How to Square Up a Quilt – Simple Steps to Square Your Quilt Blocks

A Comprehensive Guide to Squaring Up Your Quilt

If you’ve just finished piecing or hand quilting your quilt top, the next important step is squaring it up before adding the batting and backing. Squaring up ensures your quilt blocks and borders are straight and at perfect 90-degree angles. This process is crucial for getting nice, even borders and perfectly straight lines when machine quilting.

Why is it important to square up a quilt?

1. It makes the quilt look neat and professionally finished.
2. It allows the quilt layers and borders to be perfectly aligned for straight-line machine quilting.
3. It prevents wavy or rippling edges that can occur if the quilt layers are not cut to exactly the same size.

From my experience finishing dozens of quilts, I can say squaring up is absolutely worth the extra effort. A quilt that is not squared up will never lie completely flat and the wavy edges can be very distracting. Taking the time to prep the quilt properly pays off with beautiful, even results.

How do I know if my quilt needs squaring up?

There are a few signs that indicate it’s time to square up your quilt:

1. The edges are wavy or uneven instead of straight lines.
2. The corners are not perfect 90-degree angles.
3. The blocks, sashing strips, or borders are not aligned straight across the quilt.

Even if the quilt top looks basically square, I often still go through the squaring process. It ensures I get perfect 1/4″ seam allowances when joining the layers. A little extra time squaring up can make a big difference in the finished look.

What tools do I need to square up a quilt?

The essential tools for squaring up a quilt include:

• Rotary cutter
• Cutting mat (at least 24″ x 36″ size)
• Ruler (preferably 36″ x 6″ plastic quilt ruler)
• Marker or chalk for marking guidelines
• Pins for basting the quilt layers

It also helps to have an iron and design wall or large flat surface to work on. Make sure to use a fresh rotary cutter blade – you’ll be cutting through multiple quilt layers so a dull blade can cause frustration.

Step-by-step instructions for squaring up a quilt

Follow these steps to properly square up your quilt:

1. Lay the quilt top right side up on a cutting mat. Use the chalk/marker and ruler to draw light guideline lines exactly 1/4″ beyond the outermost edges of the quilt.
2. Position the ruler along one edge guideline with the edge of the ruler lined up perfectly with the line. Use your rotary cutter to trim that edge in one smooth motion.
3. Repeat to trim the opposite edge using the other guideline. Then trim the top and bottom edges using the side guidelines.
4. Check the corners by placing the ruler diagonally from corner to corner. Trim any dog-ears sticking out beyond the lines.
5. Repeat the squaring process with the backing fabric and batting, layering them right sides together and pin basting seams before cutting to size.
6. Layer the batting between the backing and quilt top with rights sides facing. Pin baste the outer edges together just inside the 1/4″ seam allowance.
7. The quilt is now ready to add borders or proceed to quilting!

From experience, I’ve found it helpful to double check the quilt is truly square by measuring the diagonals – when they match, you know the corners are perfect 90 degrees. Take your time to ensure nice, crisp edges.

What if my quilt top is not large enough?

If your pieced or quilted quilt top turns out smaller than planned, here are some options:

1. Add borders to enlarge it to the intended size.
2. Consider making it a wall hanging instead of a bed quilt.
3. Incorporate it into a larger project like a bed skirt or table runner.
4. Combine it with another small quilt top to make one larger finished piece.

Don’t be discouraged if your measurements are a little off. With creative problem solving, you can still make good use of your hard work. Remember that imperfections also add charm and character to handmade items.

What if my quilt is too large?

On the other hand, suppose your top expands more than intended during quilting – here are some strategies:

1. Simply square it up to the larger size and enjoy your extra cozy oversized quilt!
2. Cut away excess fabric to square it up to the original intended size.
3. Consider trimming the quilt and binding a smaller area to make multiple smaller quilts.
4. Cut it into panels and use the pieces for pillows, table runners, or other projects.

The key is to avoid wasting your efforts. With creativity, even unexpected sizes can become treasures instead of mistakes. Patience and problem-solving go a long way.

Any tips for squaring up difficult quilt shapes?

Special quilt designs like curved or shaped blocks may require some extra care when squaring:

1. For gentle curves, draw guideline arcs following the shape instead of straight lines.
2. To keep points crisp on pineapples or stars, draw separate guideline corner wedges beyond each point.
3. For multiple shapes, square each section individually before layering.
4. Use your stiletto tool for precision cutting inside tight curves or points.
5. For complex shapes, measure diagonals from corner to corner as a double check.

Going slow and checking your work pays off, no matter the design. With careful squaring, even tricky quilt shapes can look tidy and professional.

In summary, taking the time to properly square up your quilt is absolutely worthwhile. It ensures your blocks and borders line up beautifully for a polished finished look. With a bit of practice, the process becomes quick and simple. Don’t be afraid to tweak sizes with creative problem solving either. Most of all, have fun and don’t stress imperfections – that’s what gives quilts character!

I hope these tips help you successfully square up your next quilt. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Tips for Squaring Up Your Quilt

FAQ

1. What materials do I need to square up a quilt?

   Basically you’ll need a few simple things like a ruler, quilt squares or patches, pins or fabric glue, and thread to sew it all together. Sewing shears and scissors are handy too for trimming the edges nice and straight.

   

2. What’s the first step to squaring up a quilt top?

   The initial thing is to lay out all your quilt pieces or patches on a big flat surface like your floor or a large table. This gives you a chance to sort of see how everything will fit together before doing any cutting or sewing.

3. How do I trim the edges to make them even?

   Once you have your layout done, you’ll want to use a ruler and rotary cutter or scissors to cut off any stray strings or uneven bits on the edges. Going slow and taking your time here will basically make all the difference when it’s time for piecing everything together.

4. What’s the best way to pin or glue the blocks?

   There are a couple methods for this step. You can use fabric glue to tack down the edges before sewing. Or else pin frequently around the perimeter to hold layers together as you stitch. Some quilters say pins give a bit more flexibility if you need to adjust something later on.

5. How do I know when it’s properly squared up?

   To check your work, measure the diagonal lines of each block using a tape measure or ruler. When both measurements are equal, it’s square! You can also use the 3-4-5 method where the diagonal lengths follow that ratio. A perfectly squared up quilt top will come together like magic.

6. What’s the easiest way to join blocks together?

   A super straightforward approach is to sew blocks in horizontal rows first. Then join those rows vertically. This way you’re basically just piecing short straight seams together one after the other. Just remember to press as you go to keep all the seam allowances pointing in the same instruction.

7. Any tips for keeping things accurately squared up?

   Double check your seamlines frequently with a ruler as you stitch. A helpful little trick is to draw marker lines every few inches on your sewing machine foot too – this will keep you going perfectly straight. Going slowly is key here. Rushing leads to wobbly seams which destroy that beautiful squared up look.