Unhappy Quilter

[Maura]

For the quilting block raffle we are having I wanted to make something new. It got down to Storm at Sea or Jacob's Coat.  I went with Jacobs coat, which has 65 Pieces, and a scrap block.

But, I decided to make a Storm at Sea Quilt.  I finished 8 of the center square in a square and was finishing up 7 of the diamond rectangles when I noticed a discrepancy. Looking at the photos and diagrams, it seems the diamonds units should be half the width of the center square.  Mine aren't.  After hours of searching the web for directions and patterns, I was ready to give up.  I kept measuring and kept coming up wrong.

Well, it turns out that you are supposed to use a 53.5 degree triangle and I was using a 60.  All the patterns using diamonds or triangles I have ever made used 60 or 45 degree units.  NOWHERE on the youtube videos or templates for sale or free patterns did I ever see 53.5.  I quite accidentally found a page that mentioned the difference.  Scarlet with rage.

I have ordered a "diamond rect", which is distinctly used for Storm at Sea.  I think I can cut down the diamonds I have already cut and used, but will need new corners.

[mogal]

Oh, Maura, I feel your pain. I'm not a quilter but I have made suits, sport coats and shirts for DH, clothes for me, home furnishings and run into similar problems.

[mzgarden]

I don't know what most of that means BUT I can recognize the pain. I'm sorry but glad you found the reason and have a way forward.

[lindym]

With my (very recent)experience, I can easily see where your rage would come from! I DO understand angles and if it ain't right it ain't gonna fit! One of my blocks I ripped into twice, the second time I took it completely apart and cut a couple new pieces.

Good luck getting them cut down.

[Maura]

At least the problem is the diamonds are too wide, so they will be cut a little narrower. I am glad that I did not do all the cutting before the sewing. Today I will take the corners off so I am ready when the new template arrives.