Help with fixing error
 

This has been a difficult quilt top for me. The photo below is of the center section. I've taken it apart, recut and resewn it numerous times, as my measurements have not been correct. I finally got it to fit (besides the right section is a 1/4" too long). I put it up on the design wall and see a glaring error. That square is totally crooked. Is there a fairly easy way to fix this? Fixing the square is not that difficult, but getting it out and putting it back together seems like a huge undertaking.

It's on the first section where I started. So, if I take it "all the way" apart, I have to remake the whole thing. I'm sure I can get that one square out, but don't think I can put it back in using the sewing machine. Would hand sewing work?

I'm not that experienced at quilting, so may have tackled something more difficult than I knew. I have another two sections that I have to make fit, and I'm already worn out with it.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

bkay
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Bkay- you've said before that you are newish to quilting but what I've seen so far is really nice!! But I see what you mean. I don't think it looks bad but since you asked- what about a touch of applique around that square to straighten it? Someone else will probably have a better solution though. It would be a pain to redo it.
Nice work!

Personally, if it was me, I'd leave it. I don't think it looks that bad. I know how things glare at you when you're working on it, but when it's all done and quilted it isn't noticeable. I think what you've done so far looks great!

Been there done that. Sooo many times. I don't think you need to take the whole thing apart. Just take that white saddle square out, with a few stitches into the brown colored seam. You should still have enough of the seam on the brown floral to ease in the saddle square. Use a small ruler and marking pen or chalk to straighten up the square. Pin and baste stitch the sides down first. Press. Measure again. If the sides of the brown floral are balanced, pin and baste stitch the top of the square to the brown. Press. Measure again. If the sides are eye appealing, sew with your normal stitching on machine. This is how I do it. Merely a suggestion. Others may have another idea. I truly believe this will work for you.

I had to look for a while to see it.

Do you have any more of the border fabric that is around the images?

If you do, I would take out that square and reframe it. It looks to me like you could do partial seams to replace the unit.

Or take it apart, make the inner border a bit wider - which might be a bit noticeable, but maybe less noticeable? , recut the outer borders and put the unit back in the top.

After noticing it - which did take me a while to spot - it would bother me, too.

Make a new block and applique it over the crooked block then cut out the old block from behind it. Once quilted no one will ever know.

Me, I am not a perfectionist. I would leave it. It does not look like that square is very big compared to the size of the whole quilt. Once it is quilted and there is more texture to the top it will not be as obvious.

You have done a lovely job on your Texas Quilt and should be proud of what you have created.

I would take the stitching out between the saddle block & floral frame, but not the whole thing. I would start half way down the sides & the whole bottom. Pin to the new position and re stitch. If you can't get all the way to the 2 lower corners without it bunching, leave them a bit open & hand stitch. If the seam on the left side winds up being a bit to skimpy, then take a piece of light weight fusible interfacing & iron it on the back over the seam. You want at least 1/2" on both sides of the seam, so it should be at least 1" wide. This is how you would fix a seam that has come loose after laundering your finished quilt.

I don't have any extra of the small blocks, but enough of the brown sashing to re-do it.

Given I've taken it apart 5 times and re-done it, I guess one more time won't kill me. I'm just going to take out part of that center section. I believe I can do it in an hour or so. I have some more of the small blocks that go in the top and bottom section, so I'll put this center section back together with one of those blocks. Then re-do the saddle block for the top or bottom section. This quilt is for the DH, so, I'll have to look at it forever and that's the first thing I'll see.

I also decided to fix the right hand side while I'm taking apart again.

SusieQoh, I've made a couple of disappearing 9 patches, a couple of I Spy quilts and rescued an estate sale top (all lap size), so I'm not totally without experience, but this will only be my 6th quilt. I've made it a point to do easy things so far. It never occurred to me that this would be difficult. Either I can't measure or I can't add fractions.

Thanks for your input. Once I put it on paper, I decided just to fix it right. I'm never going to be happy with it unless I do.

bkay

You can do this! Be sure and show us the finished quilt. Since I'm a Texas girl, I love it.

Bkay- I stand by what I said. You do great work! :)

I bet once it's quilted and wrinkled you won't even notice

Thanks, Susie.

bkay

You are working on a pattetn , while it seems straightforward, is complex because of the inaccuracies in the printing. This is not what I would call easy. Great job, do show us how it turnsns out.

