HELP!! I am so frustrated and perplexed. I am attempting to make a 4 color rail fence quilt. I cut 4 strips each at 2 1/2 inches the full length of the fabric and sewed them all together. By my calculations to make a block, I should then cut the blocks 8 1/2 inches.

I am doing an alternating pattern of vertical and horizontal but the blocks are not the same size when I turn them for the pattern.

I am using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Any ideas? Thanks so much!

Hello Erika,
First of all welcome to the group.
I did some calculations. May I suggest that you cut your strips at 2 5/8 inches to see if that works. Please try it on scraps first. Hopefully, it should come out to 8 1/2.
Trina

Have you measured the width of the finished block? Is it 8.5" across? And, more important, is the width uniform the whole length of WOF strip?

There are several places where the problem could lie. First, in the cutting. Sometimes the fabrics can shift a little, especially if you are cutting a stack. This can cause your strips to be slightly narrower in places or to give you a "v" at the fold. Even if you are off slightly, if you off slightly on several strips, it compounds the problem and can be quite noticable.

Use a scant 1/4". If your stitching takes too big a seam allowence, you will end up with a strip set narrower than 8.5" To check the accuracy of your machine, insert an acrylic ruler between the presser foot and the feed dogs. Slowly hand-crank your needle so it is resting on the ruler. Measure over 1/4" and mark the machine if it does not match the guideline on the throatplate. You can use masking tape to mark a line, or a stack of sticky-notes works well too. Many machines have a 1/4" presser foot that can be purchased and improves accuracy of seam allowences.

Accurate pressing is important too. Use an up and down motion rather than a scrubbing motion to set seams and avoid stretching the fabric.

If you've done all those things and you still are not exactly at 8.5", remember that you do lose a few threads to the stitching and pressing. So the bottom line is, as long as your strip sets are uniform, whatever the width, cut the length the same dimension and your blocks should be square and fit together with ease.

Hi, Erika, and welcome! I would have given the same advice as Meg did - one other suggestion, if you don't already know it - when sewing strip sets, sew your first two strips together, then add the next one at the end you just finished at, then when the third strip is on, sew the fourth strip from the last end. In other words, sew opposite ends. This way you can avoid strip sets that curve. And to add to what Meg said about pressing, press open after every seam. Also, a scant 1/4" seam works wonders to make up for the threads lost in sewing and pressing. A scant 1/4" is 1-2 threads to the right of the seam line.

Have fun - and holler if you need any more advice. YOU CAN DO THIS!!

Gerda