15 or 16 inch blocks?

[denise-nh]

Hi everyone -

I have been reading the posts and noticed that when some of you have printed out your patterns, they end up being about 15 inches. If you have made your block a bit smaller, don't worry - as long as you can cut the block to a full 16-1/2 inches square (unfinished size) when you have finished your applique.

As for the patterns not printing out correctly, I can offer one solution that may solve the problem for most of you. I suspect that when you go to print the blocks, you may be going directly to "print" and bypassing a print "menu." In the print menu, there is a little pull-down menu for "Page Scaling." You want to make sure that you have selected "None" instead of "fit to printable area" or "shrink to printable area" -- which your computer may automatically select since the margins on the pattern pages are very tight! If the printing is scaled to fit the page, your pattern will print out at about 15 inches instead of the full 16 inches.

I hope this is helpful information for those of you who have had problems with page sizes.

Happy stitching --
Sue Garman

[RuthMcI]

Thanks, Sue. I'll try that and re-print my March block. I should have checked that before!

[RuthMcI]

I just noticed the other day that I have made January through April in the wrong scale. Not a big deal, they still look fine to me, but should I bother with changing it in the future or just continue as it is? Will this one inch difference around make that big of an impact? I don't want my earlier blocks to stand out like sore thumbs.

[RuthMcI]

I'd keep going as is... and when it comes time to finish the quilt, you could decide if you want to keep the 16" blocks w/ more background showing, or you could bring the sashing & borders in closer & have a smaller quilt-- not smaller like lap size, but just a few inches different. Of course, that would require some math for that sashing etc., but surely it could be done

my two cents...
Florence

[ladyquilter]

I just noticed the other day that I have made January through April in the wrong scale. Not a big deal, they still look fine to me, but should I bother with changing it in the future or just continue as it is? Will this one inch difference around make that big of an impact? I don't want my earlier blocks to stand out like sore thumbs.

So is the applique smaller than it should be? If yes, I would continue on and perhaps add some "hand quilting or machine quilting bling" to the extra areas available on the background. The Quilting Bling I saw at Suzanne Marshall's classes I took last week were bugs and critters. And once a person has found one in a block they will start looking everywhere for more!

JoJo

[Judymc]

I agree with Florence that keeping all the blocks the same will look the best. I didn't even notice that the scale might be off. Applique is the most forgiving of needlework and I don't think an inch will be that noticeable.

[Margo]

My blocks printed out at 15" also, and I'll do the rest of them at 15", but because of the pieced border we need to cut the background to 16-1/2" to make the borders fit correctly. I like JoJo's idea of adding critters in some of the extra space!

[Margo]

Thanks, Sue, and everyone else, for solving this vexing situation for us. My Jan and Feb blocks were printed at 15", Mar and Apr at 16" and, of course they are all finished. I now will continue at 16. I do have enough fabric to make the block 16 1/2 unfinished, so it will be o.k. I never knew about page scaling until I joined the Carol Doak Yahoo group and was advised to watch for it. I now look at that every time.

Working on May, and liking it.

Nancy in NC

[WandaM]

I just checked my master copies and they are also 15". I think that I will continue at the 15" size. I also like the idea of adding little critters to the background. Thanks for the heads up with this situation. WandaM

[WandaM]

For the most part, I don't believe that one inch is going to make a difference in your patterns, as long as you cut them, when finished, 16-1/2" square (unfinished size). I certainly would not re-do any of the blocks! Just pay attention in the future and make sure you are printing out full size!

Sue Garman

[QuilterLynn]

I agree with Sue. That's only 1/2 inch on each side...........we'll never notice the difference.

[QuilterLynn]

ntrquilter--
Do you notice a difference in your 15" and 16" vases/flowers? I don't see much difference in looking at your photos. I am wondering whether to start printing out the following month's patterns at 16"
Terri

[QuilterLynn]

ntrquilter--
Do you notice a difference in your 15" and 16" vases/flowers? I don't see much difference in looking at your photos. I am wondering whether to start printing out the following month's patterns at 16"
Terri

I only have three blocks in the 15" size, and I really don't think it will make any difference. April and May are 16" I'll dare anyone to complain about it in the completed quilt!!!!! If I really complete it??

Nancy in NC

[BeardieLover]

Nice to know I'm not alone! I printed mine out at 15" too!
ops:

[BeardieLover]

well, I did not notice I was printing smaller blocks until my 6th block (the easy one) :shock: and I have done this one in the larger size and am wondering if I should just redo this block and continue on with the smaller blocks - although I do like the larger one. I really don't see a need to add anything to the smaller size but am wondering if I mix my smaller ones (5) with the rest larger in the overall scheme will it throw the whole thing off?

HELP!

Bonny