Are You Thinking About Making a Quilt?

Some Observations on the Importance of Accuracy in Quilting

Sep 24, 2009

Understanding when and why accuracy matters in quilt making is key to enjoying the process. Know before you sew in order to make quilts you can take pride in.

Perfection is something best left to a higher authority. A select few quilters occupy the very top tier of mere mortals on a perfection scale - technical perfection that is. Other quilters can take comfort in knowing that there truly is no such thing as perfection in quilting (more on that later). Quilters can fit wherever they are comfortable on the perfection scale. Finding your comfort level comes with knowledge of the process to provide a satisfying quilting experience.

The Nature of Fabric

Fabric is an unstable medium. It shifts around because of the way it is made. It's possible to cut what is an accurate 6" square of fabric only to have it turn out not to be square. A crooked square throws other squares out of alignment, and a quilt full of crooked squares becomes an unruly mess. Overcoming the instability of fabric is the key to successful quilting.

The very nature of fabric that frustrates quilters also makes quilts cozy. After all, who would want to wrap themselves in a quilt made of paper? Here are some methods used by quilters for stabilizing fabric. Pick the method of overcoming the instability of fabric to achieve accuracy that you are most comfortable with.

Many quilters depend on cutting quilt pieces accurately. A 1/4" seam allowance is added to all sides of each piece. To have a 6" finished square, 6 1/2" squares must be cut. Using a cutting mat with a rotary cutter and a quilters' ruler is one preferred method of cutting. It is a good method that provides, with care, accurate results. Small inaccuracies can creep in by switching rulers or from any wobble in the cutting blade.

Some quilters stabilize fabric for extra cutting accuracy with the use of spray starch before cutting. Others prefer to cut unwashed fabric because the sizing helps stabilize the fabric. Different fabrics can shrink different amounts when washed, possibly causing problems after the quilt is finished and washed.

Small inaccuracies in the cutting process are carried over into the sewing process, and can be magnified by small inaccuracies in the sewing process. In order to have a 6" sewn square, accurate 1/4" seams must be sewn. The 1/4" seam allowance is measured in from the cut edges of the pieces being sewn together.

Quilters rely on either a 1/4" presser foot or a guide mark on their sewing machine for an accurate 1/4" seam. The accuracy of the presser foot or guide can be determined by placing the ruler used for cutting the pieces under the presser foot and lowering the needle just where it touches the ruler.

The Ripple Effect

Inaccuracies in cutting and sewing quilt pieces, quite literally, cause a ripple effect. If you're content to sew 6" squares together, minor inaccuracies won't be much problem when the quilt is finished. Inaccuracies start to add up and cause major headaches as the number of pieces rises.

The more pieces there are in your quilt, the chances for inaccuracies multiply wildly, and the ripple effect becomes worse.

Managing Inaccuracies

A perfectly cut and sewn quilt is just not possible. Very close, fortunately, does count. Even in a computer program, where a perfect square can be duplicated and laid out like a quilt, small inaccuracies can create wobble. Knowing where inaccuracies occur and keeping them to a tiny fraction of an inch will enable you to successfully complete a quilt. Double check measurements and fix errors as they occur.

Accuracy is a must in quilting, and, fortunately, not too difficult once you establish your measuring and sewing standards. Consistency is key, using the same ruler every time, and establishing your 1/4" seam allowance consistent with the same ruler.

If you want to eliminate half of the possibilities for inaccuracies, check out quilting methods that rely on marking the sewing lines. Accurate cutting is not necessary with these methods.

The copyright of the article Are You Thinking About Making a Quilt? in Quilting is owned by Corinne Shibley. Permission to republish Are You Thinking About Making a Quilt? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.