I participated in the Western Washington Shop Hop in June 2009 and was unable to get to all of the shops; so I decided to make up some of my own blocks with the shop hop fabric. I am still a novice at learning all the traditional quilt block patterns, but I thought I would try to make a Rail Fence Block. I pieced together the block, pressed it, trimmed it to 8 1/2 X 8 1/2 inches, and I was pretty darn proud of myself. . . . .until my husband looked at it and said. . . "Um, do you realize you made a swasticka?" I was mortified - I didn't realize I had made that sign.
[IMG]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...g/100_4224.jpg[/IMG]

So how do I fix it? Can I cut it up, rearrange the pieces, and then add a border to make it 8 1/2 X 8 1/2 again? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

Will there be more of the same blocks? They will take on another look altogether when you have more of them. Of course you and hubby will always refer to it that way from now on.

Doesn't look like a swastika to me. Do a few more and see how they look when they're together.

Sorry I dont see it
I like the block its pretty with the floral

How many blocks have you made so far? Your fabrics are very pretty.

Maybe if you arranged the strips differently? with the white/light on outside strip?

Do you have a couple of darker fabrics?

Dark - butterfly - white

Dark - floral - white

You could just do a little drawing with graph paper if you don't want to cut any more fabric quite yet. Or just look at rail fence quilts for some more ideas.

I don't see it. I think it is quite pretty.

There are many old tradional blocks that have that spinning effect to them that were created before any of us knew what a swasticka was. I brought this same question up a couple of years ago and many members reminded me of this.... :wink:

I think it looks great but if you don't like the layout, here is another layout where the same color in each block meets in the center.

http://www.equiltpatterns.com/quiltp...roducts_id=577

I don't see it. It just looks like a quilt block to
me.

There will not be anymore blocks like it. Each of the blocks in the 2009 Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop were unique.

Here is a link to the website: http://www.westernwashingtonquiltsho...sterwwqsh.html

I was able to get to about 1/2 of the shops, so the rest of the blocks I am making myself.

I see it, sorry. :-(

I know what the swastika USED to mean, but unfortunately meanings can change, and what it represents now is very bad. There are some blocks I avoid completely for that reason... because they appear like a swastika.

Personally, I would unpick the two centre seams, and turn the two blocks on the left so that the greens all meet in the middle. That would be enough to remove the image. The fabrics are very pretty, but now that you have that in your head, I think every time you look at it that is what you will see.

I don't see a swasticka. I just see a quilt block.

LaurieJane....

I am new as well....and I think it is very pretty.....I do hope you make more blocks and post a picture of the additional blocks.

Darlene

I'm still looking for the Swasticka.

If you are not satisfied with it and have many blocks similar....why not cut diagonally, re-sew to other cut block and mix them up a little--will create a whole new look. One you might like better. :) :)

Well....I took your picture and drew one over it in my photo program and there was no way that I could turn the block to get a swastika out of that block! If you would like I have the picture saved on my computer and I can show you! Really I am serious a true swastika can not be made out of this rail fence block!

But if you MUST I like the idea of moving the blocks around so all the green meet in the middle!

It's really a beautiful block, but I can see the swastika. If you hadn't said anything I probably wouldn't of seen it. Now that the thought is in your head you will always see it too. I like the idea of taking it apart and having the greens meet in the center.

O.K. I am of German heritage & I hate what the swastika represents. I drew one out and can not see it in your beautiful blocks, but if you are at all bothered this could be a great learning curve. I agree with slicing and resewing your block and then frame it to be the same size as your other blocks you will be using.

I didn't see a swastika until I read your post, but I showed it to my husband without any forwarning and he immediately said it was a swastika.

I still think the block is very pretty. Maybe you could add some decorative trim or embellished stitching (crazy quilt style) to detract from the spinning.

Also, I think it's unlikely to keep that look up if you make several more and put them together. I would think it'd look more like stairsteps.

I think the problem is that once you "see" it... you can't "unsee" it. Every time you look you see the same thing.

Everyone's brain works differently, I know my brain sees patterns easily, geometric patterns, number sequences, etc. So to me it just leaps out. If you see the colours together, it's not as clear, one of the "arms" is a different colour. But because I see the shape first, the colours are secondary.

