more snags with first quilt

bkay2000

8 years ago

I'm making a disappearing nine patch. I just needed two more blocks, so I "whipped" them out this afternoon. Then, I watched a couple of videos on squaring up blocks.

Those two squares I whipped up today were about 1/2" too small. I went to the quilt shop and asked her if it would work anyway. She said no, remake them.

Long story, short - I double checked the size of the cut squares I had made a couple of weeks ago before using them. After pressing the three square row, the white had stretched. I measured it and it was about a quarter inch bigger than before sewing it.

I've had trouble with the white all along, but blamed it on my cutting or lack of experience. How do you deal with that? It was Kona cotton. I thought it was supposed to be a good brand. The other fabrics did not stretch. (I'm assuming pressing stretched it, as I can't think of another reason.)

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Comments (8)

bkay2000
Original Author
8 years ago
It wasn't the pressing. I tried pressing one of two squares of white. They stayed the same size.

bk
geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
8 years ago
Put your ruler in the very center of the block and see how small it is all the way around. I almost always buy Kona Cotton from Hancock's of Paducah and never have problems. Measure your fabric squares before and after sewing so find where the problem is. Possibly taking a larger seam than a scant 1/4"?
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bkay2000
Original Author
8 years ago
I'm pretty sure it has to be in the cutting. The white was the first thing I've ever cut for a quilt. I bought this fabric at Hobby Lobby. The odd thing was that it has no selvage. When I decided on blue for the center, I went to back there, as the Kona cotton is less expensive than at. the quilt store. After the fact, I realized I hadn't bought Kona for the blue. I assumed all the solids were Kona, but they weren't.

I was able to ease the fabric enough to make the seams match. I'm sure I'll get better as I get more experience.

Thanks

bk
glassquilt
8 years ago
At some point in the future you may have several rulers. Somehow they may have minute difference in their marking which can lead to cumulative errors. For instance 16 squares that are off by only 1/16" when sewn together could have a total measurement that is 1" off the desired dimension.

If this might ever apply check out all of your plastic rulers. Get your hands on a metal tape and compare them all.

A simple solution is to use the same ruler for all final measuring. It could be one you made yourself from a 2x4 and marked with scratches. If it's the only one you use everything will match. ☺
msmeow
8 years ago
My guess would be that what they sell at Hobby Lobby is not true name-brand Kona cotton, but that they are using kona as a description or something. I know the "Kona" cotton at JoAnn's is not the same fabric as true Kona brand.

If your squares are cut off grain they can stretch when pressing.

Donna
bkay2000
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Well, now I know. I just looked it up. Kona is a trademark of Robert Kaufman Fabrics. The rumor about the Kona at JoAnn's and Hancocks not being real Kona is not accurate, according to the Robert Kaufman Company. According to a post on the company blog, all Kona cottons are the same no matter where you buy them. They've posted an address to send a 3" swatch if you think you have a less than Kona quality product. They will test it and let you know. This is where they discuss it on the blog:

What is Kona cotton?

Donna, I think it was a little off square, as I couldn't get it exactly right even after ripping the edge. It wasn't enough off to blame that for the square not fitting.

I've heard that about rulers elsewhere, too.

I'm pretty sure whatever is wrong was operator error on my part. If it weren't my first quilt, it would be a heck of a lot easier to blame the fabric, the machine or the ruler. This quilt is teaching me many lessons.

bk
littlehelen_gw
8 years ago
Maybe this was mentioned before, but fabric will stretch if you iron and not press and will do so more if you use steam. I know this is a periodic discussion, but I also press with a dry iron. I keep a water spray bottle handy for stubborn fabric wrinkles.

I also find it interesting that the fabric you purchased had no selvedge, that makes me supspect....

I buy 99% of my fabric on line, there are many reputable on line vendors especially for buying Kona cotton. The price per yard on line is better than any in the stores, at least in my area...which is the mid-Atlantic.

You've received good advice from this forum! That first quilt is always a learning experience, I know it was for me! I had more challenges than I care to remember :-) enjoy the process and happy sewing!
grammyp
8 years ago
I have never had a problem with Kona, but have had problems when I use different rulers. I always try to use the same ruler during a project.

more snags with first quilt

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bkay2000
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geezerfolks_SharonG_FL

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more snags with first quilt

Comments (8)

bkay2000Original Author

geezerfolks_SharonG_FL

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glassquilt

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bkay2000
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