Mariners Compass

[Barbara B.]

Happycamperx, both my Month 2 blog, released January 25, and the video on Making the Mariners Compass, available with the pattern, clearly say this is a 14” finished Compass. And the cover of the Month 2 pattern shows it is a 14” finished Compass.

I posted this on the Forum January 25 to let everyone know Month 2 was up and How To Be Successful:

https://thequiltshow.com/forum/bom-2021-color-my-world/9473-month-2-mariner-s-compass-is-up#154050

The blogs and videos are intended to supplement the pattern written by Wendy Williams. They provide a lot of additional information. That is all I can do to help everyone be successful.

The 1” scale box is crucial for paper piecing.

[Carole B.]

Happycamper, Sorry to hear you are struggling with this project. I cannot provide you with any help, as I’m a newbie, but wanted to pass along the finished size of the compass is shown on the cover of the instructions and is 14”. Hang in here.

[Jane D.]

I did watch the video and read the info. Is my problem I did foundation paper piecing instead of the freezer paper method? My mariners circle was 13 rather then 14 and I need to figure out why before I try to redo. My square measured an inch as it was stated. I am frustrated and don’t know what I did wrong.

[Barbara B.]

Happycamperx, either paper foundation method will work. Measure the paper wedges when you print them again to be sure the longest point, F, is 7” finished. Then if you sew the wedges together with an accurate 1/4” seam the compass will be 14” finished. Check after each seam to be sure your seam allowance is accurate.

[Jane D.]

I grabbed mine from the garbage can to check it. My F finished is 6 1/2. My seams do look accurate. Frustrating. They are attached front and back.

[Jane D.]

bbcode, This seems like a dumb question: I want to use darker blue on the compass. If I do will there be enough blue remaining to use in other areas calling for the same color?

[Helen W.]

I grabbed mine from the garbage can to check it. My F finished is 6 1/2. My seams do look accurate. Frustrating. They are attached front and back.

Happycamperx. You appear to have one more problem than just size, if you look at the points on you pieces of paper, you should have a quarter inch of gray background fabric on the curved side. If your points go
into the seam allowance that means the tips of the points will be cut off when you sew the compass to the road section. HelenW

My guess is that your bottom piece is shifting while you sew. Make sure your match point are pinned or dab of glue.

[Barbara B.]

BleuRose, there is no where else in the quilt where the two blues are specified.

[Barbara B.]

I grabbed mine from the garbage can to check it. My F finished is 6 1/2. My seams do look accurate. Frustrating. They are attached front and back.

I see one reason some of the points are way off: you left the paper on when joining the wedges. This makes it much more difficult to sew those seams accurately. The paper patterns allow for accurate piecing of the wedges—trim them to the correct size, including seam allowances—then remove the paper. Now sew the wedges to each other, checking the outside points with each seam. This should greatly improve the outer points.

[PleasantValleyFarm]

Happycamper, Sorry to hear you are struggling with this project. I cannot provide you with any help, as I’m a newbie, but wanted to pass along the finished size of the compass is shown on the cover of the instructions and is 14”. Hang in here.
[/quote]

VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER this note from Barbara's blog:
14. The finished size of this Mariner's Compass is 14". That means the Compass with seam allowances should measure 14.5" now.

[Dawn C.]

I did watch the video and read the info. Is my problem I did foundation paper piecing instead of the freezer paper method? My mariners circle was 13 rather then 14 and I need to figure out why before I try to redo. My square measured an inch as it was stated. I am frustrated and don’t know what I did wrong.

Are you using a "Add - A- Quarter" ruler? I'm a newbie and am impressed how much that helps when trimming, as it has a lip that stays on the seam. Sorry about your size being off. I haven't made mine yet. Good luck with future one and thanks for posting.

[Jane D.]

Thank you for all of your help. Before I go any farther I am thinking I should measure my houses to make sure they are the right size, as I did those the same way. Where is the finished size of house 1 and 2 posted? I have looked and I am not finding it.

Also from reading all of your comments, are you saying I should rip out wedges of what I have, take the paper off and resew? Or would it be better to start over?

[Helen W.]

Thank you for all of your help. Before I go any farther I am thinking I should measure my houses to make sure they are the right size, as I did those the same way. Where is the finished size of house 1 and 2 posted? I have looked and I am not finding it.

Also from reading all of your comments, are you saying I should rip out wedges of what I have, take the paper off and resew? Or would it be better to start over?

happycamperx, If you stitched the wedges together with regular length stitches and not the super small ones like paper piecing you might be able to rip it out. Remember
that all the ripping might cause bias edges to stretch out of shape. That is not going to fix the fact the circle will be too small even if you get it perfect. I think I would just
start over. HelenW

[CJaneAgar]

I understand the finished block should be 14.5 inches, mine has finished closer to 15". I checked my templates and appear to be printed correctly using the 1" scale block, my seems are 1/4" but maybe to scant, so should I start again or will I be able to use this one? I am worried this will mess up the next step, and if I make another from start will I end up short of fabric?

[Barbara B.]

Thank you for all of your help. Before I go any farther I am thinking I should measure my houses to make sure they are the right size, as I did those the same way. Where is the finished size of house 1 and 2 posted? I have looked and I am not finding it.

Also from reading all of your comments, are you saying I should rip out wedges of what I have, take the paper off and resew? Or would it be better to start over?

See this post:

https://thequiltshow.com/forum/bom-2021-color-my-world/9465-printing-problems#153942

The small houses should be close to 10.875"--11" tall, in the center, from raw edge to raw edge.

You need to start over with patterns that are the correct size. You said F measured 6.5", giving you a 13" finished compass.