Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Are You A Trimmer? I am...

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to another installment of the Star Crazy BOM. So here is my current status. I have made all the HST's for the first month. Yay!!


I have trimmed all the dog ears. Yes, I am a trimmer. Lots of reasons to trim.


These are all the little remnants. It is like confetti. Although, I think this was only a portion. I was throwing some in the trash as I went along and then realized it would make a great photo with my new camera.


Once they were all trimmed and de-papered, I pressed them open. I just love how they all look in the 1930s repros. This version, I think, will be a favorite and may make it onto our guest bed.


Here is a little close up of all their beautiful trimmed edges. So now for a few of the reasons to trim. First they look pretty, right? Second, they go together much easier. Third, there is less bulk in the seam allowances. Fourth, it really gives you a perspective as to if they are really squared up.


Those are some of the reasons I like to trim and have them look as nice and neat as the one above. Probably another reason is because I can be a little of that type A personality, always having things just so.

So, the question of the day is, do you trim? If so, why? If not, why? Easy.

Oh, and don't forget to head over to the Star Crazy BOM Blog and follow along with all of us who have joined in making this quilt. There will be many different versions. If you want to join in the fun, head over to Nedra's and send her an e-mail.

Until Next Time...

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44 comments:

Vickie E said...

I'm a trimmer and a pinner... cause I like to havemy seams match!

Lesly said...

I am definitely a trimmer - you can see what you are doing so much better when you go to join up those pieces. Only I hate the little ears that come off - they end up everywhere despite my best efforts to keep them corralled!

Quilts and Cats said...

I always trim, it just makes pieces easier and more accurate to piece. Plus, if you take all the trimmings and put them in a small mason jar they make a great decoration in the sewing room.

Abby and Stephanie said...

Love the 30s goodness. Yes, I trim and I square up--same reasons you do--accuracy and less bulk and it's neat! I don't like sloppy undersides to my projects.

Suburban Stitcher said...

I definitely trim! I've tried "not" trimming many times and those are the quilts whose seams never quite look right.

Julie @ Jaybird Quilts said...

the smaller the project the more i trim... but on large ones i often skip this step completely!

shellysquilts said...

Hey Jackie, Absolutely, I'm a trimmer. It is a small thing that will make your quilting life easier in alot of ways. (And the trimmed dog ears do make a pretty pile of trash.) Happy quilting!

Joanne Lendaro said...

I'm a trimmer, they just bug me. Don't like them hangin' out and not making my little squares square. There has been times, when I wished I weren't a trimmer.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

I trim, bu then I get obsessed over what i trim....I then have to sew them up into something too! (not the tiny tiny stuff) but those 3/4" triangles... yep.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I'm a trimmer too and I'm sure I will be doing some of that today - today I start my hst I have the fabric ready to go.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

alobsiger said...

Trim. Trim. Trim! AND I size up my half square triangle block squares so I can trim a little more. I also religiously snip the starting thread off (when I don't use a "seam starter" scrap). Neat and tidy. :-)

Vicki W said...

Oh yes, I always trim. You block look so bright and happy there together. This is going to be a spectacular quilt.

Darlene said...

Pretty quilt! I love those bright colors.

Yes, I've learned that trimming and squaring up blocks makes all the difference. I just finished trimming and squaring 60 blocks for a lap quilt I've been working on. They were all wonky and different sizes. Now they should go together much easier, plus the quilt will look better, too!

Unknown said...

Like you, Im a trimmer, just because it looks nicer:o) Love the fabrics you are using. Is it really som amny HST to be made the first month? WOW - Id better get the fabrics so I can get going!!!!

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

I'm a trimmer because I thought I had to trim. LOL. Your blocks are just so HAPPY looking. Love them!

Cathi said...

While I don't seem to work with HST's all that often, when I do trimming is a definite. Makes it so much easier to press at the end.

Teresa said...

Well of course I trim, how else would I get them to stack up in nice neat piles, LOL. I just love organizing my block pieces, and I do find that if I over size them just a little, then in trimming them I can get them to the near-perfect size.

Sequana said...

