Rather than checking the seam allowance on the ruler. it may be better to check after you have sewn and pressed the seam. Turning the fabric and the thread can take up some of the space. I think that is why some people talk about a scant 1/4 inch. Take three strip 21/2 inches seam them , press and then measure. If your fabric measures 61/2 inches then you have the correct seam allowance. I may sound as if I know what I am talking about but I still find it difficult to get an accurate 1/4 inch seam.Even if not 61/2 inch you appear to be having fun and it is lovely to watch. Thank you

I am so enjoying your videos…so happy I found you

Oh Rachel you always make me smile. I love the way you show your mistakes, because we all make them and it’s nice to know that even you don’t get it right first time, every time! x

You get A+ for those blocks and AA++ for perseverance! Such a pleasure you are! Keep up the good work and happy quilting!

Absolutely love this block Rachel, great colour choices. 👏

i brought a 1/4 inch sewing foot and it immediately improved the accuracy of my block sizes soo much!. i would recommend one for anyone doing machine piecing.

Hi, I've seen a lot of people have offered helpful advice and I rarely comment on videos but wanted to say you are not the only one struggling with these blocks. I've been quilting for a number of years and this was my first quilt with Liberty fabrics and I have to say they are the most difficult fabrics I've worked with. There are a number of things you can do to check the accuracy of the seam allowance. You really want to have a scant 1/4" seam and if you are using a quarter inch foot on your machine then you can move the needle over to the right one or two clicks to get the scant 1/4". The other thing to check is that you are cutting the fabrics to the right size, if using a quilting ruler you want the line on the ruler at the left side of the fabric to be fully on the fabric and not off to the side. I started doing this BOM in 2022 and still working my way through the blocks, a lot of the block instructions tell you to iron the seams open, this will also make the block a bit bigger so might be worth trying that on a block or 2 that you have already made.

Hello Rachel, I think you are doing a great job! Being able to laugh at your mistakes is half the battle. Your fabrics are wonderful. I will need to purchase Alice Caroline's book. I've been wanting to try a sampler block quilt. Your blocks in the second days video are looking beautiful. You give us confidence by sharing that you are just like the rest of us beginner quilters. I hope your hands will feel better soon. ❤😊

You are a breath of fresh air! Thank you for sharing your whole journey 😀

I love to see what you are making! This will be such a beautiful quilt. I just finished my first quilt top. I am 59 years old. I wish I had been interested sooner in my life. I love that you leave your challenges in. It helps to see how other people resolve a problem or accept and adjust. One thing I try to remember is when I make mistakes is when I’m really learning and expanding my skills. 🌷

Really enjoy watching Rachel, I am glad you show your mistakes 😂 it makes us all feel better

Scant 1/4" is quite magical. Always gives you a wee bit more of a square. You are adorable and I love your Joy! ❤️

Rachel, you may need to do a scant 1/4”, it’s approximately one thread less than the 1/4” and things will work out fine. There are a lot of pieces in those small blocks, easy to get thrown off. You are doing a great job. I dont usually worry about it if all my blocks come out the same size. Also i starch my fabric before i sew it, it gives you more accuracy. 💕

Oh Rachel, you are doing a smashing job of machine sewing your blocks. Like everything we do, the more we practice the better we get. Try not to fret over the finished sizes, it is okay to make them YOUR size. Keep up the good work

You got this! Try cutting three 1.5 x 2 strips. Sew them together (1.5 side by side). Then measure your center strip … should equal 1”. If too small, make you quarter inch seam just a thread to the right. Try it again… you’ll find the right spot. They all look great. Or, just go with 6.25! 😅

Good Afternoon Miss Rachel from Virginia Beach Virginia 🇺🇸. It so lovely to watch your tutorials. I just purchased this book from Amazon a d cannot wait to add to my collection of books. I absolutely love the idea of all the different blocks to make one quilt. Looking so forward to looking through it tomorrow. Happy if sewing/stitching 🪡🧵✂️. Tracy

Awwww love your vlogs you really inspire me to have a go......love your honesty....we deffo learn by our slight mishaps ❤❤❤❤❤

I have always been told, as long as they are all the same, it doesn't matter if it is exactly what the instructions say it should be. Great job!!

