in the template shop and likely in most Quilting shops world wide. A useful investment.

In quilting, we press rather than iron. Usually with a dry iron (not steam).

Pressing means lifting and lowering the iron instead of sliding it across the fabric, which can stretch and distort pieces. 

Careful pressing helps preserve block accuracy and seam alignment.

Read my blog on "There's no drama in a well pressed seam"

A 12-inch finished block measures 12 inches after it has been sewn into a quilt. 

Before assembly, it will measure slightly larger to allow for seam allowances. For example 12 1/2" unfinished.

“Finished” simply refers to the final size once seams are stitched and pressed.

A quarter-inch seam is the standard seam allowance used in patchwork quilting. 

It ensures your blocks finish at the correct size when sewn together. Even a small variation can compound across multiple blocks and affect the final quilt size. 

Consistency matters more than perfection - test on scraps before you begin.

The Easy 8 method creates eight half square triangles from two fabric squares. 

By sewing on either side of drawn diagonal lines before cutting, you produce multiple identical units efficiently. 

It is a practical method when accuracy and consistency matter.

A quilt block is a single repeated unit within a quilt. 

A quilt pattern provides instructions for assembling blocks and additional elements into a complete finished quilt. 

Blocks are components; patterns are the overall plan.

The critical factor in overall block size, especially when there are a lot of inner seams is - the consistency of the 1/4" seam. This is usually the culprit! 

Check that you are using a 1/4" foot on your sewing machine or some other method of ensuring the consistency of the seam as you sew. 

Another culprit can be that any inner seams were not pressed flat and have folds in them that have then been sewn into the next seam. All combined or individually can cause a reduction in block size.

Of course the first question really was - did you cut the original pieces to the right size? the unfinished size?

Quilt blocks are usually out of square because of inconsistent seam allowances, slight fabric stretching while sewing, or trimming inaccuracies. Small errors add up quickly. Squaring up before assembly and maintaining a steady seam allowance improves results significantly.

Quilting relies on geometry, repetition, and precise measurements. 

Blocks are built from measurable units that must fit together accurately. 

The mathematics provides structure, while fabric and colour provide creative expression.

This question gets asked a lot and there are many reasons:

• Are they all the same size? did you square each block before trying to sew them together?

• Did you press to the dark side or press your seams open?

• Do you have fabric stretch?

• Did you pin the blocks together to assist with lining up the points?

• Did you check the point alignment as you were sewing?

All of these factors can lead to points not lining up and all are fixable with practice. 

But remember, sometimes the margin of "off" is so slight that once the quilt is finished and quilted, it will still look marvellous...... don't over correct - that leads to frustration.