I've been working on a sampler quilt and I'm now quilting each square with a particular stencil. I trace my pattern on tissue paper and pin it on and stitch then tear it away. Everything was going along well until this morning --

I pinned my pattern on my square - quilted it and tore off the tissue only to realize, I put it on the square upside down!

I'd been debating as to whether or not to give the quilt away because I love the fabric so much. Well, since I'm not inclined to pick out the quilting at the moment, it helped me decide to keep the quilt as a reminder of what a ditz I am! It's probably something only I would really notice anyway!

Ha thats your mind making the decision for you.

Further confirmation that I'm a ditz -- it is right, it was just the way I had the top turned that made it looked wrong -- sheesh!!!

laughing...I've done things like that. In my own opinion, it makes the quilt a one-of-a-kind. I have one block in my Underground RailRoad that has the geese flying out of the block. I wondered if I should make a new block and replace the messed up one and then I decided no...that makes the quilt special. Everytime I look at that quilt I laugh. I say you should keep it or give it away (whatever makes you happy) and view the upside down quilting design as unique. :lol:

:-P

I had to rip out a partial row of long arming because my machien went crazy and the tension was off badly - I did my best lining up the design again but it wanst perfect - It was a charity quilt well I showed it to the lady who was taking them and she laughed and said first of all I wouldnt have noticed if you hadnt pointed it out and the people who get them will never notice - consider it a design element :-)

I've been in both places --- I've stitched a pattern upside down and I've also THOUGHT I stitched it wrong only to pick it out and then discover it was OK. But I wasn't such a mannered lady to say "sheesh". I turned the air blue!

i was told that the easy way to pick out the stitches is to get a mustache trimmer under 20 at walmart and then use that as it will seperate and only cut the threads. i have not tryed this as of yet but am getting one. and giving one for my kid for christams. lol. happy picking. ogama
i picked out a queen size and it took me 16 hours i know what you mean.

I had a "diz" day Saturday. Not one thing went right except I got home safe after driving 200 plus miles.

You are not! ;-)

Maybe you just need a morning cup of coffee. :)

I had 30 blocks sewn together and pined on my wall, spent 3 days looking at it, it just didn't look right! even sat down with my sketch and checked each piece, it just looked wromg! My 8 yr old GD came over and found the problem right off! Gramie why is your quilt upside down? LOL

Well it is good to sometimes walk away for a change of scene and then go back to look at your work.

Funny! I have done the same thing. I made other blocks in the quilt with the same mistake and it looked like I planned it that way. it won a blue ribbon at the fair a few years ago.

If anyone notices, tell them the wrong block gives the quilt character and smile.

Carol J.

That is what makes each quilt unique.

I know there are many similar stories to your out 'there/here'.

Mine was being in a quilting group where 2 of the ladies laid out the squares on 3 large tables put together for this reason. When they finished one of them said that they had laid it out wrong! They had started at the wrong side. [?] They laughed when I said all they had to do was go to another side of t he tables and they would see it was laid out correctly after. [Remember I used to teach math and am visually oriented.] I took a picture of the quilt. They laughed some more, picked up their squares and did the whole thing over. The finished quilt layout was still the same as my first picture.

Go figure.

ali

Thanks for the chuckle...I have done things like that...my quilt group gals actually have told me that they loved when I joined up, as I would always share my "duh" moments...they said they all had them, too..just never really told each other!! Well, now we all share with each other. I totally agree with the old saying "laughter is good for the soul.."
Kif
PS With my profession, when I am working with someone, it is often "mirroring", meaning I am using my left arm as we work with their right one...so, when I am laying out a quilt that can really get me going... :shock:

I have been told that those blocks are called humility blocks. I usually always have one or more in a quilt - hehehe

Years ago when I was into smocking and making a dress for my niece I smocked the entire thing on the wrong side. It was a white on white with a pink monogram in the front. I did not realize my error till I was all done and noticed that the french seams were on the outside instead of the inside. I did rip all the stitches out and start over - grrrrrrr.

You are in great company!

take 3 fat quarters and call us in the morning LOL

Was this your way to helping you decide to keep this one for yourself?

I just love using the "It was designed like that" reason for things being what they are!!!

Love this advice!

I've said this before. My Granny said a quilt is supposed to have one mistake. She said some women even turned a block the wrong way to assure a mistake. Grandma didn't go along with that idea, but probably didn't go to great lengths to correct an honest mistake.

oh stop it....you need more coffee..or a sweet...that will wake you up and help you look at right..hehehehe

I can see me doing just this...

when women purposefully set a block in wrong so their quilt would not be perfect. It was called a "humility" block or square. Done because only God was perfect. I don't have to do anything on purpose; I always have a humility something in my quilts. Just ask people admiring your quilt to see if they can fnd your humility block. You're keeping up a fine quilting tradition!

Here's a quote I heard in a quilting class last week (it cracks me up, but is useful).

"If I can't see my mistake from the back of a galloping horse, I probably don't need to fix it!"

I recently did the same thing, but on more than one block DUHHHH!!!! Fortunately when I realized what I had done and tht it was on every other block, I continued in that fashion and decided that it made the quilt more versatle (sp??). In other words, there was no top or bottom and I can enjoy the quilting from any direction. Delusional? Maybe, but I didn't have to rip out my quilting stitches. :-)

SO GLAD you are a double ditz and the quilt is fine! LOL! Can we see a pic of it?

Call that your "Humble Block" We all do these things, I have not made one quilt (and I have made many) where SOMETHING like this has happened. The Amish say they always made an error on purpose because only God can be perfect. They call it a Humble block.
I made a wall hanging and one block was turned wrong, it drives me crazy and no body else sees it. Since it was already quilted when I saw it, I call it my humble block, and it IS humbling...but we are, after all, only human. I will see if I have a picture to post and you can see if YOU can find it.
Michelle
Sorry,. can't find it, will try to post later...

I think of it as purposely doing that to make the quilt unique !!

Just tell yourself you intended it to be that way to distinguish it from others that are not.

As we say at this end of the world it gives it character.

Just tell yourself you intended it to be that way to distinguish it from others that are not.

As we say at this end of the world it gives it character.

this is like can't see the forest for the trees. It happens to best quilter

So glad your quilt it fine. I have done that a few times. I have lots of humitlity quilts. I call them special designs where I tried to do something different; after all you don't want a boring quilt do you? That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Been there done that!

Okay, I had to take another pic, but there it is....so you know, you have lots and lots of company!

In my OTHER LIFE I was a basket weaver and mistakes were called Squaw Marks which just stayed in the basket and gave it its own character. :lol: Retireddriver from In.

If you love the fabric (as well as the quilt pattern) I say keep it for yourself and when you think of the direction being the other way you will just smile.
Should you have someone you were making it for would they really notice if you did not say anything?