I just love listening you explain what you are doing. So calm and relaxing. Your blocks are lovely and look forward to seeing the rest of them and then the finished quilt.

I so appreciate you . Thank you for sharing your passion .. you are helping more people than you know !!

You could add a boarder to the small blocks to make them the correct size. Don’t fret , you’re doing very well!

I had the summer moon book. On my channel you can see me throwing it on the floor and I made my own blocks....sewing should be a pleasure not a chore, good luck with yours. x

I love your help for us newbies 🎉❤️

Oooooooh scrumptious video as always ❤ isn’t it a shame when we strain ourselves with our crafty addictions … I’ve developed severe neck pains by a solid week of crochet and knitting 😂😂😂 but I just can’t stop 😂 I love seeing your inspiring videos,the only thing to drag the needles out of my paws x

bought the book looking forward to starting 🙂

Great start on your quilt! I discovered that the standard foot on my machine was not actually 1/4" as I had assumed. It was just a thread's width off, so if a block had 6 seams then I was already 1/4" off. Once I realised that was the source of my problem I purchased a dedicated 1/4" foot and also made sure that my needle position was exactly in the center and not a hair off. You're doing great - love your fabric choices and positive attitude.

Hi Rachel, I stumbled across your website last night and very much enjoyed your machine quilting from the quilting book. If you haven't yet seen Karen from "Just get it done quilts" - (youtube) I thoroughly recommend checking her tips and tricks, she has some great ideas for setting your machine up for an accurate 1/4 inch seam allowance, or a "scant" seam allowance. I have machine sewn for over 45 years, and have set my machine up with painter's tape and have successfully completed a number of "accurately sized" blocks and quilts. Happy sewing, I love your colour choices and liberty, very refreshing. Thanks for sharing and making videos. A new subscriber. :)

❤ you’re building brain cells. ☺️ Good for you. 🥰 Keep on going and eventually you’ll be done. Yay. The blocks look great. ❤

Love Moda Fabrics! 😃

Such a breath of fresh air you are! I really appreciate how you show the block measurements off a little bit… I often feel like giving up when that happens but not anymore! Thank you

Beautiful blocks! Excellent job.

You are doing great. The fabrics are beautiful 👍

I love the fabrics you are using and all the blocks you have made. As a want to be a quilter you are encouraging me to go for it. I need to purchase the book you are using.

Enjoyed this video very much! I appreciate you leaving the problems in too! I hope we get to watch you as you complete this project. Have a good day 😊

You brought such a smaller to me today. I love your videos. But following along your adventure with the book and “new things” was wonderful. You are just like my old knitting friends group. ❤

I think they are really beautiful blocks. I have been sewing for a long time, and some of my quilts when I cut them and sew blocks, the same thing happens to me. And I do the same thing. I believe it is how my 1/4" on my machine is maked. But I wind up using the travel foot when I should be lined it up by the 1/4" marked on machine by the pressure foot.

I ordered this book. I can’t wait!

So beautiful, Rachel! My favorite blocks are the log cabin and the checkerboard...love them!

Great job!!!!! I taught myself to quilt and I am getting better. Just keep sewing ❤

Beautiful fabrics! I love your ability to laugh when things don’t turn out quite like you’d planned. 😊

Hi Rachel, your quilt will be so beautiful. I have been sewing for several years and find getting that accurate 1/4 inch always tricky. I don’t get on with my 1/4 inch foot and prefer to move my needle, I also love Aurifil thread as it is finer thread and this makes a difference as pressing does too. I love watching The Fat Quarter Shop on YT they do some great tutorials and gives so many tips. The more machine piecing you do the better you will get. Keep going, oooo. Check the size of your needle too that makes a difference. Happy sewing! Best wishes Alison

Wow your work is beautiful. I don't know the first thing about quilting but I love to watch it.

