A sewing tip to avoid mistakes

Hope you saw the previous blog. A sawtooth star. A typical block with 16 squares. Believe me, a few times I have made mistakes like putting a tot (tone-on-tone) white square with the wrong side towards the other piece and sewed them together. If you notice that when the whole block is done ... it is not a nice moment. 

So, here is how I sew my blogs together. I always lay my block out on a mini "design wall" and place it next to my machine. It's nice when you can carry a block in parts like that from the cutting table or ironing table to the sewing machine.

I made a video so you can see what I mean what I will try to explain. I have never done a video like this and it is rather amateurish. I had to prop the camera up and hope it would not fall down when I got it going. I hope you see what I mean and will not laugh too much about me. Well, on the other hand, if I can give you a good laugh that probably would be good. We all need that once in a while. 

When you look at this block you have 4 rows from top to bottom and you have 4 columns from left to right. In the video you will see that I turned the second square in the first row over the first square and sewed them together. DO NOT CUT but immidiately do the same with those two from the second row, and third row, and fourth row. They will all hang together.

I saw onto a little swatch then and cut what I have just done off. I think they call that swatch "thread bunny" these days. My mother used to do it when I was a little child in Germany but I don't think it had a name. 

Ha-ha, I thought I had written about my mother doing that because I had never seen anybody do this her in the USA. All those videos from professionals and all those hanging threads (if you don't have one of those fancy machines). Just found it: Blog from December 9, 2014

So you have the squares from all 4 rows from column 1 and 2 now hanging somewhat together. Take the top one from the third column, turn it over on top of the first one from column 2 and sew them together. If you are chainsewing more then one block at the time and leave that thread bunny attached you will always know which is the top.

Keep sewing the squares from column 3 to column 2. Sew unto another thread bunny and cut off. 

Now do the same with column 4. You are done with all 16 squares ... somewhat attached to each other.

You still have to sew the other way. At this point you have a choice. I take it to the ironing table and press the seams to alternating sides. Or you could fingerpress while you sew the rows together into the other direction. 

Sewing those rows it pretty easy. The intersections usually nestle nicely into each other.

And here is the VIDEO     (6.09 minutes)

And then you are done. Well, a real good pressing. Are you checking whether it is exactly the size it is supposed to be? I like doing it ... and petting myself on the back. It is so important. 

I hope I explained that good enough. I would love it if you left me a comment at the bottom. May be you have a suggestion how I can make it clearer. I also might have re-invented the wheel but I have not seen anybody explaining this method before. But than, the internet is large.

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Several week ago feedburner informed me that they would discontinue some time in July mailing my new blogs to those who had signed up. I have no idea whether they already stopped or not. I have an alternative way to mail them but you have to let me know that you would like to receive them. 

Have a good day, sewing or not!