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One birdie's attempt to figure things out. Oh, and crafts.

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Quilt Block Piecing Trick For Matching Seams

May 17, 2012 by Michele

 

I LEARNED SOMETHING!!!

I’m shouting, aren’t I?

Sorry ’bout that.

Let me start again… a little more calmly this time perhaps…

Ahem.

I have learned something.

Yesterday, or was it the day before… hm… I can’t really remember  now. The day before seems most likely though… Anyway.  I learned how to line up seams while piecing my quilt blocks!!! YAY YIPPEE!!! YAHOOOEY!!

Sorry. Sorry. Yes I know. I cannot contain my excitement! But here’s why. I have been piecing quilts on and off for a FEW YEARS, but it is only NOW that I managed to make my seams match. It’s incredible! Also a little disconcerting that it took me so long… See, I had learned about nesting the seams and pinning and such before, but the day before yesterday the stars aligned, the heavens opened up and, I UNDERSTOOD. As I was sewing together this quilt (the completed quilt is HERE by the way), I finally figured out the trick. Now, there are likely millions out there who know this trick already. If you’re one of them, you may click away and come back when I’m sharing something worthy of your time.

If you’re just learning (as I seem to be), you can stay. Are you ready?

THE TRICK IS:

Line up the seams and then pin directly through the seams or as closely as possible to them.

It “seams” logical doesn’t it? Of course it does. Why do you think it took me so long to figure it out? Here’s a little schematic I put together. Hopefully it makes some kind of sense…

 

As it turns out, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Correct your history books and cite this day as proof.

♥M

 

Filed Under: quilting, sewing, sewing, Tutorials Tagged With: crafts, learning, piecing, tutorial

Previous Post: « Work-In-Progress: Baby Boy Quilt
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen says

    May 17, 2012 at 8:55 pm

    I LEARNED SOMETHING, TOO. Sorry to shout, but I could't resist! In all my quilting, I have never pinned my seams this way, but I'm gonna start. Thanks for posting!

  2. clara says

    May 17, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    I don't know exactly what you mean about the quilt (even if your illustrations are very clear), but I'm happy for you! Your perfection is incredible!
    So when the heavens opened up and you know the trick is always an exciting experience! 🙂

  3. countercrafts says

    May 17, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    Thank you for sharing this! I am new to quilting and I didn't know about it!! Thank you so much! Take Care and God Bless!! Donna

  4. Amy Friend says

    May 17, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    I do this too, otherwise the presser foot can cause the seams to shift a bit. It's a great tip!

  5. Melissa says

    May 17, 2012 at 9:22 pm

    Yeah!! It helps tremendously, doesn't it? I get lazy. 🙂

  6. Little Treasures says

    May 17, 2012 at 9:32 pm

    Oh.. this is going to be a precious tip I'll save for when (if I ever) I start quilting!!

  7. Amy at Ameroonie Designs says

    May 18, 2012 at 2:03 am

    The quilt is gorgeous and the seams impeccable! Tremendous job on the pinning.
    xoxo

  8. Terry says

    May 18, 2012 at 2:22 am

    ha ha – good to know. I have quilting on my list of goals for this year and the year is nearly half over so I better get to it. This tip may put me into the positive category.

  9. felicity says

    May 18, 2012 at 5:32 am

    Verrrry interesting! I've not done this before. Hm. Must try

  10. Sew Create It - Jane says

    May 18, 2012 at 8:41 am

    I'm an old dog and you've taught me something too :o) Bet this technique would work for those seams you press open too… off to try it :o)

  11. Alessandra says

    May 18, 2012 at 9:25 am

    Brava!!!!! (I'm even clapping my hands)!!!!!!!
    xxxxx Alessandra

  12. chris says

    May 18, 2012 at 2:47 pm

    Just pinned this as I've been having the same issues. Isn't it great to have these little bits of inspiration flood in? I love the light it brings.

  13. Michelle L. says

    May 18, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    I am not advanced enough (yet!) to take advantage of this brilliant tip – but I will some day. In the meantime, I must tell you that your illustrations are fabulous! I suggest doing this often as a feature of your blog, it's a great addition!

