I am working on a top and was having trouble getting my seams to stay lined up. So I started doing the glue, which is helping. Well now, when I get a row stitched, I take off my glasses and look realllllly close to make sure my seams are lined up. WHY am I doing that? If I can't see it without my nose an inch away, why does it matter?? I am stuck in this anal mode worrying about my seams being one thread off and I know it's stupid yet I keep doing it.

And I ripped out two areas to line up the seams better. One was pretty bad though-from before I was using the glue.

I was doing the same thing and finally my quilting teacher said "Gail....if it is less than 1//8th inch off...LEAVE IT!" LOL....So I am doing a little better now :D

Relax! It doesn't have to be perfect! Quilting is supposed to be fun.
If I took my glasses off to look at something close up, I'd see a blur. lol

I used to do the same thing gale :roll: I am getting better at the close is good enough mentality. When I quit let it get to me so much, I was much less stressed and enjoyed quilting even more :D:D:D

what kind of glue are you using for the seams

I'm using Elmer's School Glue.

And I'm so glad I'm not the only one that does this. :mrgreen:

Oh btw, if you use the glue you need to iron it to let it dry completely before sewing over it. At least I think you do and it sounds like a good idea.

Same here - I have a 3x rule. If I take it out twice and on the third try (even with new pieces) it is still off - it stays off.

I found out over time that those "glaring errors" when we see the piece close to our nose WILL disappear once the top is put together and the quilt is quilted. Used to insist that the "glaring error" would just jump up and bite me every time I look at the quilt - and then I literally couldn't even find it later. So I don't stress any longer. I still have my 3x rule though.

Relax, gale!!! The Quilt Police aren't going to be visiting any time soon :) If they came every time we (and I mean ALL of us!!) were "off" on our seams, they'd be pretty busy...LOL

No one will know except you...unless you've missed it by a mile (which I doubt)! Quilting hides a multitude of sins, believe me :) Just enjoy the process. The finished project will be great :)

Hi Gale,

We are always most critical of our own work. Knowing this, we have to teach ourselves that everything does not have to be perfect. I think you have a good guideline going, if you can't see it with your nose an inch away, it's ok. It's a start.

Just chalk it up to the "Hoosier in ya", one of the stories about the meaning of Hoosier's is, "a hoosier will always do a good job."

Glue - great stuff. DOESN'T WORK WHEN YOU TRY TO PRESS SEAMS OPEN! Don't ask me how I know that!

Oh my dear Gale, I wish I was close enough to visit you and I'd hide your seam ripper for even THINKING about re-doing seams that are a bit wonky. Friends don't let friends rip out wonky seams!

Do you use starch? Ever since I started using HEAVY starch my seams are
much much better. Give it a try and I'm pretty sure you won't need any glue
for piecing.

Relax and enjoy quilting no one is perfect!

I will rip twice and if I can't get the seams to line up, I just go on. I find if I match them up and put a pin in front of the seam line it stays lined up. I wouldn't have the patience to wait for glue to dry. Starch just builds up on the iron and I haven't used it in years.

Not if you do it right. After applying the starch I let it soak for at least 30
mins but very often overnight in a ziploc in the fridge. When I'm ready to
iron and if the fabric is too wet I roll it a towel then press with a cloth on top
until I get all the steam out...then remove the ironing cloth and finish
ironing. Might not be for everyone but it saves me from a lot of grief.
If ever I get a bit of starch on the iron I wipe it with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

I just clean the starch off the iron with vinegar. Works like a charm.

I think you are right.

I've read in other threads about using glue but I thought that was for applique. How will glue help line up seams :?:

The glue holds them together pretty well and there are no pins to worry about. When I use pins I pin both sides of the seam and walk my machine over the pins. I hate doing that.

I've heard the Amish intentionally put a mistake in each quilt because the only things perfect are made by the Lord. So for quilting purposes consider me Amish! :-D

My question is, how many people are going to be laying ON the quilt to look at the seams? You should look at it from at least 4 feet away, as most people will who will be looking at it. Where are you standing when you go to a gallery to look at fine art paintings, or at a quilt show? My point, Back Off Jack!!!

