Hi all, I've been here a couple of times but I'm basically a newbie. I'm working on my second quilt: it's a red and black pattern based on the "Quilt in a Day" log cabin pattern but I'm using 5 inch strips instead of 2.5 inch strips (need to keep it unintimidating!) It's for my six year old son, so I very much doubt he's going to care about the thing that's bugging me, but you know how it is ...

So for the first red square I discovered after I'd already done some cutting that I didn't have enough fabric for all 12 blocks. I had enough for eight. But that didn't bother me too much because I was able to find a similar fabric and I figured I'd just arrange the blocks in such a way that the four different squares were grouped together.

Well I just finished sewing the top this afternoon only to discover that I'd flipped two of the pieces over and now one of the four squares is off to the edge of the quilt, and the other three are grouped in the middle. So I'm wondering, if this were you ... would this bug you enough that you'd rip out those two squares and flip them around? Or is that totally neurotic for a six year old's quilt?

I've attached some pictures: the first it might be kind of hard to see (excuse the half circle shadow at the bottom) but you can see where the four red squares are supposed to be, and the wrong one is the upper of the two on the left. In the second photo you can see where the square is mismatched and in the third you can see how it's supposed to look.

Thanks in advance!!!

Becki

If it's going to bug you redo it but I would not take it out

I finally understand. It took me awhile. I can't decide for sure what I would do without seeing the whole top. I do agree though--if it will bother you, fix it. Otherwise it will bother you forever. I know people who it would not bother at all, and I know they would be happy to just to leave it. I am definitely not a big help.

"It won't show on a trotting horse." It's fine, just don't point it out to the quilt's admirers.

The trotting horse remark came the mother of a young lady I made evening wear and bathing suits for the Miss Michigan pageants. I was obsessing over a lump under the arm where I'd joined the elastic before it was inserted. That was her response. It has come in handy a few times since.

I'm looking forward to a picture of the completed quilt. I like red and black together.

Your son won't care he will just love it. Don't make more work for yourself. It's not a quilt until it's done.

I think it's in your mind only,because you had a plan.Unless it is because of not seeing all of the quilt. I think it looks ok.

I think it looks fine. To tell you the truth, it took me a while to figure out the diff in the pics lol. I'll share with you what quilting taught me: "The Amish purposely put mistakes in their quilts because only God is perfect" & "Mistakes add character to your quilt". These were the two mantras I repeated over and over and not just with quilting, with lots of stuff in my life.

From the look of the first pic, the colors are beautiful and I'm sure your quilt is too no matter which way you go.

Even though you are making it for your son who won't care, you have to decide if you will. If you think you will be able to watch him carry that quilt around without letting the oddness bother you, let it go. If not, change it. You know you better than we do!

The more I look at the first picture the more I don't think anyone but you could ever pick up on this.

I would leave it. It's not that big of a deal and I don't think anyone but you would notice. Your little guy will love it any way you make it, so don't sweat the small stuff!!

I'd tell my self it would NOT bug me.. but in the end I KNOW it would and I'd have to rip it out and redo it....
don't u just hate RIPPING!!?? ARGH!!

Love ur color choices

I think I would leave it. The top looks really great to me. But if it will be something you can't stand then change it. Are you a perfectionist?

No way I'd unsew it! It looks great!

I will not hesitate to rip and fix (my quilts are quite imperfect enough without my making intentional mistakes), but I seriously doubt I'd bother with that one. The fabrics are so similar that it's honestly not that noticeable, and the controlled-scrappy nature camouflages it. It's also for a six-year-old who just wants something Mommy made. He's not going to be whipping out a scorecard. ;)

In this instance, I vote leave it.

ETA: Nice job matching seams. I know there are no Quilt Police here, but I can't help noticing careful workmanship and yours looks pretty darn precise. ;)

Personally I wouldn't worry about it, your son won't notice the "problem" and will be thrilled to have his very own quilt. On the other hand, if it's REALLY going to bug you, go ahead and redo it, but I think it looks just fine as it is.

Set it aside for a week and come back to it. You'll probably find it isn't as significant as when you were working on it. Yes, there's an error according to the quilt police, but it's your second quilt and your son will love it right or wrong.

