I have been quilting about a year, but this is my first traditional quilt. I am using the Ohio Star pattern. Yesterday went really well. I figured out what fabric to use, figured I would make four different squares and make four of each, and I successfully sewed three squares.

Today nothing has gone right. I just finished ripping and ripping and ripping.

I am smart enough to not sew any more tonight, but when I was stacking my 4 1/2 inch squares, I noticed that some of them seemed larger than the others. Well, I was right. Some of them are 4 3/4 inches. Now how did that happen??? I use the June Tailor Shape Cut ruler???

So I am frustrated and wish I had not started. The quilt is for my sister-in-law. I just decided to make her a quilt and asked her husband what colors she liked. He happened to mention that she had been looking for a quilt with the Ohio Star pattern, so I figured....why not? She doesn't sew, but she sort of collects quilts.

Well, now I wish I had stuck with Warm Wishes or something that I had done before.

BUT, things will look better tomorrow. I just had to vent. I have ripped enough seams out today to last me until 2011!!

I am not trusting myself enough to trim those squares tonight. I would wake up tomorrow and find they were wrong again.

Thanks for listening. I feel better already. :)

ok, this happens to everyone. Take a break today,, try again tomorrow. Some days are just better than others! You'll be fine

It will be worth all the extra effort in the end. I learn by my mistakes. Trust me I have made them ALL. Tomorrow will be better!:)

Ditto........

When you get back at it tomorrow you will have much better luck!

Yup, we have all had many times like that, I bet. Just walk away from it for the night -- you shouldn't be around dangerous sharp quilting tools anyway when you are this frustrated. :-D :-D

Been there, done that! LOL It will be better tomorrow. I am teaching my dil to quilt, and she is learning that in quilting, you have to accept boo-boos and learn how to fix them.

You are so wise to walk away when things are not going well. That is a hard lesson to learn, but a valuable one..whether quilting or some other life activity...

been there done that.......and hate when it happens. I put it away and take it out the next day.

Yes, I did my share of rippin out today and I am still not ready to sew tomorrow. I'm trying to do a tablerunner with FMQ and I just can't seem to get my machine to work. Come back to it tomorrow, I guess.

I don't believe I've EVER gotten all my squares to match up when I get them done!!! That's why we SQUARE UP!!!! I just pray the points are obviously bad!!!!! Hang in there....

Vent away! It happens to everyone sometime or another.

I totally agree!! I used to drive myself crazy trying to "fix" the unfixable d/t my state of mind!! I finally learned and congratulate you on letting it go till tomorrow. :thumbup:

That happens to all of us no matter how experienced we are. You are doing the right thing - step away for a while and think it over. When you start up again, it won't be as bad as you thought! It'll come out great and your SIL will love it!

When that happens it is just better to walk away for a while, it will come together next time.

Don't feel bad. I started my quilt....which is king size, and I was doing 12 inch blocks. I made ALL of the blocks, then noticed they weren't consistently 12 inches....so I had to buy a 10 inch square ruler, cut them ALL down to 10 inches, and then because the blocks are smaller I had to make a bunch more blocks....yep I'm off to a roaring start! But I have it going smoothly now (famous last words, my roof will probably fall in tomorrow now) so I'm sure you'll get it going smoothly after taking a breather....

Some days just seem to be that way. I've had the same experience. You are wise to take a break from it for a while. It will likely all fall into place again when you get back to it. Remember that if you don't try something new you can't learn how to do it. I'm sure your quilt will be great when your done. Keep on trying, don't let it defeat you!

I bet it all works out for you in the morning :D:D:D

Sounds like you can cut the 4 3/4 pieces down to the required 4 1/2 inches. I am thinking that you have a June Taylor 1/4 inch slotted ruler and probably got off by one slot. I have done this and have had to go buy more fabric just because the kit didn't give extra yardage for people like me!!!!! Good luck and post a pic when you are done.

Starch!

lots of people cut their patches a little larger than needed, that gives them (squaring-up) room with their blocks, it is not a biggie to have them a little big---it is easy to take away...much harder to make them grow if you cut them too small. nothing to be upset about at all, just make your 4-patches then square them up to the perfect size. but a regular square acrylic ruler i think would be a better tool for the job than a shape cutter...just my thought..

