Bias question...

Comment

Comment by Mary, Tewksbury MA on March 20, 2013 at 4:02am

Thanks for all your suggestions.  I have Best Press so  I'll give a light spray and press first to give it some weight. I did re-read the directions, told me to cut squares just the once.  In hindsight probably should have done the math and figured out how to cut bigger squares diagonally twice to get needed size triangle. Again, hindsight my best vision!

I was a little panicky  when I saw what I had but you guys have really helped.  Best Press, press not iron and lots of pins.  This quilt doesn't have a border but I think I'll put narrow border of same fabric on to further stabilizer. "Deep breaths and go slow" will be my mantra until I get this done.  I'm still learning and  the members of QWS are just a great resource.  Thanks again.  

Comment by Barb/WI on March 19, 2013 at 7:47pm

I would also not recut.  Being aware of the bias, and problems with stretching is half the battle.  Press, don't iron, pin more than usual, and you should be fine.  If you do make some mistake requiring you to unsew, you might want to recheck your triangle for size, and just recut that one if necessary.  With the price of fabric, I, also would have a hard time wasting any more than necessary.

Comment by Prairie Quilter/NE on March 19, 2013 at 2:39pm

Everyone has given good suggestions, Mary.     

I used to worry a lot about bias, but I had a "more experienced" quilter tell me they weren't all that concerned about it.  She felt the scrap quilters of yesteryear used what they had, whether it was on the bias or not.   This was a quilter whom I respected and was in complete awe of her quilts.  Her attitude was very freeing for me, a fairly picky particular, type-A quilter who wanted to do everything "by the book."  My motto used to be "if there's a rule, I should follow it."  Now my motto is, "I want to KNOW the rules (if there are such things), so I can decide which ones I'll follow and which ones I can break."  It is good to know and be aware of bias so you can minimize the distortion that can be a problem.  I'm careful with the bias edges, but not overly panicked about them in my quilts.  If I know the entire edge is going to be on the bias, I'd stabilize the edge with stay-stitching to keep it from getting distorted with handling before it was quilted.  

Hope I didn't muddy the waters for you too much.   If you are careful in handling this baby quilt, I wouldn't think the stretch would be of much concern.  Let us know what you decide.  It's always fun to learn how others handle the bias issue.  

Comment by Linda Christianson on March 19, 2013 at 12:53pm

Carol gave some wonderful tips. I would not cut again. If necessary do a stay stitch 1/8 inch in. It will help hold the bias edge. When it is outside area I usually have my binding on the straight, cut from the selvage grain, not cross the grain. This will also help. Pins are also help to keep the size true. But if you rip out a area, it may never become true again. That is were starch and up and down blocking of the iron will help.

Comment by Lynne on March 19, 2013 at 12:02pm

When you have setting triangles on the outside of the quilt,,, directions usually tell you to cut the squares diagonally - twice,,, like an X,, corner to corner, then corner to corner.  This way the bias will be on the inside.  Check to make sure on  your directions to see if this is what they said.  Personally, I would recut the squares.  You can never unstretch a bias. 

Comment by Carol Ann Hinton on March 19, 2013 at 11:54am

There is no way to avoid bias edges when you are cutting triangles, that's a given.  It is best, however, if those bias edges are not on the outside edge of the quilt, also a given, but darn hard to do!  HOWEVER, I would not recut the triangles.  Instead, I would spray a little light starch (Best Press comes to mind) and PRESS (don't iron) the triangles before you sew them together.  This will help a little to keep them from stretching  When you are sewing on the outside border along the bias edges, measure the quilt carefully through the middle and cut the border to match.  Pin the border all the way across or down  before you sew it on.  That should help eliminate stretching.

Comment by Mary, Tewksbury MA on March 19, 2013 at 11:23am

I know, I said it wrong- ? cut new triangles so bias is on inside when I sew