Klosjes - Spool Blocks - bumpy middles again?

[Nancy R.]

Hi everyone - I haven't posted on here for a while - usually I find so much information that I don't need to very often! I have been making some little spool blocks (there seems to be a bit of a fad for them at the moment - called klosjes - which is Dutch). The blocks are small, finishing at two and three quarter inches. When the blocks are joined together, there are eight points meeting, difficult to avoid a 'bumpy middle'. I did see an earlier posting with a link to a video that Margo put together, which is brilliant. http://entertainment.webshots.com/ph...02889971xcBoVK
Should this method work with the block I am trying to do?
http://www.cupcakecottons.com/
You'll see the little blocks on the above link!
Thank you!

[Mandella E.]

I think it'll work if you're not that bothered about pressing light under dark. As they're hand pieced I wouldn't press them until you've got a number joined together, then let the seams go whichever way they want to. As your blocks are small, have you thought about trimming the seams to an eigth of an inch to help reduce the bulk too?

[Mandella E.]

Hi Della
That was one of the things I had thought of actually - the light under dark fabrics issue! thanks for your tips, I'll try re-pressing the few that I have joined together and a bit of trimming back as well - I knew there would be someone on here with some ideas before long!

[Margo C.]

Yep! That is the main drawback of spinning the intersection. If you are using light fabrics that shadow easily, it may not be the method of choice.

[Margo C.]

My fabrics are not too light or thin - so worth fiddling with!

[Margo C.]

Here's another method for flattening those lumpy intersections. Put a piece of muslin or similar over the lump. Wham it with a hammer. Sometimes, if it's very stubborn, dampening the lump before whamming it helps :-D

[Margo C.]

Well I would never have thought of hitting it with a hammer! I'll give that a go! thanks -