i moved my quest for assistance to this thread thinking it would be a more appropiate place for it.

i am having problems getting this block to come out right.  http://www.mccallsquilting.com/patterns/details.html?idx=8048

good morning again,

i hope you can all forgive me for my angst, i just want to learn how to do these correctly and have them come out right.

here is the problem i am seeing when i do up the sections:
the middle square is 6.5 x 6.5, then placing the smaller squares in the corners to stitch and flip. 
the size should remain the same 6.5x 6.5.  and it does.
the rectangle pieces made with the template then should also have a length of 6.5, but they dont. they are shorter then
the middle square.  i cut them precisely by the template, matched up the lil dots and even drew on the stitching line.
i also did one at a scant 1/4 inch, to see if that made the difference. 
the paper template itself does not have the length
of the square piece.  i have considered that maybe when i printed out the template the print size was changed, so i reprinted at
100% just to be sure.  it still does not come out to be 6.5 in length.  somehow when i stitch the peices together they are coming out much shorter then the length of the square and i just have not figured out why or where i am going wrong

is it possible to do these rectangle/ triangle pieces like doing hst's??? by placing two rectangles together, stitching down the middle and
flipping open??

thanks for the assistance and helping me learn how to do this block. i really do appreciate it  

Hi Sis,

Are you talking about the half rectangles? For a  quick fix, I suggest to make your fabric cuts bigger than the templates. If the are coming out 1/4" too small, cut your fabric 1/4"  bigger.

When you lay the triangles together to sew, make sure that the tips are hanging off the edges by 1/4" inch. 

Sometimes templates are just wrong, they are drawn a little off. So if you just give yourself a bit of extra fabric, it should come out ok.

There is a  way you can do them sort of like HST's. But you put the opposite corner there...hmm, let me see if I can find the Lady who does patterns that way...

HEre you go, look at this video.

 http://pamsclub.com/member-video-feature/angler-demos/134-rectrangles

HUGS

Trish ... I think the rectangles are supposed to measure 6.5" by 2" ... yes? 

An alternate method may be to try cutting two rectangles this size (or the correct size needed) for each leaf.  Sandwich the fabric right sides together.  Draw a line diagonally from one corner to the other on the back. Stitch on the line.  Press one leaf one way and the other leaf to mirror it as shown in the block.  Cut away the "extra" fabric  leaving your 1/4" seam.  This the same method as making a snowball block corner.

Hope this helps ...   Pat

hehe that was the easy way i wanted to do the block.  it did not turn out as i didnt size it up large enough. but now they are all done
and the patch is perfect size and the points are where they are supposed to be. 
thank you very much ladies.  sure you dont want to come stay in my sewing room and be my quilt tutors??? 

these are the results of mis-sized peices and extra hst:

 many of the quilt auntie blocks i make are entirely new to me so i end up with a practice block.

they get turned into potholders because i dont like to waste them and i need new potholders!

 i love purple and green together!

(scrap-blocks.jpg)

scrap-blocks.jpg (20KB - 217 downloads)