5/12/2013

Block Tip (my opinion only)

 When I am making a block I ALWAYS (always-always-always) leave a border of at least 1 1/2" around the image area. ie. If  I want a 6" image area I make a 9" block.  If I  want an  11" image area I make a 14" block. My beginning students get a pattern for a 9" block and in the 1st class I have them baste around a 6" area... I can only tell them you may want this extra space later and I know they think WHY???

Now I have a good example to show them... This image area is basted in black and after I had the idea of a lace cart I wanted more space lower right...The cottage is firmly placed at this point.  And since I'm making this up as I go along I quite often want to adjust the perimeter of my block even up to the very last...  So having this extra space allows me to do that.



So since I have such a generous allowance of fabric it is no problem to lower the image space 1/2" and to the right 1/2".  So you can see the difference that 1/2" makes.  Now I have a lot more room to play with my cart... It doesn't really take any more time or material to make the block large enough to have that generous margin and I highly recommend doing so!!!! (my opinion only)



Quite often I receive blocks in RRs which only have a 1/4" allowance.  With shrinkage or distortion during stitching that narrow allowance is limiting.  You probably will end up with a 5 1/2" block..  All the extra margin makes blocking and finishing much easier.. Now I have these photos to add to my slide show on block construction....

4 comments:

gocrazywithme said...

For some reason I especially love the frame of crochet lace and gimp around this cottage. And the lace cart will be fantastic.

margaret said...

such good advice, you can always cut the block down after but you cannot make it bigger, will bare this in mind. or is it bear?

Marilyn said...

Maybe Google will let me post today - it wouldn't yesterday. I always make my block quite a bit bigger than what I want for the finished size. I usually do encrusted blocks so they shrink significantly. T, too, like the frame around the cottage and of course, the cart....it is just perfect.

Suztats said...

That's sage advice. Thank you.

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