the blue blog archives: set in seams: the traffic circles of quilting

See how that square has to fit into that "v" space? Looks like it'll go right in there, right? What's the big deal? But, actually, this sort of a seam is kind of a pain in the a** to sew. It's sort of like driving on Boston streets. Sure, everything's all nice nice in other towns, where you've only ever got two streets coming together - a little light, you go, I go, order and reason prevail. But then you arrive in Boston, or set-in-seam-town, with three or more streets coming together all the time and that no workie. You can't just be driving straight through intersections round here, people. It's complicated.

Like any good Boston road, my December block of the month block, has a ton of these set in seam traffic circles, where everyone has to slow down, coordinate their entrance into the circle juuuuusst right, and then pray that they exit at the right spot. And several hours later...

There's one more thing that makes this whole deal even trickier. If you can handle another metaphor, let me say that sewing set-in-seams is a little like doing intarsia knitting. Intarsia is tricky because each knit stitch needs to be connected to the one before it and the one after it, but if you keep joining in a new yarn over and over in the same row, the whole thing's not really connected anymore! The same is true in quilting. Usually, you're sewing nice straight seams that cross each other at 90 degree angles, locking the seams and holding everything together. But when three seams come together, you can't just sew from edge to edge and then sew the next seam across the first one and so on. That won't work because - well, I refer you to the traffic circle above - insanity, mayhem and possible death may ensue. (Think Egon in Ghost Busters warning you not to cross the streams: "It would be bad.") So you can only sew up to the exact point where all three streets come together and not beyond. And you better hit that point just right or not only will the quilting police show up and give you a ticket for not matching your points, but nothing will be connected! And holes in quilt blocks are just as unsightly as holes in knitted pieces. Or dents in cars.

Having driven enough in Boston, however, I knew that a little chuzpah, some well-timed aggression, and a willingness to go round the circle more than once would eventually get me through the block.

posted by alison at 12:04 pm | in it's the bom!

Comments

Impressive. Having both recently taken up quilting and been lost driving Boston streets, I completely understand the analogies. Beautiful square.

Since you are on December's block, does that mean you will be seaming blocks together next?

Posted by: Kelli at May 30, 2008 12:41 PM

Almost time to start putting blocks together. I still have November's block to sew up. The pattern and the fabrics bothered me in the original kit, so I've put it off until last to do. I am starting to think about settings and border fabrics, though, so it's close!

Posted by: ALISON at May 30, 2008 12:49 PM

Absoulutely magnificent!

Posted by: Liz at May 30, 2008 1:20 PM

I don't think I could do that at all with machine piecing though my sister-in-law does beautiful work. I do all my piecing by hand and set in a square like that by starting at the point and sewing outward in each direction. If I try anything - even as simple as a 9-patch - on the machine after about 10 minutes, one of us is going out the window and the machine is more apt to fit through than I am {g}

Posted by: Plain Jane at May 30, 2008 1:29 PM

Yes, I can see where you're coming from, Plain Jane. I think that if I had a whole quilt to do of blocks with set-in seams, I might just start hand quilting. Just like around here, I sometimes just prefer to walk! ;0)

Posted by: ALISON at May 30, 2008 1:33 PM

That's just lovely. You know, quilting looks sort of simple at first...and then you start really looking at it...and it just gets more and more amazing that people are making these beautiful quilts. I mean, you look at that patch above and sort of think, "Oh, geometric shapes...straight lines...piece of cake." And then you start thinking about bringing those pieces of fabric together all tidily with those crisp angles...and the mind starts to boggle.

Whereas (and I may get jumped on for this) I think knitting is sort of the opposite. Something can look very difficult but really...it's all just knit and purl, basically.

Not that (just to caveat everything to death) there isn't incredibly challenging knitting as there may be simpler quilts.

Whew! Did I get out of that without offending anyone? :^)

Posted by: Sarah R at May 30, 2008 2:15 PM

That is really lovely.

Posted by: Donna at May 30, 2008 2:50 PM

The block is pretty!

Posted by: silverarrowknits at May 30, 2008 7:43 PM

Awesome! You did a wonderful job on a block with difficult seams!

Posted by: Andrea at May 30, 2008 9:04 PM

Alison, I'm in awe!

Posted by: Anita at May 30, 2008 11:45 PM

Looks like it worked! And isn't that what applique is for? HAHA. Which is bigger? Your yarn stash or your fabric stash?

Posted by: PainterWoman at May 31, 2008 1:09 AM

What a beautiful block! Funny, I never thought of using my Boston driving skills when I'm crafting. I'll remember that the next time I get stuck. Thank you! and I hope you have a nice weekend.

Posted by: Deborah Bourque at May 31, 2008 6:06 AM

Loving the metaphors in this post! And I don't even quilt (yet)....or drive in Boston for that matter! :

Posted by: amanda at June 1, 2008 6:34 AM

*so pretty*! I'm very impressed. ~x~

Posted by: Jane in London at June 2, 2008 7:16 AM

Yes, set-in seams are tricky, but your block looks gorgeous! I think sewers who can do those set-in seams should get a little medal to hang by their machines - Expert Sewer!

Posted by: Carrie at June 2, 2008 8:22 AM

One of the true experts that I know says these 8-point intersections is one of those places where it's OK to press your seams open. If you kind of squoosh them into a sequential "bud" that spins around the center, it does help!

Posted by: Jan at June 2, 2008 8:28 AM

On the other hand the hole in the block is easily fixed with a couple of additional stitches while in knitting it might mean ripping.

Posted by: karin at June 3, 2008 11:12 AM

i've never quilted anything but a four block patch for the front of a purse i hand sewed once.

but i was thinking, wouldn't it be easier to sew the sides to the square first, and then seam them up the middle? i mean, take that pink piece(and the other diamond piece it's sewed to), and sew it to the square, and then take that green piece(and it's other diamond piece) and sew IT to the square, and then you can just fold the square in half and sew one seam down the middle to join the diamond-y shape pieces?

just wondering...

~melly

Posted by: melly at June 5, 2008 1:49 PM

okay, i'm a dummy. i meant the white diamond piece and the pink diamond piece (because i was looking at the black floral square.) *sighs* it's been a long day.

Posted by: melly at June 5, 2008 2:12 PM