I don' see a swastika either, and I am looking for it. The block looks great. I wouldn't change it, but you need to decide what YOU are comfortable with! Good luck!

That is a rail fence block and that is what I see.
You can manuver the four patches so that it doesn't appear to you or another viewer if you are using different blocks (a sampler) for your quilt.
I see ?
Kirsten

WOw I found it but it takes some looking and imagination to find it. Other wise I love the block.

I'm presuming because no one has posted an actual picture of the swastika that perhaps they think it would be in bad taste? However if you do a search for it, IMHO there is no resemblance other than you have vertical and horizontal lines, but not in the placement that you show in your rail fence block. If you are looking for something you can see it in the clouds if you choose to. JMHO
Definitely change the block if you don't like it.

Make a few more & put them together & see how they look can't tell by just one.

My husband saw the quilt block first. I mentioned the swastica, and he could see that, but his very first resopnse was "nice" and said he would never associate the two especially after other blocks are added to it. I personally love the colors and fabric choices. Nice job!

Once you see the swastika pattern you'll never look at the quilt in a good way so it would be better to change it now.

Take your block apart so you have four rail fence blocks. Add a solid square. Rail fence, square block, rail fence square block..... It will become a whole different pattern. Or take apart and rearrange the four rail fence blocks.

I would use some neutral tone -on-tone to "tame down" the colors. I like the color selection on those few blocks, but I would replace 1 in each block with neutrals.
I would be interested in how this works for you. I am
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I made that block just once. I did not like what it looked like either.

I made this block as a part of a sampler (called a "triple rail" in my pattern). Indeed, mine looks like a swastika. I noticed it right away. I'm not sure there is an answer to this problem except to simply stop making the block. But in my mind it's no different from turning regular speech into dirty speech the way a lot of people do when they think they're being funny. When someone does that, I always tell them to keep their mind out of the gutter. I think the same is true if someone sees a swastika in this block. It's not a swastika. The block contains much more than that.

No, that is NOT a swastika! wrong directions, and besides, long before the Nazi's adopted the 'swastika' design it was a quilt block design by another name but I don't know it without researching it.

Once you have more blocks made and have a chance to place it on your design wall or floor, you can get different overall designs. Have fun with it, I am sure you will really like it when it is all put together

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

Will someone PLEASE show me how this block is a swastika? I can show you how its NOT, but I honestly can not twist and turn this block to get one out of it, if the block on the right was put on the left and switched around then MAYBE!!!!!! But as it is sewn right now, ITS NOT!!!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...i483/block.jpg

I would honestly like to see it because I have a blanket for my son (put up) that will be going to school (nap time) with him next year made out of this pattern and if it has a swastika in it ANYWHERE I am not sending it!

I'm still looking for the swastika too. I just don't see it.
The blocks are great.

I think SharonC has a real good idea. :D

here is my rail fence. It looks more like a hounds tooth when put together. I do have four stripes in mine though.

I have just had a look at a photo of the railfence quilt I made and you just need to finish the quilt like you have started.... what the pattern looks like now won't look like that when you have finished.... what a shame he mentioned it... it never entered my head that that is what it looked like.... finish it and you will be so pleased..... I am about to make another one for a community quilt.... it is nice and easy for me.

Normally I would totally agree, and add that with proper use, the symbolism could be changed back to it's original purpose or simply ignored.... but I think the swastika is an exception. What it represents is so horrific it exceeds the bounds of normal misinterpretation. No matter how good its meaning was originally, in modern times it represents hate and a lot of really bad stuff.

That looks awesome!

With other blocks made exactly the same as the one in this thread, I imagine the swastika effect *would* be lost.

being Jewish, i'm understandably sensitive to swastikas.

your blocks are pretty florals. very definitely not nazi-like at all.

you can't be held responsible if people insist on seeing what isn't there.

your quilt is NOT offensive.

now ... if you start drawing little moustaches on them ... we might have an issue. :lol:

relaaaaaaaaaaaaaaax :wink:

I agree.