A friend of mine asked me to post this question:

She was cutting some fabric and didn't notice some of her blocks underneath the fabric she was cutting. They got small cuts in them and they were critical to the quilt pattern so she had to use them. She finished the quilt top but she has these small cuts in three of the blocks. What should she do??????

Thanks

Learn to applique! :D If she can find a small shape or something that would work with the quilt she can expand her horizons while fixing her oopsie.

applique over them.
Gale

She could applique something over them, or do a top stitching across them using same color thread as fabric. I like the applique hiding trick myself! :-)

If I had to use them, I think I would back them with something like Seam a Seam (Lite) and then put a very small amount of fray check on the top. It dries clear, but you can feel that it is there.

* OH MAN* I've done this, but luckily hubby always makes me buy a little extra fabric....( I Know it's tough to have to get extra fabric.. hehehe)

hmmm possible use a little steam a seam behind the cuts???

a little embroidery here and there to cover the cuts ?

don't guess they are in an area u could put the label?

There isn't much for options except to patch over them in some way. That sure is a shame that it happened.

I always iron a lite fusible innerfacing over the back, and yes i've done it OFTEN :oops: sometimes my seams are too close and pull out, i do that there too

That definitely is a big OOPS. (I probably would have muttered a few more vulgar words about then . . . . )

Good suggestions given.

Good idea to get the cut edges as close together and stabilized with something behind the cuts - and then she will have to use her creativity to cover the cuts - if she does appliques - she could scatter a few more over the top to make it look intentional -

Applique. Make something out of fusible web or buy some embroidered flowers, animals, butterflies etc. at the fabric store. I made a tiny cut once and covered it up with a lady bug applique from the fabric store. No one ever knew!

Thanks everyone for the wonderful ideas!

The blocks with the accidental cuts are Alphabet Blocks that came in a kit!!

she should have put some fusible tape behind the cuts while they were blocks. but she can still do that. then iron that area. afterwards if this is to be a quilt and not a wall quilt,she needs to stitch over those cuts or applique something over them to stabilize those areas better.

To begin with, I would never had used the blocks and made new blocks. There is way to much time and money put into a quilt to piece blocks together with cuts in them.
A picture would have been helpful to see where the cuts where.
After a quilt has already been quilted its hard to repair it and not make the repair look like a repair. Not sure if fraycheck would help, worth a try. Maybe applique? More than likely these cuts will continue to get larger everytime the quilt is washed no matter what is done. Live and learn, when cutting fabric never have finished blocks or other fabrics anywhere near the rotary cutter. :cry:

I wouldn't use those blocks . I would make new ones.

Picture to see problem?

The poster said that the maker HAD to use the blocks - - -

I agree - if possible, replacing would have been better

I repair rips in clothes for the kids and the lightweight fusible interfacing works great on cotton fabric. The rips are still together after weeks of washing and drying.

apply fusable interfacing to the back of the blocks to hold them together and add stability

applique something small on a few of the blocks that start with that letter. lion - l flower - f etc.

I tried the fusible on a bed quilt and it didn't hold up with all the wear and tear.

I'd either applique or embroider over the problem areas.

ali

Ricky Tims' suggested putting the same material underneath with whatever you guys use to fuse your applique pieces with. then, once the thing is sandwiched and quilted it will not be detected.

I like to do little hearts over places like that.

If necessary you can applique a small piece of the same fabric over the cut so it blends in. Do it like a tiny piece of a "stem" right sides together and stitch as close to the cut as possible. Roll, tuck and stitch down the other side as close to the cut as possible, If you don't want to stitch you can fuse a small piece of matching fabric to the back and a tiny sliver of Misty Fuse to the top instead of Fray Block or in addition to Fray Block. Hope this helps.

I'm try to be careful when I cut but have been known to snip where I shouldn't have. After saying a few not-to-be-said-in-front-of-children words, I try to recut the piece. I usually over-estimate my fabric needs (there's always something I can do with extra fabric) but these suggestions are great. I'll be adding them to my tips/hints/suggestion folder.

you said alphabet blocks could you applique a figure with the name of something that starts with that letter over the cuts

if pattern appropriate, I use yos yos over the area......

Embroidery thread is your friend! I've accidentally snipped a top when quilting. I use the same color embroidery thread (or a contrast if it fits) to whip stitch the small cut together then cover with a heart in satin stitch. Works beautifully and launders well.

I call it a bit of hidden love! Folks are tickled when they find them. Little do they know, that heart is hiding an oopsie!

Add fusible under the block to hold the cuts shut. Then either applique or decorative stitch with machine over. If you go the machine stitch route, you will also need a stabilizer under it. Good luck.

This is exactly what I had to do in my earlier days of rotary cutting. I was not concerned with being able to feel the fray check and Steam-A-Seam later on since they were such small mistakes. Also, quilting over them helps stabilize the fabric around the cuts and distributes the pull, wear and tear of the quilt. No worries!

well since they are ABC blocks from a kit \, I would first put seam to seam on black and then use some kind of applique
over each block so they look like it was what you wanted to do....................But there is always a way to fix small mistakes..........so sorry it happen to you.
I know how bad u felt Been there done that

I would applique something over the cuts.

Most of the time kits do not give you any "extra" fabric
(I think they should!!) so making new ones might not be an option.

quote=Brynn]Learn to applique! :D If she can find a small shape or something that would work with the quilt she can expand her horizons while fixing her oopsie.[/quote]

LOVELY IDEA !![

What about an applique to coordinate with the letter closest to the cut? You might have to add others (appliques) elsewhere on the quilt to visually balance it. There's always a plan B! Hope you post it when it's finished.

she could repair them by putting some fabric behind the cut and then hand sew or zigzag over the cuts with matching thread.

I did something similar during a badly timed seizure. I was working on a Daisy quilt, so I found a bumble bee applique to cover the slice.

I did this on a small area on my daughter's quilt when I goofed on one of the squares and so far it is working out well. You wouldn't notice it if you weren't looking for it. Good luck!

I agree :thumbup:

Ditto! Sorry for the mishap. But, it can be "fixed."

I got a tube of stuff at Wal Mart that bonds a seam together. It may just work on those tiny slits, It is expensive about 10.00. You put it on and let it dry and it permanent.

Maybe make letters of the child's name and applique them all over so it looks intentional and child can find letters of it's own name when old enough.