Seam Allowances on Small Blocks

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Permalink Reply by Susan Miller on October 30, 2009 at 6:32pm

May I ask what pattern you are using that requires such small pieces in a bed sized quilt? I would use foundation piecing or possibly a extra light weight stabilizer. I would press open but that still leaves you bulk, just more distributed. Hopefully you will do heavy quilting to take some stress off the seams. This is what I would do but I would also like to know how others feel.

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Permalink Reply by Gina on October 30, 2009 at 7:38pm

I am working on a Dear Jane quilt. I usually hand piece my tops, but they have always been larger pieces (at least an inch unfinished, and it is easy to press to one side or the other to reduce bulk). The block that I am working on right now is 5" unfinished and has 5 - 9patch blocks, so that leaves each block of the 9 patch less than 1/2 an inch square.

I could paper piece or foundation piece (but that still would not reduce the bulk of the seams, some that have paper pieced said to cut the seam allowance but even though it is not hand sewn I would still think that it would stress the seam), that is what most people do, but I really want to hand piece this top if I can do so and it stay together when I am done, lol.

I haven't decied on how it will be quilted, that will be a long time off and I haven't even really thought about it, but I think that the top tends to go toward heavy quilting (simply because it has 169 square blocks that are 4 1/2 inch finished, plus the triangle border - which I think it would require heavy quilting just to make it look good).

I have done other blocks and just left the seam allowance at 1/4 and when I press it I press it on a towel so that the seam sinks into the towel and that helps flatten the block. I can piece it and press it like I have the others and it will be flat, but the bulk will be there when quilting time comes, and piecing would be eaiser if the bulk were either reduced or distributed differently.

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Permalink Reply by Odessaquilter on November 3, 2009 at 6:19pm

When I have done minitures for doll houses, I sewed a quarter inch then trimmed to 1/8. Also consider using a light weight wool batting and the seam allowances won't show through as much because they can nestle into the batting better than if you use cotton.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Miller on November 12, 2009 at 8:28pm

Gina, Did you get a favorable outcome from this question? I want to know how it comes out. Keep us posted. Susan/IA

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Permalink Reply by Gina on November 12, 2009 at 9:59pm

Susan,

So far I have hand pieced 21 blocks and have left the seam allowance at 1/4 inch. When quilting time comes it may not be to heavily quilted, lol. I really don't want to have it machine quilted, but that may change I still have 204 blocks to go, lol.

I have really watched which direction I pressed the seams and attempted not to have them overlap as much as possible. Dear Jane done the quilt by hand, of course she was a much better seamstress and quilter than I but I find motivation in the knowledge that one has done it before me - so it is possible! (her quilt was made in 1863 and has survived all these years, maybe mine will last a fraction of that time)

Gina

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