TOO MUCH BULK WHERE YOUR SEAMS JOIN UP?

Have you sewn a block together only to find too much bulk where your seams are joining up? This stacked fabric can make it much harder to quilt through. You could even bend or break a needle! Not good. 

I have a method for you to try to achieve a nice flat block. It’s called spinning seams. 

We’ll start with a simple four patch. 

how to spin your seams simple 4 patch quilt block

1. Fold your right squares on top of your left squares, and sew down the sides using a 1/4” seam allowance. Then you’ll have this:

spin seams block 1/4" seam allowance

2. Open those up, and press to the dark side.  

how to spin your seams

3. Put them together, nesting the seams. That way you’ll get perfect points on your finished block. Sew with 1/4” seam. 

put the block together nesting the seams for perfect points

4. The next step is to gently open the stitches between the two original seams. Right where those two blue seams meet. The line you just sewed will be stopping the rest from coming apart.

open the stiches between the two original seams

5. Then flatten everything out, pressing in two different directions so that you have an equal amount of bulk on each side. 

flatten your block out press in two different directions with an equal amount of bulk on each side

6. Here’s what the whole block looks like now. I love that tiny four patch in the middle! So satisfying. Then flip it over and give it another good press. 

tiny 4 patch block
It’s super flat and look how perfect the points are in the middle! It will take a bit of practice and playing around, so don’t be discouraged if it takes a few tries.

Happy stitching everyone 🙂  
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Brassens

Hi, I’m Michelle! I’ve never met a craft I didn’t like. Sewing however was where I really found my groove! So I left behind life as a pastry chef and concentrated on making things with fabric instead of food. I work at Dinkydoo Fabrics now and get to write about sewing and quilting for work. Stick with me and I’ll show you all kinds of tips and tricks, from beginner to expert maker level. Can’t wait!