Hi Rachel, once you have sewn two fabrics together, check that the quarter inch seam is correct, machine's differ.

What a fun book. 📖 I just love your fabrics.❤

You have inspired me, I’m an absolute beginner and I love that you share your “mistakes” as it helps us learn, so thank you ❤ I must now buy the book, just what I need.

Sweet Girl! My mantra is to do one scary thing a day! I am a quilter - I love hand applique, and only piece quilt blocks by machine if called for in my pattern. Although I assemble it all with my machine. I really love to hand embroider on my quilts. So just an observation, I often quilt at retreats with multi niche quilters. I also take classes & I have found that primarily machine piece and machine applique quilters have not heard of the quilters knot. So good on you to try machine quilting. It is good to try all the techniques and expand skills.

This book indeed looks fantastic to learn different blocks in one go & I'm glad you were able to finish on a positive note. Confidence is key ! It was a good idea to use grunge vanilla here as they give your blocks a vintage feel. Hugs xxxxxxxx

Beautiful blocks! Thank you for a calm and relaxing video.

I love the shape and design of your glasses! They look lovely on your face.

What a joy you are .. inspirational.. I’m going to have a day in my sewing room ❤

❤️ all the various florals!

I love the colors. ❤

So Beautiful… I have the same issues with blocks…. I haven’t quite figured it out yet. But I’m really taking my time with cutting sewing and pressing

Such pretty fabrics😊

Your blocks are beautiful! Quilts give some flexibility when you are piecing them together. I’ve been quilting for over 50 years and still never get everything exact. When you’ve finished it, no one will be measuring each square. Enjoy making!

I love how you persevere through your troubles and wound up with your beautiful blocks. I have a hard time getting my blocks to measure correctly as well but I sew with an old Kenmore sewing machine. The littlest thing can affect your measurements, including if your machine sits level, the feed dogs and presser foot, etc. I hope you get it figured out. ❤️

I typically use a scant 1/4” seam which allows for the material taken up when you are pressing your seams. Then I will square my block up to the required measurement. I find it easier to have a bit of room to play with so I end up with the right size block. Hang in there and good luck with your beautiful quilt.

Such a joy watching you sew. I had to take a rest my arm was hurting because of too much hand sewing.

I always do a scant 1/4 inch as I always have the same problem as you where the blocks come out smaller. Works for me. You have a lovely listening voice. Thankyou.

I have just found your channel, and find you completely refreshing, watching from country Victoria, Australia.

I have been quilting for more than 20 years, I’m not prolific, I still use a 1/4 inch foot with a guide. It really helps. This quilt will be lovely, I might see if I can get the book in Australia

If I can offer some advice….make a “scant” 1/4” seam rather than a 1/4”. After doing a similar quilt (“100days 100 blocks”) I had the same issue as you….under sized. After trialing a smaller seam, I became “spot on” with my measurements. It’s not your cutting. Don’t trim anything. The seam allowance is the BEAST….but you’ll perfect it, I’m sure!!! Some people build up a tape guide to the required seam allowance. That’s another tip. Look at “just get it done” quilts channel on KZfaq.Karen Brown has LOTS of inexpensive tips n tricks. Good luck!!!

Your blocks have turned out so beautifully. I enjoyed watching this today and after seeing this book, I’m very tempted to get it. I’ve just started a machine quilting project for my first time. I’m following Dizzy Quilts and Sews channel for her QAYG project. I’m enjoying it very much so far.

Rachel, I thought you actually were channelling Alice in Wonderland with your long hair caught back behind a hair band. ❤ The quilt is going to be beautiful and I loved watching you making the mistakes that I often seem to. Thank you so much for including them. I have found taking time with my cutting out really pays off. Check and recheck before you cut. Take care xx

Spray starch as you go…it’s a game changer for small blocks.

