Blocking Saw Tooth Star
Did you know that even famous, “perfect” quilters have to block their quilts so that they hang straight? They do! I routinely expect to block my quilts. Saw Tooth Star, well, this poor baby really needed a blocking: it had over a 1″ variance in width and the whole quilt is only about 46 1/2″ “square” (square being a relative term)!
You may recall, I inadvertently selected a cotton/poly blend fabric for my borders and sashing. So, when it came time to block, that poly part of my fabric was NOT going to give and stretch like cotton would. Such a compounding of errors: wonky pieced blocks, miters not dead-on, poly in my fabric, problems with my metallic thread…
I am going to walk you through my blocking process. Many quilters seem to think this is a difficult process that needs to be taught in a class or something, but it’s actually quite simple. Almost all quilts benefit from being blocked square. I see quilts at major shows that hang wonky-all they need is a little blocking!
These are the highly sophisticated tools I use: sturdy tape measure, water filled spray bottle, steam iron, carpeted floor, the largest square ruler you are willing to pay for (mine is 22 1/2″ and I love it), and sturdy, mean pins-the kind with a big shaft and plastic heads. These are the cheap pins that I would never ever use for piecing or garment sewing. 
In addition to these tools I need a radio for entertainment, and, this is very important, a door! I need to keep the Basset-In-Chief from investigating my quilt since it will be there for a few days, right in his favorite sunny spot.
This is my steam iron set up-an unconventional one. I had an expensive 7 yr old Rowenta Professional that leaked for 3 years before it finally died. I needed an iron immediately so I ran to Wal-Mart and bought a cheap Black and Decker. I’m actually happy with it: it’s very hot and produces tons of steam. I have it on a clicker system from Home Depot that allows me to click it on and off, so that I never forget to turn it off-very handy.
I measured each side at the top, bottom and middle and came up with a measurement compromise that I could block it to. In this case, one side measured 47 1/2, 47 1/4 and 46 1/2-do you think that miter might have been an issue??? I had to come up with a reasonable figure to block to. Because the rest of the quilt pretty much measured out around the 47 1/2″ figure, I concluded that one miter was way off and I would try to block out as much of that as I could.
I sprayed my quilt and pretty much saturated it-for this size quilt I used most of the spray bottle. Then I pinned the middle of each side to the measurement I needed, stretching or even compacting as needed.
I used my square ruler to get the sashing dead-on straight and began systematically pinning from there, placing pins about every 1 1/2″. 
This is sturdy fabric-if I were blocking wimpy silk, I might place my pins 3/4″ apart or so.
Note that the pins are angled towards the middle of the quilt-this will retain the pull and not allow it to relax back towards the middle. I fuss and putz and pat it until my lines are straight and my edges square. Kinda. I just could not get an inch of stretch out of that awful poly/cotton blend-only got 1/2″ so I had to accept a wonky border. If it had been 100% cotton I probably could have gotten my inch.
I will do some final “adjustments” with steam from my iron, patting down and steaming any poochy parts.
However, this is really important to remember. I LOVE the quilt, despite its many flaws. Just look: 
Do you see the dimension that the wool batt gives-on the striped insert, the feathers, the bubbles? See the shimmer of the Glitter thread? 
And look at the dimension on the blocks. I love that about this quilt!
My point to you is this: look past all the problems in your quilt and your quilting and find the beauty-it’s there! When I look at the Glitter thread and the puff of the feathers and the colorful blocks, well, it’s a quilt skipping moment for me-I want you to find that moment too!
You’re heart SHOULD be warming when you look at your creations. No matter what problems or wonkiness there is, the overall beauty is well worth it. There is always more to love about a creation than not! Skip, skip, skip for joy!!!!
So many quilters are critical of their work and I hope to help them see the beauty in their work!
I think you are the only one who sees all the flaws. Your creation is quite beautiful to me as just an observer of the finished product. Your work is exquisite!
I am only speaking about the flaws as if it were to be judged-I know I’d get dinged for the corners and miters, which is fine. I do love the piece though and I know that is the most important thing!
Wow, you work is exceptional! I am green with envy over the precision of your lines. I am new to quilting and struggle with the mathematics at times, but keep trying. Someday I hope to create quilts this lovely!
Oh you will-it really is a matter of time and pursuing what you love!
The quilt is wonderful, and who sees flaws??! Thanks for the reminder on blocking.
You’re right, those flaws are there but they’re not important! I am training myself to just recognize them, try to fix them next time and love the rest….kinda like friends, myself, the rest of life!
Your directions are really going to be of help to me. Please tell me if I understand them correctly.
Lay quilt on carpet and spray it with water, saturating it if necessary. Then pin quilt to the measurement you want. Then use the steam from the steam iron for any additional areas that need to be patted smooth.
Kathy; First you have to decide if it needs blocking anyway! If it does, measure each top, bottom and middle and come up with the size you want to block it to. I spray the quilt with water to the point of somewhere between mist and saturated.Then start in the middle of the quilt and secure that side with pins to the measurement you need (See the photos above to make sure you have the pins angled away from the quilt). Do the same for the other side. Then begin working your way from the corners, making sure they are square using your square ruler and the right measurement
. If there is excess fabric that pooches up, pat it down into place. If this is still happening after it begins drying, I steam it out with the iron, just hovering above the surface of the quilt, patting it down into submission. This is really not an exacting process, but what you are trying to achieve is a square, flat quilt. Try Alex Anderson’s video for another explanation: http://www.hgtv.com/video/tips-for-blocking-a-quilt-video/index.html
Wow, just found your blog and I love your post! I have always been too intimidated/imprecise to even think about blocking so thanks for the inspiration..Couple of questions…are you pinning right into the carpet? and does the quilt ever mold? It seems if its not 90 degrees that it would just remain damp for awhile? Thanks again, lovely quilting..the dimension is gorgeous.
Thank you! Yes, I am pinning right to the carpet and I’ve never had a problem with mold. This last quilt actually dried in about 15 hrs and of course it’s winter. I guess if you lived in a humid climate and had the windows open, it might mold, but I really don’t think it would. Perhaps a box fan would prevent that if you thought it might mold. Try it-I think you’ll be surprised at how easy it is!