It's easy they say......

I ALMOST finished the first two blocks for my son's quilt today.  I say ALMOST because everything fit PERFECTLY until I got to the last strip ( beige) on the left.  It's 3/4 of a inch too long!!!  I remeasured the strip; it's what the pattern calls for ( 24 1/4" long), but the block only measures 22 1/2" on the left side which is where the strip goes.

So, did I screw up somehow or were the instructions incorrect?  There's an extra sheet of instructions that corrects previous errors in the pattern and I checked it - it doesn't show any changes in the size of that strip.

I 'fudged' it on the first block ( on the left) and it shows; when I went to add that strip to the second block is when I noticed the 3/4" difference and didn't stitch it on - as for the first block,  I'll have to take it off and try again.  The only thing I can figure out to do at this point is make the other three blocks and see how they measure up.  I hope I don't have to do these two all over again, but I will if that's what it takes.  I think before I make the other three, I'll do one of the companion block to see how that measures up - that might be the easiest/best way.

I went back to Sweet Bee's shop a couple days after buying the original fabrics and bought extra thinking that I'll want to make it bigger than the 86" x 86" given in the pattern.  Now that I know the size of the blocks, I realize that adding another row of blocks on one side and the bottom ( 7 extra), it would make the quilt 108" x 108" and I'd end up having to piece at least the backing and most likely the batting, too.  I'll have to settle for the original size... which will give me extra fabrics in case I did screw up on the first two blocks.

I've been saving the triangles that I've cut off to make 1/2 square triangles, stitching them together before tossing them into an ice cream bucket and hope I'll have enough fabric scraps left to make a quilt for his dog, Shadow -- or maybe I'll use it for a doll blanket -- that's down the road so we'll wait and see.

I'm really liking the quilt so far - aside from the measurement issues - and I think my son is really going to like it, too.  :)

As for the Texas Star Quilt, it's still waiting... had to go pick up scripts and groceries today and was in a LOT of pain ( left knee) before I even got home, so, once back home, I made friends with the couch and an ice pack.  I don't know what happened; just hope it doesn't happen again - at least until after I get Chris' quilt done.

12:29 am... BINGO!!  I figured out the problem with the blocks coming out 3/4" short of the final strip... I FORGOT A STRIP!!  Will share pics in the morning :)  heading to bed now that the blocks have been corrected.