Love it. The Alice in wonderland was the first play I saw as a little girl.. My first rework block was Alice.

I ordered the book!!!! So excited to do it with you. I will be using my stash as well which sadly only contains about 3 Liberty scraps my lovely daughter in law brought me from London 20 years ago. I used them all in a grandmother’s flower garden quilt for my granddaughter and just have the tiny remains left !!! I won’t get a lot done this summer as we have a large market garden and a bakery that keeps us busy all summer but i am going to try to get one or two done each month . Then in September I am having a go at it full time ! Look forward to seeing your blocks all summer. Jean Colorado USA

I think you are doing terrific for the first time making the different blocks. For my quilt as you go brickwork project I decided to use Anne of Green Gabels fabric.

Oh Rachel!!! I am so excited to have just ordered this book AND the fabric directly from Alice of Caroline’s!!! I am SO happy 😁. Happy birthday to me next month when it arrives!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Hi Rachel - Thank you for sharing your beautiful quilting with us. I was told that you should always include the stitching line in your measurement of the seam allowance

Sew a 1/4" seam on scrap fabric and measure to confirm your machine sews at a 1/4" -- not all machines sew at 1/4", not even with a 1/4" foot or guide on the plate! Measure your seam allowances on the back of the block to make sure each one is 1/4"; then measure the seam allowances that are next to each other to make sure it is 1/2". Also, sew 3 squares together and then measure the width to make sure it is 6.5" (or whatever size block it is supposed to be). Remember that thread will take up space in your seam allowance; some people piece with 50 or 60 wt thread -- realize that not all 50 or 60 wt thread is the same thickness (I know! As if they would do that to us!). You can also consider sewing with a scant 1/4" seam. Yes, you could just make all your blocks 6.25" -- but what if there's a block that has points on the outside edges ... will those points be cut off when you square the block to 6.25 instead of 6.5"; also the book's title includes the words: "to improve your quilting skills". 😊You got this, Rachel! 💜

Another tip for your quarter inch is to get an acrylic guide that has holes in it for your needle to go into and ot measures it perfectly for you. Then get seam guides that stick to the base of your machine based on the place the ruler set. That and my pressure foot has helped me tremendously. Your fabrics are beautiful. This will be a lovely quilt.

Hi Rachel i only found you on KZfaq a few days ago and have been watching your videos i think they are great,you make me smile every time i watch you.I can’t use a sewing machine i have tried but very nervous when using one,so i am going to make a small quilt by hand once i have the Templates,i watched the video you did with the Daisy and Grace quilting templates so i think i will try those.I love all your pieces of work in the background of your videos ecspecially the lampshade did you make that it’s very pretty.Keep making the videos as they are so helpful.

Your blocks are beautiful! I wonder if you try to use a scant 1/4” seam allowance? That should correct your sizes hopefully. TFS!

Hi Rachel.....I have been sewing for so so many years .....believe me I definitely get days where things just don't go right......I always use when quilting....CutRite HandiGauge, from the Quilt shop....brilliant little tool definitely helps me...I always use this tool to keep an eye on my seems as i go ...it only Costs £4.75.... Your blocks are very beautiful, and you will get better and better .....ps....I don't work for this company. I just know it's a handy tool to have (through my experiences...) plus I always go a little smaller which in quilting is called ( A Scant 1/4 inch seam)...hope this helps a little....😊xx

They all look great. Definitely get you a quarter inch foot. Also sometimes if you dot press just right it can affect your block size ❤

2:37 if that's a photo of the quilt that includes these blocks 2:47, you don't need to worry about the block sizes (especially if you are hand piecing). Just adjust the sashing so all the blocks with the sashings are all the same. In other words, block plus sashing equals the finished size. To do this, cut your sashing stips a bit wider to make up for the fabric missing in your blocks. If there's a huge difference (I added 10" blocks to 12" blocks), you can add an inner boarder to the smaller blocks. To celebrate the difference, the inner boarder to the block can be a contrasting fabric. ... But conversely, you can hide the fact that the blocks are smaller by adding a boarder to the block that matches the background of the blocks. (I did that on a star block. At first glance you can't see the added boarder to make the block bigger, just a nice "frame" around the star. It's nice to see the points set back from the edge of the block instead of the points always coming right to the edge of the sashing. 💖🌞🌵😷

After you make all your blocks, trim them down to 6.25 or 6”. My blocks rarely come out to the size their supposed to be. I just trim down to the smallest sized block.

