I want to Cry
 

I am trying to make a quilt for my future son-in-laws mother for Christmas and it has been so stressful the whole way...I just want to throw it in the fire....I have it almost done with so many mistakes....:(...and now I have this problem and don't know what to do...I was doing a stitch in the ditch but now I see where the fabric has came loose...I tried hand stitching but it looked horrible so I ripped it out.....what do I do....I have tried to post a picture but can't upload one

I would set it aside for at least one day then try to fix it or maybe rethink my gift idea to them for this year.

Can you possibly slip a little fusible web underneath the gap, smooth it into place, iron it down, and then quilt over it?

Don't despair, there's always a way!

I assume when you say "the fabric has come loose" that you mean a seam has opened? If not, please explain.

How did you baste it? Pins? Hand thread baste? Spray baste?

Where in the quilt is the open seam? Near the center? Near the edge?
How long is the open part of the seam??


If it's pinned or hand basted, I would remove as much of the basting as possible to gently pull the block up so you can hand stitch it. If it's near the edge (within 8 or 10") and you've not quilted the edge yet - you might be able to remove the basting to the edge to get your hand under it to get the seam sewn. Work slowly, you can do it!!

If it's spray or glue basted .... more difficult.

Does the overall design of the quilt allow for you to applique something over the open seam ... even if you put another of the same applique in the other end of the quilt to make it symmetrical?? If not ... you can stitch it closed with quilting - making sure that you catch both edges of fabric (one should be folded under the other - stitch close to the seam line) and use smaller stitches. It should hold.

When I started quilting I would find my fabric coming apart at some seams. After taking the seam out I could tell I didn't sew both sides of the fabric 1/4". One side was barely caught in the seam. I've learned to be very sure my fabric is lined up straight as I sew seams. I also learned that the bad quality fabric I used for some pieces was fraying and pulling out of the seam. I make sure all my fabric is good quality. I have tossed many a started quilt in the trash because of nothing but frustration and mess ups. I have learned that every step is important to a good finish. It won't even out, it won't quilt out and it will be noticeable. Buy her a nice box of chocolates and make another quilt for her birthday. :)

I so sense your frustrations. I think too for your own sake you need to do something else this year and do a quilt for her some other time. You will always be thinking of that less-than-perfect quilt in her house! (I know - I was in a rush to finish a baby quilt and I took too many shortcuts and was less than satisfied with the end product. I so wish I had given her something else for the shower and worked on a quilt for the baby's birth!)

What about trying to put some decorative stitches in?

I have used the webbing also and it worked out quite well!
Don't cry though. NO ONE will even notice the spot. Unless less of course you cry all over it! LOL!
Good luck, you still have lots of time until Christmas. And your gift is very generous!
Pat

Fuse the area where the stitching has come loose. If you find you can't machine stitch i.e stitch in the ditch you can hand tie the quilt. It is quick and easily done

Can you applique a piece of fabric over the problem, then continue quilting???

Please don't cry! Wish I was there to help you. I would fuse something over it, a flower or butterfly whatever fits the theme of your quilt. Walk away from it for awhile, and get your mind off it. Sounds like your very stressed out over this.
Good luck and Merry Christmas.

I am with Bellyboo's information and suggestions all the way. It is best to put it aside for later and buy something nice as a gift. If it is a matter of a few loose seams, it may work to try something as suggested above. But give yourself a day's break before returning to the project. Once I was making a dress and NOTHING was going well. Finally, I simply threw the project into the wastebasket , pattern and all. Sometimes it is a matter of realizing nothing is working well and it is best to put it aside for later ...or if it is really that bad, pitch it and don't look back. No such thing as quilt police!!

It is on the sashing to the block...I have already free-motioned it and put the binding on....washed it and took it out of the dryer...

I have been in this position...I get so upseet nothing goes right..If it were me, I would purchase a different gift, Put this away until after the holidays when the stress level eases up, and work on it for her birthdaY!! Can you post pictures? Maybe people could come up with more help if they see what you have to deal with

I could don't know how it would look....oh dear me....[ATTACH=CONFIG]382069[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]382070[/ATTACH]this is the back......[ATTACH=CONFIG]382071[/ATTACH] this is the front.....what decorative stitch would look good...

is the area/seam one where you can add a strip of fabric and stitch that on both sides? it needs reinforcement of some kind. I can't sew when not in the mood, so do take a break and then go back to it.

Have you ever done hand applique? That would be the stitch I would try to hand sew it to try to fix it. I hope you can fix it...sure looks like a beautiful quilt! Wish I lived closer so I could come help you make it better.