Yes, I'm a trimmer. And sometimes I use Judy Martin's point trimmer when I cut the original piece to make sewing them together even easier.

Now, this time, when I'm using the paper piecing technique, not only do I trim, but I press before I rip off the paper. Occasionally, I use Thangles, and they tell me it keeps the bias line from stretching when I press. And every little bit helps, right?

So.......stitch, cut apart, press, trim and rip the paper. Such fun. *S*

Needled Mom said...

With that many HSTs I cannot imagine not trimming them. They truly get squared up and ready for sewing.

pratima said...

They are looking so delicious in 30's prints!
I do trim to keep it neat :)

Lisa said...

Trimmer here, too. I actually make my HSTs bigger than they have to be, then line up the seam with an angled line on my cutting mat, and then trim the square down so it's perfect. Yes, I am insane. LOL! It takes me a loooong time to make anything with HSTs, but they always turn out nicely! :0)

Lisa said...

Oh, and your pile of scraps looks YUMMY! This is going to be a cute quilt.

Kristin said...

Yep, I am a trimmer too. This version of the quilt is going to be goregous! I love the thirty's colors.

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

I'm a trimmer too~ makes blocks go together so much better. :-) Love all your 30's!

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

Yes I am a trimmer too. Way back in the 1970's I didn't trim but I learned over the years how much more accurate it is.

Barb said...

Trimmer but not pinner

Anina said...

Pretty!
Yes, I trim. I thought everyone trimmed. It makes it easier to line up the seams.
I don't use a rotary cutter though. I just use scissors. Much quicker.

Sherri said...

I'm a trimmer too...I use scissors half the time and my rotary cutter the rest...depends...!

Hi! My name is erica. Would you be my friend? said...

I guess I'm a half trimmer. I hate squaring up tiny blocks...ugh! But I've always trimmed the little triangles that hang off the sides. I use scissors as I found it easier...

Dandelion Quilts said...

I'm a trimmer and a pinner, too.

Anonymous said...

I didn't trim but certainly will NOW!
Do you make all your hst's first? I've been doing the buck a block finishing and am working 2 blocks at a time so I dont get bored. Am I being inefficient instead?

I Purr-Furr to Craft said...

those blocks do look just wonderful, being a complete newbie, i am up for tips like this. Your camera takes great pictures.

Anonymous said...

I trim most of the time... sometimes I'm just in a rush!

wishes, true and kind said...

I love your happy little HSTs -- just waiting to shine as stars!

henny said...

For most of my small projects, I trim. But when I did the big one, often skip it!

Linda said...

Jackie, I'm a trimmer, too. HSTs are one of my favorite things to make. There's so much you can do with them! I really like how your 1930s prints are coming out.

Judy C said...

I'm a trimmer too, keeps things neat and tidy. Your blocks look very cheery.

Tine said...

Ooooh these fabrics are so pretty!! Your quilt is going to be beautiful :)
I sometimes trim and sometimes I don't. It depends...

Janet said...

I'm going to enjoy watching this being made, looks good already. I'm definitelty a trimmer, I make them slightly oversized first and then thay end up fitting perfectly.

The Calico Cat said...

I trim when I want to. Mostly I have been piecing (in my mind, mind you) parts that do not need to be trimmed - squares, some with flip & sew corners.

When I make HST's, I start big, so I trim the whole thing down, not just the dog ears.

On occasions, my favorite part os sewing are the trimming sessions...

But I have been known to wing it too...

Victoria said...

Those '30 retro fabrics always put a smile on my face!
(Generally I'm a trimmer.)
:0)

em's scrapbag said...

Love how all those hst look. I guess I'm naughty I seldom trim. But pins are my best friend when it comes to piecing.

Selvage Quilter said...

I'm just like Jaybird, the fancy projects get trimmed and squared up. But the funky string quilts, the improvisational ones never get that special treatment. And I'm happy both ways.
But now I'm thinking of saving all those tiny clippings in a canning jar or a glass apothecary jar.
I liked reading all the answers to this question. Thanks, Jackie!

Nanette Merrill said...

Sometimes I trim, sometimes not. I like to. I wish more patterns had "fudge" room in the blocks so I could trim.

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