Mistake in my own pattern - keep it?
 

I made a quilt top for a boy who is a friend of my granddaughter's, age 10. I made it with 4 patch squares as well as large squares of the focus fabric. I had a pattern I made up, with large squares at the corners and four of them making a square in the middle. I finished the entire top. Before adding the backing (not going to quilt it, just tie it to flannel) I discovered I had put two of the large squares in the wrong rows! I could change them out (I have added sashing) or leave it. It is noticeable, especially for me. I feel I did not even follow my own pattern and should change it, but would the young man notice? What would you do?

I'd fix it.

I would change it. I would think about the mistake when I saw the friend or anyone mentioned the quilt.

Chances are a 10 year old boy isn't going to notice but if it bothers you I would take it apart and fix it if it were mine. It would bother me, no matter if the giftee notices or not.

Can you share a picture?

ditto from me

I hate to admit it, but I have upon occasion said ... "it's close enough ..." while working on a quilt. But I think even I would fix this. Would never feel good about the project if I didn't. But remember it's your quilt, so it's your call.

Well....... here's an option. It sounds like this boy is a unique friend of your grand-daughter. You could just attach a note and explain what your original pattern was supposed to be - but - you placed one block uniquely different than the original plan because he is a unique friend.

I have read "That Dorky Homemade Quilt Look" and repeated, "Don't worry, no one will notice" until I am blue in the face. But the mistakes still haunt me, so I end up taking them out. (One time it took me over 18 hours of unsewing!) So I know I would have to take it out.

I would fix it, but it's your quilt and your choice!

If he has ADD or OCD change it. My grandson with both notices everything and it bothers him! Luann

Not so hard to fix while it is still a top. Once it is quilted, it would be very difficult to fix. Some mistakes I can leave, and call them my "humility blocks" but other times, the mistake seems too obvious, and then I would want to fix it.

It would bother me if I didn't fix it -- and others would look at it (and if noticed) would point it out, of course. You'll feel better once its fixed. How nice of you to make the quilt, too! He'll love it!

other people looking at your quilt are going to have no idea it is not exactly what you planned it to be--they do not know (unless you tell them) that you didn't plan it that way- so if it bugs you do what you need to do- but if it's just a change you didn't plan---
no one else will know it's a 'mistake'---it's only a change of plan

I would fix it.

I would probably fix it or it would drive me nuts every time I thought of it!

I have to agree

I spent half the day taking one apart yesterday cause I didn't do it right, I hate frog stitching but I had drawn out my pattern and knew what I wanted so un-sew I did!!!!

if itis not too much of a problem i would change it-----i had no real choice so ended up with a duck swimming in the sky!!! so every time i see the quilt i only see that square

My feelings too.

I would fix it!

If you haven't quilted it yet, fix it. You will feel better.

Fix it or it will haunt you for ever,knowing you could have and didn't

Thanks everyone for your input. I have the chance to change it and I am going to or it will bother me forever. And a lesson learned - follow the pattern, even if it is one you created.

I would change it. If something bugs me now, it will bug me later so I would fix it. It won't take that long and you will be much happier with it.

He's a MAN!!!!!!!!!!! no he will not notice.

When I make a mistake that sounds that large (a picture would have helped us), I would grit my teeth and fix it. Otherwise, it feels like failure to me - an undone thing. To say that the recipient is too young to notice or that he won't notice because he's a male feels disrespectful to me. Not only that, remember that the young have older people in their lives, like parents and grandparents, and males have women in their lives, like sisters, wives, moms, and grandmoms. If the error really is large, I think you might feel better if you fixed the quilt. From one who has been there ... several times. Good luck!! Would love to see your finished quilt! What a caring thing for you to do!

I would fix it as well. A mistake would bother me to no end. Dont know ho wmany times Ive had to rip out and resew because of a mistake.

:D
Done that plenty of times.

You also have an option to hand emboroider or hand aplique boy's name on one of those blocks - this would make it super special.

I would fix it before adding the backing, otherwise it will drive you crazy, just "unsew" those squares and sew again, you'll be happier, although nobody likes to "unsew", sometimes it's the only alternative. I'm sure the boy will greatly appreaciate the quilt.

Edieclay, I do the same as you. I try to let a mistake just slide by but it bothers me so much with guilt that I end up fixing it. Then I'm happy. LOL. Afterall, it's my project til I "give" it so I have to be happy with my work.

I agree: fix it. I'm too anal not to. Even if he didn't notice, I'd always know it was wrong.

My personal rule of thumb is:: if its not yet basted to the back or pinned then I fix it -no matter! It would bother me if I didn't

I love Mom3's option.

^Okay, that is an awesome attitude! I don't know. The boy probably won't notice, and when my brother was given a quilt, tied to flannel at age 9, it was loved and used up by the time he was 16. I doubt anyone is going to be that petty about a beautiful and useful object. A picture would help, but you know what? The gift is in your time and effort. I'm sure you will make the right choice.

That is my trademark...something somewhere is "off" one or two blks are swapped....I just finished a top for a friend...all the sashingis put on as per pattern but I swapped colors in one small area, & I have yet to hear that she has found it...& folks know I do this. Personalized just for them.

I'm a fixer. I kniow that if I left it there I would be compelled to tell them that there was an error.

If you can fix it then I'd say fix it.

Once I notice a mistake and it is not quilted yet, I fix it. That is the perfectionist in me. Grew up with the old saying: 'If it is worth doing, it is worthing doing right.' It just won't leave my head.