I'll use these two flying geese units to illustrate. Please note these units are NOT part of the Two-Color Mystery.
Step 1: Find thin, sharp pins.
Step 2: Insert a pin right at the point on the top unit.
Step 3: Insert the pin right at the point on the second unit.
Step 4: Make sure the pin is perpendicular to the fabric. If it's tipped over at all, it will be pushing the layers sideways relative to each other, offsetting the points instead of stacking them perfectly lined up.
Step 5: Insert two pins, one on each side of the first pin, as close to the first pin as possible. Make sure the first pin remains perpendicular to the fabric.
Step 6: Remove the first pin.
Step 7: Sew a 1/4" seam. I leave the pins in, sewing very slowly as I approach and sew over them so I can watch and remove the pin only if the needle is going to hit the pin. Leaving the pin in as long as possible helps keep the fabric from shifting and losing the alignment of the points.
Make sure the stitching touches the point as you sew past it. You can see the point in the previous lines of stitching.
Step 8: Press the seam to one side or open. Depending on the thickness of the fabric, you may find pressing open gives sharper points. You can decide what pressing works best for your project.
That's what I do.
My points are not always perfect, despite my best efforts. I do the best I can. I will rip a seam and try again if the alignment is really off, but sometimes the best I can manage isn't quite perfectly lined up. In an effort to keep enjoying quilting and continue to enjoy its stress-relieving benefits, have learned to accept "good enough" when "good enough" seems to be what I can manage. Honestly, once the whole quilt is assembled and quilted, slightly misaligned points is not what most people will notice. Most people will just enjoy the beauty of the whole piece. Anyone who quibbles can just go make their own quilt!
That said, if you have any point-matching tips to share, I'll be happy to try them out in the quest for perfect points!
Happy quilting,
Joanne
I’ve never seen this particular way of pinning with one on each side of the perpendicular one. Thanks! I may have to try it.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly how I do it, though I don't always add the second pin. I've gotten pretty good at eyeballing a quarter inch, too, when one side is a seam, not a point...
ReplyDeleteI have done that pinning carefully on some projects, and I sometimes it works out very well. Other times I manage to mess it up in spite of my care. LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Joanne. These are really helpful tips.
ReplyDelete