I think it is a lovely quilt. I see the symbol that you see, but in this beautiful quilt I don't feel that it has any bad connotations. However, if it bothers you, then it needs to be taken apart. I've surgically fixed one block by removing the stitches all around and reinserting it (when the block was turned wrong), but when there are several to fix it might be easier just to do them all at once by taking the whole thing apart.

However... why not wait a few days, think about it, and see if it still bothers you? I think you've made something beautiful that can destroy the power of that symbol, at least for you, if you let it. There are many beautiful old quilts that intentionally used the swastika design, before it became associated with the Nazis. It's not clear from your post whether your mother is still living, or whether the quilt is intended for her. If it is indeed going to her, you might ask her opinion.

Since I'm new to quilting, I have to ask....what is "fussy cut?"

I would follow the advice of MTS & Sandym and redo the blocks. You will be happy you took the extra time to fix the blocks. It won't take that long to do them & you will be really happy with the results.

I'm alot German and it doesn't bother me. I would do as someone else suggested and applique stars here and there to break up the offending blocks. I would not take it apart to redo the blocks. People can be too sensitive about anything, I don't get it.

Hi, I (firstly) want to introduce myself as I am a newbie on your forum. I have sewn for 35 years, and in the last two years have really taken to quilting. I do own an older LA in which my greatest fascination is with stitching free hand whole cloths. However, I do make quilt tops and quilt them, and my favorite is paper piecing.
On this quilt top I do see the unintentional swastika. You are concerned about the design and your mother's feelings so that is what is important, and why it is important to you to change it. I would do the same as recommended by others and gently open the seams to fix. To keep the block or pieces from becoming distorted, you could spray the block with light starch and press, then open. This will help the pieces keep their shape while you manuever them to new spots. Look forward to seeing the revisions!

SonjaG... http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltin.../fussy_cut.htm

I am not sure how you are going to make them not look like swastikas without changing every block--in essence, changing your whole quilt. Isn't that the design in the middle? I'm sure it has a name...just the ones that are dark are more easily seen.

If you carefully take apart the offending blocks, what are you going to do? By relocating the darker colors to the middle and putting a lighter in the middle, you still have the design. So what will you accomplish?

Maybe I'm not seeing it like you are, .but I see it in every middle. SO, if you you don't like it, do like some suggested and put appliques in various places and take the focus off the middle of each square.

How can taking out a few squares and readjusting the colors "do" anything at all? You still have it. That is the design of the quilt.[ATTACH=CONFIG]379029[/ATTACH]

I'm sure much of it depends on your perspective. I think it looks like windmills or boomerangs.

Thanks everyone, for the great advice and kind words. I asked my husband and he said just leave it, no one is going to inspect it as thoroughly as I do. I did send a photo to my mom and asked her how she liked it and if she "sees" anything wrong with it before I finish it. She is the kind of woman that will tell me like it is. Love her! Thanks again, I'll keep y'all posted.

It took me abit to see what you are seeing as the "unfortunate" design that emerges in a few of the blocks. But without you telling me .. I would never have noticed. .. but my monitor may not be showing quite that same colors.
I know that once you notice something.. you can't help but having it now shout at you.