I'm with you!! :)

I didn't read all the posts, so someone may have posted this hint. I'm an experienced ripper...and here is my way to "speed rip". I have a little clamp that I bought from a sewing supply that works like a third hand, to hold one side of your fabric. (But you can fasten one side of what you are "unsewing" to anything stable if you don't have a clamp.) Then hold on to the other side of the seam with your free hand (the one not holding your seam ripper), pull it tight and pick away at the seam with your seam ripper. You'll have to keep moving the fabric in your clamp as you go along, but keeping that seam tight and pulling it apart exposes the stitches and also pops several stitches at a time since you are holding everything taut. I learned this from my mom who used to pin a skirt that she was hemming to her own skirt, holding it tightly so she could hem faster. But I found it works for ripping too! :-) Happy ripping!

Hello "I seriously screwed up! :( " Unless it was something very important I would have just left it in and sewed a fancy stitch over it so it could not reallly show. I did that once where I sewed ever other piece of fabric wrong side up. I just covered it up with a patch of the same material I mess up on. I used a star from my cookie cutters. Any more for me it just takes too much time to "unsew" something that big. I would have just went for it and let the threads fall where they may! Just me....:)

Do not waste your time ripping, as everyone has said, redo the pattern, no one will know except you and it might be an improvement on the original pattern!!!!! It is called "designing"

I would just try to rework it another way

re-work
 

You have the whole top sewn together,right? So find something in your stash that contrasts/looks good with the top,then cut your borders and some appliques from that-say stars or circles or butterflies,fuse them with heat n bond light and scatter over your quilt top,add borders and you have an original,one-of-a-kind quilt top! i went to a class at AQS nat quilt show called "the fudge factor" and the teacher showed ways of using applique to hide mis-matched seams,etc. It really started me to thinking. When you applique with fusable,you need to stitch around the edges with your machine to make sure they don't come loose-I use a fancy stitch,but you could raw-edge as welll. Good luck!

I think the "piano key" border is a good idea and another fabric for the sashing. You might come up with a pattern you like better.

Hi Momto4,

I'm from Weston. maybe we should get together some time.
Vicky

That is my thought too. It sounds like your subconscious is telling you to change it up. Often the best creations come out of an original oops. But, if you decide to rip, I wish you patience. Remember - ripping when sleepy leads to holes in the fabric so don't add insult to injury.

I am sure I would have put it away too if the boys hadnt picked out the fabric themselves and are so excited to give it to their step-mom lol

OH BUMMER!! I think all sewers-quilters and knitter have a a BIG opps so we can all relate to the frustration.

A helpful hint.
 

[QUOTE=LindaM49;4733016]Well...your problem is a lot worse than mine not being able to find my new package of rotary blades.]
This seems like a good place to share a tip for your pack of rotary blades... I finally wised up and purchased a clear, multi-pocket shoe bag. Its the kind that holds about 12 pairs of shoes and hangs on a wall or on a clothing bar. I put it on the back of the door in my sewing room and filled each clear pocket with different little items I was continually losing. One pocket holds rotary blades, one packs of needles, one buttons on cards, one painting tape and fusible web tape, ric rack,etc. As soon as I get home from the store those little items go directly to a shoe pocket. Not only does it save frustration, it saves me money cause I don't have to go purchase the lost item again only to find it the next day! LOL

I agree with the others who say not to do all that ripping out... Use something else or change the style of the border.

Sorry that happened. I have done that before too when I was real tired too. Carol in Delaware

Oops!
 

Oh man!!! I've done a similar, but less work-intensive, boo-boo. I was staying with my daughter when I did it and watching me rip and re-do made her NOT want to learn to quilt...lol..

oops! Sorry about that.

Oh, how I hate ripping things apart, I feel for you. It seems lately 66% is sewing, 34% ripping. I have to get focused. I know it won't help, but maybe just do 25% each day until all is apart, and all that ironing -- God Bless

Would it be easier to get more jelly roll strips? I feel your pain!!

Yes, I would do the same :)

Awe geesh! I hate when that happens!

Ripping out
 

If I need to rip a project out, I use my Rotary Cutter... Must be very careful not to cut your fabric, but Eleanor Burns always rips that way...Lot faster..Just a suggestion...

Oh no! I'd take the advice from others who have commented and find a creative way to fix your problem because I know we all HATE to rip out stitches.

OMG........I have sooooooooooo been there, I wish I were closer I'd volunteer..

I just did a whole bed-size quilt with the feed dogs up! Fortuanately (or unfortuanately) for me it doesn't look much different then my regular FD-Down quilting! lol

I agree I would not start to tear out. There are tons of patterns as well as your own sense of style. Take a breath and finish that baby!!!

So sorry that happened. My trick for cutting stitches out quickly is using a flat razor and cutting the stitches a couple at a time. It works much quicker for me than a seam ripper.

I have done something similar and had to go buy more fabric. I now take the time to pull the boarders out of the mix and set aside with a note in a ziploc.

Back in the Dark Ages, I learned to rip using a single edge razor blade - still my preferred method. Having trouble finding these blades now (and hand tremors), I "rip" by cutting every 3rd stitch - from one of the wrong sides - with curved tip embroidery scissors, then pull the fabrics apart. Try it; it's sure cuts down on ripping time.

If I had a dollar for every time I screwed up I would be rich!!!! Take heart, it's only fabric.

If you can I would buy some more jelly roll strips. Expensive I know but it would save you all that ripping. Good luck

Been there and done something like that, but that doesn't help much. Wish I could help you take seams out. Try to find some humor in it and remember you can laugh about it in the future.

Can you afford to lose 1/2 inch on each strip? If so, don't rip the stitches out....just cut them off! That's what I would do!

We all have made mistakes and I know I'll make lots more. Just learn from them and carry on!

I'm with Charity Crafter. Just make it into another quilt, and buy more jelly rolls or fabric to cut and make the king-sized one.

Kathy

I'm with the re-design group! Seems like you are thinking that way....please show us when you finish, would love to see what you come up with. Happy quilting!

This happened to me to.

I would love to say that I would never have done such a thing, but the truth is, especially when I get in a hurry, I am likely to mess up worse than ever! I would try and make lemonade out of lemons, and re-design at this point. I don't think I could handle that much ripping. Time to go to Plan B or C, and then on to more quilting!

I know how you feel. I've had more than my share of those OMG moments from sewing when I'm really tired. I may make mistakes when I'm sewing my blocks together but I'm an expert with a seam ripper. LOL

Sorry for your problems. But on the bright side, it was a sewing mistake, not a cutting mistake.. When Im tired I usually make the cutting booboos.

It's such a hassle to have to rip out stitches. I would buy more if I could or figure something else out sense you have so many to rip out.