Help needed fixing my mistake
 

With this new quilt I've really gone out of my safe zone with colours which has turned out OK except for one...which I can't stand. It glares out at me everytime I look at my design wall. I've done half the blocks for the quilt, so I can't see myself pulling them ALL apart and starting over, besides which that would distort all the blocks.
You'll see from the pictures that the offending squares are not that big...I'm wondering if
A)I can just applique over them with the new fabric? And then use a decorative stitch around them once the top is put together?
B) for the strips that aren't sewn together into blocks yet, you'll see the fabric I want to get rid of (pink)is on the ends of the strip. Can I just replace it with the new fabric (yellow) or will that make the applique ones stand out? What if I still did the decorative stitch around them at the end?
C) Can I Steam a Seam the new fabric to the pink so that at least three seams are sewn and then use the same decorative stitch around them?
D) Is there a better way?

Any help appreciated,
Watson
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it wouldn't be difficult to take out the pink and replace it w/ the yellow. I do like the yellow better. If you break every 2nd or 3rd stitch, the pieces will "tear" off.

I don't think that it looks badly the way it is. If you are bound and determined to replace the "pink" fabric - my suggestion is rip it out (imho).

Using SteamaSeam will change the actual feel of the blocks in my opinion and if you plan on switching the fabric out in the blocks that are currently unmade the difference in feel and drape will be apparent. If you rip out the sides - it will only take a few seconds more to remove the piece completely and you might be happier in the end. You will only need to rip just past the seam allowance to replace the square and it should not distort the squares at all.

If you could take some additional photos, I think a longer view (showing all of the blocks) would be more helpful in assessing both the original and replacement fabrics. The photo with the pink doesn't show the blue or much of the green, so we're not seeing it in context. Imo, the contrast is better with the pink, and I don't think the yellow has the right 'weight' to go with the other fabrics.

I don't think the applique idea would work, because the yellow is very light and will look different with the pink behind it than the yellow without the pink behind it.

Edit

I like it with the pink; I think that fabric goes well with the others.

Though it may bee time consuming, I would have to rip them out verses the other methods.

I have to agree with the two previous posts. Because the pink is at the edge of the blocks, it should not be that hard to open the seams and replace. Yes it will take a little work but not nearly as much as appliquéing over them would entail.

If you are determined to change them, go get your seam ripper!

I agree with joe'smom - more pictures would help. I see nothing wrong with the pink, but it's your quilt. Would it work to keep the blocks you've made, but make the new ones with yellow, and mix them up in the quilt? Then if you still hate the pink, I would start ripping it out. Other corrections may seem like they would take less time, but it will probably go pretty quickly, and really is the best solution - if you still hate the pink. (You've probably already spent more time thinking about other solutions than it would have taken to un-sew and replace the pink. I find I do that all the time.)

I don't think the pink is out of place but I defiitely like the yellow better because it gives it more sparkle :)

If it was me and I wanted to switch it out my best friend "Rip It" would be my tool of choice.

LOL just to let you know... I can realte to your dilemma and yes since I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I ripped ripped rip! :p

Yes, in the time it takes you to formulate an applique plan, you could have ripped all that pink out and replaced it with yellow. If you don't like it, you don't like it. Nothing we say will change that ;-). It's very easy to fix...trust me, I did something similar recently. I know how painful undoing things can be, but in the long run you'll be happier for it.

Here's how to do it without having to do inlaid seams:
On the white strips joined with the pink, seam rip about a half inch past the pink, which will free two sides of the pink, plus allow extra for re-sewing seams without having to do set-ins. Then seam rip the remaining pink seam off. Sew the yellow square onto the seam where you've just seam ripped the pink, and then re-attach the white sides. This is all square work, so shouldn't stretch the blocks. If it does, though, do a little trimming up

Do you hear my experience talking? ;-).

Good luck.

Are you referring to the two raspberry prints?? I agree, more photos please.

It's on the edge and three short seams. I'd rippit.

I salvaged a problem like that by coloring the blocks with Prang fabric crayons and then heat setting the colors.

Your work is really pretty. Try using this method 117becca suggested. Frogging has been a lot easier since I took the advice received here. Once you break the stitches on bottom side, the top thread will just pull out. (or vice versa)

But honestly, I rather like the pinkish blocks. They relate in a way to the orangy/pinkish blocks (circle print).

Given their location, I think it would be quicker and easier to rip and replace as TheresaA described than to applique over them. The results will look better, too.

For the blocks that aren't assembled, definitely remove the pink and replace it.

If you do decide to use applique or fusible, I would distribute those blocks throughout the quilt so that they form a sub-pattern. Since half the blocks are done, alternating appliqued and "proper" blocks will make the fix part of the pattern. I would still strongly recommend replacing rather than applique, though.

