The poster who said to put it aside is right. You need to think about something else for a while. You state in your post that this quilt has been stressful throughout the process of making this quilt. I,too, can get tunnel blindness, thinking I MUST FINISH THIS. When I feel like that, I usually make mistakes. If you walk away today, do something else, go to a movie, visit a friend, just get your mind off this problem. When you come back, the answer may be obvious. In any case, you will be in a better frame of mind to deal with this. If you don't get it for Christmas, give a different gift. Give yourself a break. The world won't end if this quilt isn't ready.