Why do we seem to make mistakes on things we have done before? Is it concentration? I can make 10 PP blocks and on the 11th, foul it up completely.

Ditto, there are somedays that I think I know nothing about sewing and then other days things run as smooth as silk.
Just keep trying. We all hate ripping out seams, but it happens.
:mrgreen:

Hang in there girl! We've all been there, done that....I've gotten so frustrated before and instead of taking a break, I ended up ripping it out, then sewed it the same way, ripped out again, and then turned around and sewed it the same way again....lolol...Consider going to your local quilt shop and get some pointers, let them take a look at what's going on, help you get you back on track....or maybe an experienced friend can help...Good Luck and have a happy sewing day!

WE have all been there, done that. Take the time to do a good job and don't think of this as a mistake, it is a learning experience. Frustrating but worthwhile in the long run. Listen to some music, watch tv or think pleasant thoughts while you are ripping, the time goes by faster.

Anything worthwhile takes time and your reward will be something you are proud of.

Carol J.

Don't you just hate it when things like this happen? It happens to me all of the time. another thing I hate is when I am piecing and I have forgotten to tie a knot in my thread and I pull it all the way through. I just usually take a break ad come back to it later.

Take your time - don't try to cut out too many things at once. At first, it might help to do just one block at a time and, when it's done, move on to the next block. With the holidays looming, it is hard to work slowly, but all good things take time. You will get better as you go along, if you aren't too hard on yourself. Perhaps you could give her a box a photo of what the finished product will look like?

Do not get discouraged. This happens to all of us. I am making some very somple skirts for some of my GD and I have had to walk away from those and I have been sewing clothes for 50 years oh my

Deep breaths!!! I've quilted for years and occasionally I still cut wrong. If you think there is a problem, measure again to be sure, or check your seam allowance, sometimes when your tired the seam line doesn't stay true.

have a nice nap, eat some chocolate, spray starch and trim. all those pieces will fit. sometimes it helps to spray the fabric before you cut out the pieces. any time you arre in a messjust stop put it aside and go do something else for a day or so. you will be surprised how easy it is the second time around. good luck .betbet

Things will improve. We've all done this and I still do it way too often for my liking. At least you are smart enough to walk away, I seldom am :roll:

I've been there, done that! Have you thought of marking your ruler with a strip of day-glo tape so that you don't make the mistake of cutting the wrong measurement? Most quilting shops sell it.

Yesterday I was working on something quite simple, and I spent several hours ripping out.

Are you using a 1/4 seam guide type foot on your machine to help you be more accurate? Go to Missouri Star Company Tutorials and see if they have one that will help. They have gazillions.

I feel your pain hon. Been there so many times and trust me, after 7 years I still have those days. Sometimes I think this is what made me more patient though, having to rip out. Things will get better. Give it a rest and get back in there. It can only get better right?

My sister said the first thing she learned to do well when I was teaching her to quilt was RIP IT. LOL. One thing I know from past experience is that you never change rulers when you start a project. That can make a big difference in the size of your squares. Hope today is a better day for you.

Liz in Southeast Texas

I agree, Also venting makes a big differance and we have the perfect outlet here. :-o

I feel bad for you. It is so frustrating sometimes. I have been there also. You learn somthing new with each and every project. Hang in there and I hope it is going lots better now or when you get back to it. Did you think of it a million times while you were trying to rest? It keeps me awake.

Took me about 7 years to finish my first big quilt,king size and all hand pieced,also hand quilted so don't give up now!!!!

That what this site is for - to listen and understand. Quilting a new pattern will give you so much satisfaction. and It says in the Bible -" those who sew, so shall you rip!"

Thanks, everyone. I feel much better this morning. I just fixed the squares I cut wrong, and decided I was glad I had made them too large and not too small.

I can even see how I cut them wrong now.

What I had to rip out is also all fixed now, and I am on to new blocks. And I have learned how to make quarter triangle squares. That was new to me. So....learning and growing...that is what it is all about, right?

Sew on!