I was working on my blocks for the shop hop and noticed that a number of them were not square. I know that's hard to believe, but it did happen! :-) I remembered reading something at some time about blocking your quilt blocks and I decided to try it. I have a pressing board on my table and I took a piece of muslin and drew a square on it to the size of the square that I needed. I used a Sharpie marker, so that it would not run when I did my blocking. I pinned the muslin to my pressing board.
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I laid my block on top to see how far it was off.
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I then starting pinning my block to the lines of the square that I had drawn. I put the pins very close, so that I have a smooth edge when I'm finished. Be sure to use glass head pins that won't melt from the iron. They also need to be rust proof.
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You will notice that I had a little fullness in the lower left hand corner. It is amazing, but it disappears when I block it.
To do the blocking process, I use a spray bottle with water and spritz the block, especially the places with the fullness. I then use a steam iron and go up and down on it. I am holding the weight of the iron. Do not iron the block, just the up and down movement. Then I let the block thoroughly dry.
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When it is dry, this is how it looks still pinned fast to my board. See, the fullness is gone!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnujjuO2ojfCq7NH9sQlAmhV_335t9OfoNIBcPvTOLVv6GsTQzkJpR-KhVZ-T2wILuC387nviM-XutlPGS5b302h4PFGRyX6a1elsPA0MUEZU6DjFlkJR0qh1eoTgtmf5ZR8xW_NY4N-c/s320/DSCN0805.JPG)
Voila! The finished block, ready to be sewn into my quilt.
I remember reading that you can also block a quilt that has been quilted, by pinning it into a carpet and using a steam iron over it and then letting it dry. I have not tried this yet, but you never know!
Happy Sewing!