I agree with the others. Pink is quite lovely, but the yellow is really eye-catching. I don't think there's really any easy way to make applique work -- especially by machine. Part of the issue is that you would have 4 applique pieces all together in one spot, so it will draw quite a bit of attention unless you plan to quilt very heavily (0.5-0.75" spacing). Lisa is right that likely the yellow with nothing behind it will read differently than the yellow with pink behind it, so you'd have to take that and the added thickness into account when doing your overall layout to try to spread them out. This is especially true because the yellow is so bright, it becomes the focal point of each block.

Perhaps instead of trying to cover over it with the yellow fabric, you could add some embroidery or applique butterflies or something that would cover most of the pink, but would look more intentional. For example, if you put a featherweight stabilizer on the applique fabric, fused that to the pink squares & machine appliqued it to them, that would mostly cover up the pink, but still look intentional. You'd just have to spread them out when laying out your blocks for the quilt top. I'm not really sure that would save you any time, but it's an option if you seriously hate seam ripping & would rather sew something else on.

Personally, I like the pink. You do not, it's your quilt and your choice. If you are set on changing the pink to the yellow, I think the only way to go is to remove all the pink and change to the yellow, if that is your final choice. Any other solution would look like you changed your mind half way through and to my obsessive nature, that wouldn't do. What are your plans for the quilt? Everyone is very supportive and I would love to see your final decision. Good luck.
Sue

I know me and I'd would make new blocks and not stress about it. Deciding to do something different is part of the creative process

I agree, but if you hate them, ripthem out or you will really hate them if you use any of the steam a seam ideas

I would unsew and replace rather than do the other methods suggested.

I like the pink better than the yellow. I would vote to leave it as is.

You could also make a (yellow?) circle and applique it on the pink squares so only a little of the pink peeks out. Circles like that would support the modern look.

If that pink will be the only thing you notice in the quilt, then an appliqued block will be the only thing you see. The seam ripper is your friend. It'll be an easy replace, no fussy points to worry about.

For those who wanted to see a larger view, here are four blocks that make up the pattern, one in the pink and one with the yellow in the middle.
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The quilt will be 3x4.
I'm almost convinced to start ripping.

Watson

IMHO, the pink is fine, but the yellow is GREAT. Rip away. Or see if circles of yellow that almost cover the pink might work. They would certainly add something different intermixed with the straight lines.

I think that if you don't rip it, you will forever wish you had. It's sort of like finding a mistake in a finished quilt. You will always see it, even tho others may not.

If you don't like it then Rip it out and stop worrying about it. And then delete your original post so you won't get dozens more suggestions and be further stressed or confused.

Okay after seeing the 2nd set of photos, I think I'm in the yellow camp. I like the pink, but you already have a fabric in that grouping that is very similar to the pinkish one, I think yellow would add more interest.

I don't think she can delete it. She can ask a mod to delete it, or she can simply ignore the rest of the posts... :thumbup:

Look at it this way, you'll just be happier taking it out and switching. So go ahead and do it. ALso anxious to see it from a distance.

I think the pink balances better with the other colors than the yellow does, but yours is the opinion that counts. It will be worth re-doing if it makes you happy.

Make the rest of the blocks with the yellow and while you are doing this undo and put yellow in as you go. I wouldn't sit and undo all in one go. I love the blends with all your colours.

It looks alright to me the way it is. I agree, a picture from a longer distance would be good. But if you hate it, rip it!!!

Different strokes for different folks. I like the pink better that the yellow! Would something with more of an orangey hue suit you better?

I don't find the pink offensive, but that is your quilt. If it is to be gifted, I wouldn't worry, but of you have to look at it every day, then I probably would fix it to suit me better.

It doesn't matter if we think the pink is ok - you don't. And that will keep you from enjoying the experience. Probably the 'best' remedy for you would be to rip them out and replace with the yellow. While this will take time, it is so much better than ending up making this a UFO. The upside of it is that you saw this before you put the blocks together. That would have made it a huge correction. For new quilter's, this is a good lesson in value/tone of fabrics. The pink is a perfectly nice fabric, but not the same 'color level' of the others. The yellow just works better. Also a great reason to make one block, stick it on the wall and really look at it.

Watson, the yellow puts a bit of 'sunshine' in the blocks that goes well with your colors.
Lovely color choices in the prints.

Sometimes one needs to make at least four blocks to see what secondary pattern may develop. Sometime is is a nice surprise - othertimes - it is just a surprise!

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*** I like the pink. It may grow on you to.
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Either take them out or leave them in.

If you leave them in, you could scatter them through the quilt. You could do four squares each of several other colors, and no one, including you would even see the pink ones.

I agree you are too close. Back up & take more pictures.