Ethel A

If you look at a block and see that it is 'off' by a smidge (like 1/8" or less) will you still tear the entire block apart and start all over again?

I completed a quilt, and it has points that may have been slightly 'cut off' at the tip or some of the seams don't align exactly (off by 1/8'); but I've managed to make it work and square it off in the end without much difficulty. From five feet away, you couldn't tell where the mistakes are, but I know where they are (and there are many, believe me).

So, are you more forgiving of yourself, or does every block HAVE to perfectly perfect before you're happy with your work?

(I'm not talking about quilts to submit 'for show.' I'm talking about quilts you would use for yourself, hang on your wall, or give away as a gift.)

tlrnhi

I think with me, it all depends.
If it is something REALLY special I am making for someone, then YES, I am VERY picky and will keep tearing it out until I am either bald or the quilt is perfect.
Some of my baby quilts will leave the house with a few mistakes, but not many.
We are, in fact, our own worst critics.

Rose Marie

My piecing gets better all the time but I still get some alignments a tad off sometimes.
My problem is quilting and binding, I still have a long way to go to perfect them. I dont have a stitch regulator so my stitchs are not even and I refuse to hand stitch my binding on the back. Im determined to do it by machine. So Im never happy with the results.

QuiltMania

I've gotten a lot more critical lately. I went to a quilt retreat and learned so many tricks and techniques that I didn't know before that I figure that now I have no excuse for things not matching up. Now that I know how to do things right and am not making it up as I go. My points still need work but they are getting better all the time.

Mousie

To tell you the truth, it all depends on whose getting the quilt. If it's a garment, and the seams don't match, no matter who it's for, that seam is coming out, and being resewn.
If it's a quilt and I cut off a few points, learning, like I have for one of my grandbaby's...I had to choose, to either keep going, or take apart almost an entire quilt top, so, mistakes stayed, she is five, and lessons learned.
When I make quilts for my grown kids, hoping that they will have them a while, might possible show to other ppl, and who knows, might even inspire some quilting of their own...I will do my very best to get the points, pointy, and all seams to match.
I'm kind of critical of my own work, bc I want my kids to be proud of it. I am so not critical of other ppl's work though, as I know how time consuming and tedious getting it right can be.
I'm the same way with housework. I can plow thru to sit and talk to someone in their own house, but just can't stand too much clutter in my own. It's a constant battle though. Cuts in on my quilty time, doggone it! :D

Jim's Gem

I try to get it as close as possible but am not as "'perfect" with my quilting as I used to be with my cross stitch. With that I would take out every stitch that was not perfect or whatever. I figure that once you spread a quilt across a bed, a small imperfection will not be seen but a larger one would. I do a lot of unsewing but not a much as I could!!!

CindyBee

I agree that we are our own worst critics. Sometimes it depends on the quilt and the recipient. I'm more apt to fudge if it's, say, a baby quilt for my daughter's friend whom I don't know that well. Sad but true! However, I do want to say that this happens less and less. Sometimes, a quilt is a "learning experience" such as that my thinking is that I'd love to try a certain technique and that I'll incorporate it into a gifted quilt when I know the recipient would never notice my mistakes. I know that the mistakes are there, but the overall impact of the quilt is still wonderful. I'm good with that :D

mimisharon

Oh, I'm a perfect "picker." That's the only thing I consider myself to be really good at but then I'm tough on myself. I try to let small things go if it's for me but if it's for someone else I'll either pick the block apart or make a whole new one. :roll: I have no patience with myself some days!

Hugs,
Sharon

sewjoyce

I'm always trying to improve my piecing techniques and I'm my own worst critic. Of course, I know that all the points don't match exactly like I want, etc. but unless it's REALLY bad, I don't tear out and do over! Sometimes finished is better than perfect....

And here lately, hubby has been pretty darn critical -- drives me crazy. I asked him if he was galloping by on a horse, could he see that the seam was crooked????? He still hasn't answered me :twisted:

SharonC

With me it depends on who I'll be giving the quilt to. I'm naturaly OCD about being perfect, but on placemats and practice blocks or quilts for me I'm a little more forgiving. I will say that I take great pride in the perfection and even when I give a quilt to a "non-quilter" I like to make sure my work is as perfect as I can make it.
I have never made a quilt for show (yet). Maybe later :)