Could just bawl!!! Please give suggestions!
 

I could just bawl and tear my hair out. I have been working on a quilt for my 7 year old granddaughter. One block is entirely applique. Have never done this before and if I never do it again that will be too soon! Well anyway, I have put everything on the background and ironed everything on. Looks ok but really need lots of practice with this. I was to cut the block now to 12 1/2 inches. I made one cut and realized I should not have done this!! Now my block is way off center because of the way I made that one cut. Can I just take the applique's off and spray baste them onto another piece of background? I do not have enough material to cut everything out and start all over again and after the trouble I had I really wouldn't want to do this either. Can the applique pieces be saved!!!!

Mommabear, If it is hand appliqued you can pick the threads used to sew the pieces down and reapplique to a different block. I have done this before, not fun but it is necessary some times. Hope this helped. I dont know about spray basting though if you are hand appliquing.

you could just cut around the design and put them onto a new back ground piece if that will work for you- or you could simply add a piece back onto the background you cut- maybe add some more appliques to disguise the add on- but really you probably wont even be able to tell the added piece when it is all done and quilted- it does not have to be perfect- it only needs to be done with love- so, don't bawl---just compromise and carry on- she will love it!
many of our errors just lead to new design features :)
if you choose to add back onto the area you cut off you could then (after centering/squaring) add a frame border all the way around to distract- but i bet it will be just fine...

I would cut out the whole thing and then put it on a new background. Maybe not a perfectionist fix but it is what I would do. I would then probly blanket sticth around it if it lookes too thick.

Can you cut the block square to the largest measurement possible, then add sashing/borders to make it the size it needs to be to finish out your pattern? Or cut the background fabric as small as possible and applique it to a larger block of the correct size? If you can lift the pieces off, I see no reason why you couldn't replace them onto a new background block! Linda

Cut it down and put a border on it. If your quilt is one that doesn't have a center block, cut down a few more and put borders on them. Eat some chocolate and relax with your favorite beverage. After a box of chocolates solutions will just come to you out of the blue.

I agree, then if you really need to, go ahead and bawl. It is good for the soul.

Cut block a smaller size square and border it would be my suggestion. It would be the easiest solution.
Take a break have a chocolate bar and something to drink, relax then go back to it.:thumbup:

if you used wonder under or heat bond...just reheat them with iron and pull off carefully...then you can reuse

You came to the right place for solutions to your delimina. Now you can relax and pick a method best for you. I like the chocolate solutions myself. Good luck.

i think there are several good ideas here and one of the things i might add is to cut loosely around the applique in sort of a 'cloud' and applique onto another color block...

Believe me the granddaughter will love the quilt, crooked block or not. I would leave it as is and finish the quilt. Just shake your head and say goodness gracious look what I did and start planning your next quilt.

As ckcowl says "many of our errors just lead to new design features"...how true and I speak from experience!

Sure!
Simply cut around the applique leaving up to an inch and after finger press hemming it, sew it to a new block
Enjoy!
MaryKatherine

I really like this idea!

You all are so great with creative solutions!! I just luv this Board or rather the Board members!!

While you're doing all or any of the above, remember your 7 y.o. is not a member of the quilt police and will love it regardless!

adding sashing to make it the size of block u want is what I would do. u can use any color that is in ur quilt.
Sorry u r so frustrated but it will be alright. Let us know and how about a picture of ur hard work?

I did the same thing once. I just cut the other side the same as the mistake then sewed them back on and cut correctly. making it look like it was part of the block. No one every noticed.

This is what I would do too. maybe more than one chocolate tho.

I feel your pain. I don't know the answer to your question, but I am going to follow this because I am prone to things like this happening and will want to know what to do when it happens to me! I really do hope the answer it 'yes you can pull off the applique a re-use it. Good luck!

Well, see now? There have been so many great solutions suggested for your problem from this great group! Everybody is so helpful and great! Now you have several answers, and so have I (re. my last post just above this one)

Don't dispair. All is not lost. Put this aside, cont. on next block, later when other blocks are made insert this one and make it a special one. Look at it for a couple of days and I'm sure something will come to you that will make it a very special block. Just remember, your granddaughter will love it because her nana make it. Grandchildren do not see our mistakes, just our LOVE.

And just think ... when she is older and has loved on this quilt for many years, you will have such a story to tell her. "See this block right here, the one with the applique? Well, let me tell you about that block!" Just another bonding experience in the making!

Perhaps you could add a small border around the four sides of the appliqued block to frame it and then it would be the size you need. It would look like it was intended to be a design element.

My sentiments exactly. The other suggestions are good but very time consuming. This is supposed to be enjoyable. Happy sewing!:)

You've gotten plenty of good advice here already. Good luck! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Get some coffee, a piece of chocolate, and remember this is for a 7 year old. She is not goint to know there is a
flaw in the design. All she will know is my granny made this for me and she will love it regardless. As for what
the others mentioned. Cut a new background. and do a decorative stitch putting the 2 together. It will work out.
we all want to see a picture when finished.

cut it down all arround +add sashing-----dont give up on applique there are lots of tricks to be learned --one of which always cut the background piece bigger then cut back after sewing the pieces on as it will possibly shrink it a bit[for next time]

I don't know what I'd do without those borders. :D

Can you make a sashing for this particular block and place it where it would make sense? Good luck, you will probably find many good ideas here on the board.

I agree with all these suggestions!

You should be able to take your iron and reheat the applique. The pieces should then just lift off the fabric. You can then reply the applique. Good luck.

I totally agree with this post. Carry on. ..and good luck!

Agree. Good luck. We all know how you feel.
Annie

Great ideas! I use wonderunder and have had to remove and reiron on, it wasn't so bad, just be careful and remove slowly. My BIL is a carpenter and he said to me years ago that there is no mistake that can't be fixed. Sometimes the fix is easy, sometime not so easy, but it will work out.

Take it to your local quilt shop and ask for their help and opinion. And remember, this isn't the end of the world. It could be a teaching lesson for you to give to your granddaughter about how there are many ways to handle a problem.

Love these suggestions~ we really do need one another sometimes. Good luck with your new creation.

If u can't reapplique it then I agree with Tartan. I would machine applique it .