Actually, I didn't have a pattern. I had a photo. The LQS that made the prototype was out of business. So, I just made it up with lots of help form QB forum members. I could not do it without all the assistance I received.

bkay

Your quilt is really nice. The glaring error will not glare when completed. I would just finish the quilt. Of course I also know how hard we strive for perfection! Hope all turns out well without too much stress!

Will this hang on a wall where errors can be contemplated or on a bed where errors are a bit more forgiving? How about appliquing a star over the "worst" corner and moving forward? Like others, I had to look at this a bit to see what you were talking about. We are our own worst critic!

I would leave it. Looking at the whole quilt it wont stand out that much. If anybody mentions it tell them it was to see how many people would notice it :)

If it were mine I would leave it I agree with Tartan and others once quilted you will find you are the only one that will notice it. It does not look that bad to me as I had to really look to see what you were talking about, it really does look good as is and I would not take a chance on maybe making it worse if it really bothers you how about appliqueing a horse shoe in that part and possibly doing 2 or 3 more in various places on the quilt Good luck and it is beautiful as is

Couple things - you did great! Part of the problem is that you have worked on it and worked on it and worked on it and you are getting frustrated. Step back, take a breath and then go back. You are probably going to be the only one who notices it unless you point it out. Also, if you use a high loft batting, it will almost disappear with the quilting. If you do your quilting in a brown thread with a wavy line down the sashing (fairly easy for a beginner) the eye will be drawn to it and I will almost guarantee no one will see the VERY SLIGHT tilt. And, if you find a quilter who says they never goofed - well, you just won't!

I would just leave it also. I also like the ideas of appliqueing a star or horse shoe, etc., on the corner.

But, as a proud Texan, I think it is wonderful as it is!

I agree withDolphyngirl...quilting would hide it.

Given that they are such small squares, compared to their neighbors, i really don't think it'll be noticeable to a regular old normal person looking at it. You are another story, of course, because you know the true, unadulterated story of the actual real live human being who mafe it. So, here's what I think you should do. To the quilt- nothing. Keep going with the rest, quilt it, wash it, etc. To your head- here's what I want you to do: Ask yourself what you would think of that quilt if the sweetest, nicest woman you know made it. Somone you really, really love and want nothing but the best of times and the happiest life possible. Your best friend, your daughter or your mom- pick your favorite. How would you want her to feel about that quilt. Would you want her to be proud of all her hard work, proud of her design, and happy that her husband thinks its just great and that she's such a wonderful gal for gping to all that work for him? Or would you want her to be thinking she didn't do a wonderful job, and be bummed when she saw it, obsessing over one square that's just a teensy bit out of line. Choose how you'd want her to be treated, and then do that to yourself, because that's what she'd want for you. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's what we all want for you. I know I do.
I'm a recovering obsessive perfectionist, join me anytime you wish. XXOO Patti

Good advice, Patti. I realized years ago that I could never do a perfect job on a quilt, so I don't obcess about it now. I do the best I can and move on. My Gd's love what I do, do done is done.

Yeah, everyone is right. I am too hard on myself. That's a recurring theme - trying to make anything I do be perfect. Anyway, personal shortcomings aside, I "fixed" the square. It didn't take 20 minutes. I just ripped out that square and a couple of inches each way and replaced the square with one that was almost straight.

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I re-checked the other 10 little blocks and, including the saddle, 5 were off enough to notice. Tartan was right, they are printed wrong. Or, I distorted them when I pressed them. Also, I went back on added additional little seams to make sure none of white showed around the photo, so that may have added to the problem. I'm going to re-do them the best I can by blocking them as square as I can and re-sashing them. Then, I'm also taking a couple of days off from it. I get to volunteer today and tomorrow, teaching the kids to quilt.

Thanks again for your help.

bkay

I agree, that once quilted, that won't be so obvious. I wouldn't touch it. Leave as is. Nice quilt, btw.

Sorry you have been frustrated but it seems like you are tackling it. When using panels we wish we could trust the grain but it's often off grain a bit and distorts the edges we hoped were straight. Your piecing is really nice.