I think it looks fine.

Leave it and learn from the mistake. What is going to be accomplished by ripping it out and re-doing it? You know what you did wrong, you will be attuned to the chance of a mistake on the next quilt you make.

I must be blind because I don't see where the mistake is.

I agree with Thrums. Leave it for a couple of days and come back to it. If it still bothers you then you can fix it. I have found that distancing myself from a project and then going back to it will bring perspective.

In my young days I would rip it out, now however, I understand that I could of accomplished more had I just moved along. In addition, it is for a child who will just enjoy it not matter what.............calla

I looked at your photographs several times and could not see what could be wrong. I like your work. I would be tempted to tear it out but would talk myself out of it. It looks great.

Your using good quality fabrics. Your son will have this quilt for a long, long time. When he gets older, he will look at it and say my mom loved me so much that she made this quilt for me. He's not going to see a seam that isn't lined up, a color that doesn't match, a thread that you can see, a line that got quilted across or anything else that you find is 'imperfect'. You will always be perfect in his eyes. Like someone said, 'Don't sweat the small stuff'. This is for him. He will treasure it. I think it's beautiful just the way it is.

Would not bug me at all!

I thnk it looks great! I wouldn't change it. Good work. :thumbup: :thumbup:

Its not a mistake its a new adventure you created something for your son who will love it just the way it is and never tell everyone about it, who will even know.
Its a beautiful quilt, don't worry about it no how.

I had to look at it for quite a while before I saw what your talking about. I would leave it and if someone notices it I would tell them you did it on purpose. All of my quilts have a block that is off, turned wrong or inverted colors because I refuse to make anything perfect. Plus it is fun for the recipient to try and to find the flaw.

Billy

I can't tell! Up to u U have to live with it! I've learned there's gonna be mistakes. Have to learn to go with it. Not worth the stress.

I don't know of many 6 year olds whose quilts survived so well that when they were older they could tell such subtle differences. This is assuming the quilt is one you want him to love and use and to not display permanently on his bedroom wall to show his love for you.

He's a kid who I bet knows he is well loved.

Can't get much better than that.

ali

Offhand, I don't see it -

but if it bugs you - then change it - it would probably take you less than 30 minutes to undo it and resew it -

and if you asked - I think it's bothering you -

On almost every question similar to yours, many say "it's fine" - and very few (comparatively speaking) say "change it"

Im not perfect..far from it but, if it bugs me I have to take it out...if it doesnt bug you..dont...I still didn't see the mistake after looking 3 times

I am a little neurotic about this type of thing, but I really don't think it's a huge deal. I had too look and look and look to even find the boo boo and I'm still not sure if I got it. Lol. If it's going to bother you every time you look at it, and it's easy to fix, I'd say go for it. But if it's a more problematic fix and you can deal, then leave it. From what I can tell, the whole thing looks great!!

A couple of people said similar things, thank you! Love that perspective, and maybe I'll use it to try and make myself less neurotic. I'm also a knitter and I've been known to rip out several dozen rows because I forgot a yarn-over. I really need to let it go. :-)

Thank you! :-) My first quilt had some really wonky seams (sometimes a quarter inch or more off) and I was pleased by how well these came out. I cut this one with an Accuqilt so maybe that helped ... rotary cutting was hard for me to get the hang of!

It fascinates me every time this subject comes up. I find it difficult to believe that anyone needs to add a mistake to keep from being perfect. I make plenty without doing it on purpose.

I thank it is fine the way it is. Your son is going to love it.

i wouldn't take it out. Its all red ...

The Amish do not make a mistake on purpose. I personally asked if they did this and they said no they do not add a mistake intensionally..

Since it's not a glaring mistake, I'd leave it alone. I'm one that does rip out if I see a mistake that's obvious but this one is not obvious. Wouldn't have seen it if you hadn't pointed it out.

After 3 more quilts, you'll smile to see the mistake you made when you were a newbie. My grandmother never tore anything out. "Finished" is better than "perfect" anyway.

leave it its not that noticeable unless you are looking for it