I wouldn't want to use glue on seams because it will affect the lay of the fabric when you press it to one side or try to press it open. I prefer to pin the seam join, approach it slowly and remove the pin just as the needle is ready to penetrate the fabric. You should never sew over a pin; nicks the needle and can mess up the throatplate when the needle strikes the pin.

At the Hattiesburg quilt show there were over 400 quilts - and believe me they were absolutely GORGEOUS - BREATHTAKING as a matter of fact - lots of originals, art quilts, log cabins, the Hoffman challenge.... and if you stuck your nose right up on the quilt - guess what - lots of seams didn't match... stars were kinda wonky - etc... but believe me, the main focus of each and every quilt was NOT "do the seams match perfectly?"
Now that doesn't mean that a half inch off is in the ballpark but come on - give yourself a little leeway!!

Gale, there is an Amish saying that has been my guide. Perhaps it will help you. They purposely leave one visible mistake in a quilt because......."the only thing in life that is perfect is God, so let it go."

Sure helps me in quilting and my life :)

I've found that most all artists (and we ARE artists) tend to be perfectionists. Look at some of our great inventors and scientists. How many light bulbs did Edison make before he got one to work? They won't quit till it's perfect. And it's not just in or quilting but in most everything we do. Remember, for the most part we sew to please ourselves unless we're professionals.

Our family and friends never see our mistakes or slightly off seams. Neither do strangers unless they're judging your quilt in a show.

So quilters all, relax, enjoy your talent and if you have to spit once in awhile, that's what the board is for.

I can relate, but have learned to relax a bit about all this. After all, quilting is suppose to be fun, right, & we do it for us, right! We are our own worst critics, & I agree, once the quilt is altogether, it's funny how no one else even notices what we were stressing about. I try to keep my quilting fun, & when it's not, it's time to find sometime else to do for awhile...

I know we all try to be perfect in our work but I was lucky in the first day I took my new machine lesson a lady told me when looking at a quilt on your bed you will not see a bit off, but if you are going to put your quilt in a show do it right. It has saved me, and if it is so bad I keep the block as a reference point with notes of what went wrong, I plan on taking that box out in a year or two and making a quilt for fun.
Only been quilting for 8 weeks now.

I was told "if you can't see it on a galloping horse, it's not worth ripping out" So lay the piece down, gallop by & if you can't see it, don't worry about it!

I was in your boat, driving me crazy to match seams and points. I posted here, and I recieved a lot of reply's, about if you can't see it from a galloping horse don't worry. Well, all of the positive posts got me back in the quilting mood. I am very happy with the way it is going together now

I think we have all done this. Now when I use the quilts that I have made, I don't even notice my uneven seems. I still would like them to be perfect though!

I was told "if you can't see it on a galloping horse, it's not worth ripping out" So lay the piece down, gallop by & if you can't see it, don't worry about it![/quote]

So THAT is what is meant by a galloping horse in quilting!!!! Thanks so much!

OK inspired by everyone, I did not glue the last two rows and I used only ONE pin per intersection. I did walk the machine over it but it wasn't too bad. I guess. Anyway all of them came out fine except one was less than 1/8" off...AND I LEFT IT. I didn't rip it out. yay! I need to put the borders on and then I'm DONE with this top! And I can start working on my Christmas projects.

Within reason, I think we should worry about having fun and being happy with what we are doing without the stress we can put on ourselves - the lass who posted the note on here about 'near enough is good enough' has the right attitude, in my opinion. Have fun and enjoy.

I got to a hard place on the quilt I'm working on and ended up using the 1/4" tape on some of the seams. But I only took one block apart (had to, there was hole in the corner!) :!:

relax and dont be so harsh on yourself, i was told by a 86 year old quilter , that has been quilting many many years that there is no such thing as the perfect made quilt

I agree, the seams nest so much better. Since starching I have had no problems with seams matching up. Now, if I could get a consistent 1/4" seam, I would be good to go.

I don't need to do it intentionally LOL...my mistakes come with no effort at all.

I'm glad you eased up on yourself...no point in getting tied up in knots, otherwise nothing gets done.