  14. liniecat says

    May 18, 2012 at 6:37 pm

    Bless your heart! I can see how it would work now….but would never have thought it through without you lol Thank youy so much!

  15. Jo says

    June 3, 2012 at 2:06 pm

    Oh man, why didn't i think of that? Thank you…i'm gonna try it today!

  16. Mimi says

    August 17, 2012 at 11:14 pm

    Thank you, thank you, thank you…. I was looking at this idea from a different blog but it was too confusing to understand… your simple drawings are perfect!!! Can't wait to try it out!!!

  17. Donna T says

    September 25, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    I just found your post after searching and searching on how to get all my seams to line up correctly!!!! I just tried it and it works!!!! Thank you so much for the post. I have tried several different suggests and none have worked as well as this one!!!!

  18. Carlyn Holmes says

    February 3, 2013 at 6:06 am

    Good
    tutorial, thank you from a beginning quilter!

  19. dianneo says

    March 4, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    Thank you for this post! I googled "I can't get my quilt blocks to line up" and your post came up. I can make blocks just fine, but when I put them together they don't "fit" (even after blocking). I think this tip will do it!

  20. mortimar71 says

    April 10, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    Thanks so much! I'm new to quilting and I like to keep into my new endeavors with both feet. I am just working out the details of my second quilt and this tip will come in very handy.

  21. DM TheFauxFae says

    April 26, 2013 at 3:32 pm

    Great tip. I will have to try it on the next quilt I piece!

  22. Joyce says

    April 26, 2013 at 6:27 pm

    Thank you so much. I can't wait to try this when I get home from work. Don't know why I didn't think of this before. Makes perfect sense. Yay!

  23. StasaLynn says

    April 26, 2013 at 9:58 pm

    Yay! Thanks!

  24. Yaya Kim says

    July 7, 2013 at 9:35 pm

    You have saved my quilt. It's a 9 patch matchy matchy thing and the seams kept slipping and that was me ripping out yet another seam. Thanks for the post!

  25. Marilyn Brenk says

    July 30, 2015 at 10:59 pm

    OMG….it works!! Thanks for the tip!!!

  26. da445548-5fb1-11e5-8584-8f80dc95dca0 says

    September 20, 2015 at 4:09 pm

    Wow! Thanks! The lightbulb just came on over my head!! ��

  27. Doreen Tavares says

    September 20, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    I learned this technique from a sewing teacher many, many yrs ago. It really does work!

  28. Mary Wrigley says

    September 21, 2015 at 11:33 pm

    I have a horrible habit of not pinning. All the experts say to have the seam allowances going in opposite directions with the one facing the foot going under first and the machine will nestle them together. There are times when you just can' t and sometimes even with " the norm" they don't seem to be just right. Most of the time it doesn't bother me, but I so like this process much better then putting a pin thru each seam allowence. Thanks for the tip

  29. Martha Cymbaluk says

    October 13, 2015 at 3:38 am

    Thank you so much! I have been struggling trying to figure out what I am doing that is not matching the points and it is bugging me. I will sure try this out too!!!

  30. Jamie says

    December 18, 2015 at 3:26 pm

    You have seriously made my life so much easier. Bless you!

  31. Peggy H says

    January 3, 2016 at 4:03 am

    Is there a pattern?

    • michpacey@gmail.com says

      January 15, 2016 at 12:57 am

      Sorry Peggy, there isn't.

  32. Linda Lauritzern says

    March 18, 2016 at 12:25 pm

    Ever had a day when you really feel duh??? Apparently this was my day. The last two quilts were a battle lining up seams and I couldn't figure out why. Seeing this reminded me…I used to pin seams like you do and then for some reason I started pinning the "traditional" way. I wonder how I "forgot" this method of pinning. 🙁

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I am ecstatic if you choose to link to this site, use a brief description, one photo, or link back to any of my posts. Do not republish entire posts without my permission. Tutorials, patterns and printables are for your personal use only and are not to be used to make items for sale. Thank you.

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