I would have to add a strip to all the sashing

No I have never hand appliqued...This was my second attempt at free-motion

-I believe if it were me I would squeeze it together as best I could then hand stitch it together very tightly with a thread that blends with your fabric...she will never notice it in the grand scheme of things...:) best of luck, very nice job at your free motion too :D

Can you mend the place that is coming apart and use some of the same fabric in the quilt and applique a heart in that area. I have seen one black sheep amoung all white. I have seen a block floating in the middle or on the side. Why not a heart for the love you have put in this quilt. Cowgirl Up and it will be OK.

I agree that I would applique over it or do some fancy stitching over it.

Try using a glue stick to position what you are working on. If you have a small seam that came loose, you can take a pin and run it across the glue stick picking up a tad, then run the pin under the seam to hold it down until you can sew it.

The cause of the open seam may be a factor in how it's fixed -

Was the seam too narrow?

Did the fabric fray?

Did it come apart after washing the finished quilt?

Is it just one place or several?

This happened to me when I was clipping all the new threads that showed up after I washed the quilt. It was a bardello of blues, representing water and right smack in the middle was a seam that had pulled open!!!! So, it being water and all I found a dragon fly, bound it with a backing for strenth, and appliqued the body to the quilt, leaving the wings free. Any applique that might relate to the recipient or to the theme of the quilt would do. After a couple of years I asked my neice how it was holding up (admitting what had happened) and she said "Fine". She even went to look at it and told me it was just fine. She couldn't see the problem that had been there at all.

It's a good excuse to add a personal touch!

I agree completely. From your picture, it looks like the top fabric is folded under along the open edge, so I think you could hand stitch it down nicely with tiny stitches. I know you said you've never done applique, but if you've ever hemmed clothing with stitches which barely show, do it that way. Just make the stitches very close together so it holds up to future use. Lovely quilt. Lovely gift! Take some deep breaths. Good job! (And don't tell the recepient all the things you think are "wrong", because none of them matter!) :thumbup:

I agree with those who suggested just hand stitching it. It looks like you still have a nice, turned under edge. Look up "ladder stitch". I use it for my bindings and you really can't see it when you're done. Sorry you're having such trouble. I have one of those projects myself. Take a break and a deep breath and see what you think on another day. {hug}

How about hand stitching after a little glue inside, using silk thread or invisible thread. You could applique a heart shape
. Depending on location how about dotted hearts with one letter in each for her name.

Wow for your 2nd fmq its great!!!! Hope you find a way,! Its gorgeous! Id love it!!:-)

First off... your quilt is beautiful!

Believe I'd create an applique by fussy cutting some of the print fabric... maybe more than one and scatter them around the quilt. Or, let that be the place you put your label. It could be no larger than a business card and embroider the date or something.

I agree with lowjane and grammysharon, fuse the area and then stitch to secure then -applique over the problem.

At Sew and Tell, a guild member explained how she "embellished" over an area where she made a mistake.
The area had huge pleats quilted so she appliqued over it with a Star vs. tearing out the stitches. She then added a few more stars of different sizes.

The stars on the quilt were a big hit. I hope this helps you with your quilt.

I believe Leah Day has a tutorial on that problem on youtube

No one knows if there are mistake BUT the quilter. Mkae this fr him. He will love this.

I agree with a poster upstream - slip a piece of fusible tape into the area and press it down to hold the two parts together. Then use the hidden applique stitch to keep it in position. Just google "applique tutorial" and you should be able to find a youtube video that shows it clearly. Wish I were there to help you - I just rescued a tear in a freshly completed quilt by appliqueing a leaf over the torn area.

I once had a quilt (for my son) that I wanted to take out in the yard and burn. The flannel backing that I bought at WM kept slipping and causing puckers. It took my husband and I both working to get it through the sewing machine....but I was begging...".please, let's just take it out and burn it!" It turned out nice and my son uses it a lot. Take the wonderful advise these good people give you and keep going.

Lynn

I know applique sounds a bit scary, but if it is just a small spot of loose fabric, you could go to Walmart or any other fabric store and find a small patch and sew it on....there are many very pretty ones....just stick down and sew around the edges with tiny stitching and nobody will ever know it wasn't a planned thing!

I just remembered, I made some "leaf" appliques for my son's quilt. I didn't like the bottom so I just put the leaves on. He didn't want any flowers, etc. so the quilt was done using leaf and forest colors. The leaf appliques looked nice.

Lynn

Can you not slip stitch this parted seam together? Carefully and tightly and it should hold and won't show. I think the quilt is beautiful!

I hope this works. I just finished this "teddy bear" quilt. I had a dark brown piece in the nose area and didn't like it so I used steam a seam light and ironed on a new, lighter fabric. When it is quilted I hope no one will ever know. I am sure you can fix your quilt seams with steam a seam or a similar product.