The ROADS—Ask Questions Here

[sosallap]

If the 1" scale box is correct, don't worry about it. I just checked my paper arcs and they are the same as you describe, about 1/8" or so different from the center out, My roads fit fine.

Thank you, Barbara, for your fast response. I tried to give your answer a "like" or a "thumbs up," but, I kept getting an error message instead.

[Jean E.]

I found all of Barbara’s tips to be extremely helpful. I was just sure my outside road and houses would not fit, but taking my time and pinning and pinning worked!

[Barbara B.]

Feels great, doesn’t it?

[Cindy P.]

I’m ready to add the upper road to the treetops of the small houses circle. What has everyone been doing about the two layers of fabric? Do you trim the background fabric back some just leaving the treetops to connect to the upper road? Thanks!

[Barbara B.]

I’m ready to add the upper road to the treetops of the small houses circle. What has everyone been doing about the two layers of fabric? Do you trim the background fabric back some just leaving the treetops to connect to the upper road? Thanks!

You can do either. If your trees are very light and background darker, you might want to remove the underneath background. I left the background intact.

[kelly u.]

my outerroad is way to big ,,,,, what do i do?

[Merle A.]

I’ve made the strip for the road pieces with white center with grate care. Checked the pattern again ... stitched with scant 1/4” seams. But the night is not compatible with the 3”x3” for the dark pieces. I can eyeball the center placing for cutting but it’s barely enough to make it on the paperpiecing bows.

[Helen W.]

my outerroad is way to big ,,,,, what do i do?

Kelly, Double check every step you did when making the road. Size of templates, number of pieces you made, etc. If you don't find
a problem there, lay your outside road in a circle and measure the diameter. I think it is supposed to be 43.5 inches for the diameter. If you could take a photo of your center section and the out side road, it would be easier to trouble shoot it. HelenW

[Julie E.]

How much black fabric do the roads require?

[Barbara B.]

About one yard. The fabric requirements are in the Introduction to the Pattern

[Barbara B.]

I’ve made the strip for the road pieces with white center with grate care. Checked the pattern again ... stitched with scant 1/4” seams. But the night is not compatible with the 3”x3” for the dark pieces. I can eyeball the center placing for cutting but it’s barely enough to make it on the paperpiecing bows.

Black was to be cut 1.75” + white cut .875”. Sewn together the road strip should be 3 3/8”. I can’t tell from the photo but yours looks smaller than that. Double check that you cut strips accurately and then sewed with 1/4” seam

[Tara T.]

Can you tell me the diameter of the compass and the inner and outer measurements/diameters of the house circle? I know they didn't line up perfectly at the bottom and I want to make sure I know where I'm pinning or where to trim before pinning. Thanks

[Helen W.]

Tara, In a post earlier Barbara Black said the compass is 14.5 diameter. Inner road attached is 18.5 across. And the blank hole in the small houses 17.5. The Center of the quilt including both roads is 43.5. HelenW

[sewskeel]

This quilt is beating me up! I had a most flat circle until I attached the upper road. I had to do lots of easing. Have some tucks which I hate. Pressed it toward road.
what am I going to do with this mess? I am about to give up on this whole thing, help me if you can

[Helen W.]

Sewskeel, The Upper road is going to have to come off. Take your time and try not to stretch the seams too much as you rip.
Do the measuring as Barbara suggested. Let us know if you found the error in size. Double check your paper pattern. Make sure
it printed at the right size. Once you get it off measure the outside circumference at the top of the trees. Measure the inside
circumference of the upper road and see if they are close to same. If not, and I would guess you will find that they are not, then
you need to try again, or make up a work around that makes it flat. The diameter of the center to the trees is supposed to
be 43.5 inches. You might check that too. Don't give up. This should be fun. You are learning a lot about making circular quilts.
No quilter has had success all the time. Need to try try again. HelenW

[Barbara B.]

This quilt is beating me up! I had a most flat circle until I attached the upper road. I had to do lots of easing. Have some tucks which I hate. Pressed it toward road.
what am I going to do with this mess? I am about to give up on this whole thing, help me if you can

Stop. Breathe. There are MANY seams on these Roads. The first thing I recommend you do is check a lot of the seams in the Upper Road. The black wedge between the Black/White wedge measures just over 1 1/4" where the white line meets the black wedge. Not all the way to 1 3/8" but a tad larger than 1 1/4". Measure your Upper Road Arc pattern to see what I'm talking about. The white lines are closer to 1 3/8". If your seams are farther apart than those numbers, your Upper Road circle is somewhat larger than the upper edge of the Small Houses. Being off, say 2 threads, both top and bottom means your are off 4 threads and when you multiple that by the number of seams it can really add up. The Arcs should have been fine since you used paper patterns and trimmed to the exact size. But there are 16 Arcs that are sewn to each other and being off a little on each one means the Upper Road won't fit--it's probably too large.

If you determine that is the problem, spend some time taking off the Upper Road, fix those seams and try again. You have a lot invested to this point, time and fabric, and it can and will all fit together when you get the seams correct. I promise the rest of the quilt is easier after this part.

[sewskeel]

Yes my measurements on paper piece are as you said. I have ripped off upper road and pressed out the tucks. Now I feel like I have no arcs, what now ? Do I rip each section apart and press them to fit paper piece again? Do I go buy more fabric and start again? I feel like complete failure and very discouraged

[Helen W.]

This quilt is beating me up! I had a most flat circle until I attached the upper road. I had to do lots of easing. Have some tucks which I hate. Pressed it toward road.
what am I going to do with this mess? I am about to give up on this whole thing, help me if you can

Sewskeel, Smile at this cute little mug rug I made as you rip it, rip it, rip it. HelenW

[Helen W.]

[sewskeel]

Should each upper road arc match the top of the small house wedge?