Hi Rachel. As someone who has machine quilted, I too struggled with the 1/4 inch seam allowance until I used Aurifil thread for quilting. My seams stayed at 1/4 inch! Apparently using other threads can change the seam allowance. Sorry I’ve just found this video but very interested on how you get on, keeeep sewing. I’m also in uk.

You have a beautiful spirit and thank you very much for sharing. I think the reason for the blocks not measuring to the right size could be the width of the seam allowance. The wider it is the smaller the block.

Love watching you..Such a nice voice and I love your accent..Really enjoy watching your videos…

Only just started following you. You make me feel so much better as the same thing always happens to me regarding accuracy and measurement.

Ohhh get well soon! Take it easy, and Rest What you have to rest! ❤

Wow it lovely 🌹😍

You are wonderful. We all who machine quilt fight with the 1/4in. Some of us sew them bigger then trim down. Keep going! There are no quilt police. I promise no one is going to give back your quilt because your 1/4 is off.

I know for me I had to learn to press correctly. Karen Brown from Just get it done quilts was the best help for my quilting accuracy.

If your blocks are coming up a bit smaller, reduce your seam allowance a tiny bit and have another go, measure and if still not correct, reduce again till it’s as near as possible to the correct size. Once you are consistently achieving these results, mark the position of your needle on your machine so you never lose it again. Also there is a tape you can buy with the lines of a quarter inch drawn , that can help guide the fabric too, hope that helps. My machine’s recommended position for that 1/4 inch is not giving me the results I wanted, so I ignored it and played about, using the ruler as a guide is a starting point but don’t be afraid to deviate a bit and try out new placements till you achieve what you want. And it doesn’t have to be perfect, remember, a lot gets hidden in the seams and a quilt finished is better than a perfect quilt that’s not finished 😘

Love your videos! Try a scant 1/4”. That may help.

Thanks!

It seems as though the patterm may expect you to sew a scant 1/4 inch, since you are coming up with a consistent 1/4" off. . Don't torture yourself! They look lovely! I'd just cut the sashing a bit wider...no one will measure when it's done!!!

Hi Rachel, maybe if you draw your seam allowance on you could be more accurate xx

I love your videos. I love how you mentioned that you haven’t purchased much of the Moda vanilla grunge because of your budget. I heard you say that you don’t purchase Liberty by the metre, but you have scraps. Is there a store or website where you purchase Liberty scraps? I am also on a tight budget and I love the look of Liberty fabrics but I have not purchased any yet.

When pressing fabrics if you use steam the fabric shrinks sometimes as much as a 1/2 inch

You can do a scant quarter inch-that will likely correct your issue since you’re so close! It’s 1/16” less than a 1/4” seam allowance. There are videos and tutorials about it that are helpful.

Try moving the needle which will probably correct the issue immediately!

Just Get It Done has a great tutorial on ironing technique... Also, if you cut your fabric and then iron it shrinks the pieces and they end up smaller.... Iron your fabric before cutting for better accuracy

Rachel, just a guess, but i have had this happen to me as well. First, is your thread too thick? And like another viewer commented, it may be that “scant” 1/4 thing jamming you up. When you machine stitch, there is quite a bit more thread in your seams. I have been trying to do the Wanderers wife quilt with the same issues. Hang in there- your fabrics are so pretty, it will be beautiful when you finish:)

❤❤❤❤

We all have those kind of days

This might help a bit, I stopped using my regular foot and purchased a special 1/4 inch foot to help keep me more accurate. I hope that helps …