Some of you know that I am participating in the creation of a signature quilt that my daughter's 6th grade class is giving to the school as a gift. It's me and one other mom doing the majority of the sewing and everything else. All the students did their own blocks along with 7 teacher (79 students) and one larger block in the middle being done by the art teacher.

Well...we used muslin for each block and the other mom is the one who cut the blocks before the students did their thing with them. Looking at the blocks, I can tell she cut them with scissors and they are very close in size but not all exactly the same, right down to the smallest centimeter. I took about 2/3rds of the blocks to sew them and I'm not happy with them. The art teacher had the kids draw within a box so there is a half inch border drawn in pencil on each block. I'm trying to get these blocks to line up straight as best as I can and I know there will be some trimming involved.

I'll post picks of the first row I have sewn together.

I'm starting to wonder now if I should have taken all the blocks to sew them, so they will all be uniform. This other woman sews but has never done a quilt so doesn't really know about the blocks being the same exact size and seams and lining things up, and I just feel like because I'm such a perfectionist that whatever she does isn't going to look like mine....I don't know what to do...she's the kind of woman who is "above" everyone else and I don't feel right calling her or emailing her telling her I don't think she'll do it right or that I would rather do it all. We have TWO weeks left to get this all done...and I would have had it done a long time ago if it wern't for waiting for the art teacher to get the kids to do the blocks and all that.......what should I do???

Don't have an answer - but I can totally relate to how you are feeling!

I wanted to post this too...this is the general layout we are using for the quilt...

Learn to adjust. Drop the perfectionism for this project and just do it. As crazy as it sounds, the seam allowances can be off on the inside and nobody will know and it won't make any difference either. If the seams don't line up perfectly on the outside what's the worst that can happen? I'll bet the building doesn't fall down and the sun comes up tomorrow.

I agree with scissor queen. It doesnt have to be perfect. Its the thought that is behind it all that counts.

This quilt will be beautiful. You chose the perfect layout. The brick pattern is great because you don't have to line up any seams. The children will be thrilled to see their blocks in the quilt!!!! I make a quilt with my class every year and it is a great experience for the students. It will turn out fine. If you do another in the future.....you will cut the blocks yourself!!! Enjoy the project. Don't get caught up in the details that no one else will even notice.

We made a group quilt at work with everyone decorating a heart to sew on a block for a fellow employee who was getting cancer treatment. One of my fellow employees helped me sew the hearts down and join some rows. She sewed but I was aghast at what 1/4" can mean to different people! lol! There WAS a little unpicking involved in matching hers and mine. I absolutely agree with the Scissor Queen--remember it isn't for a quilt show, it is a gift from the kids. Honor the love they put it it, fudge as much as possible, do whatever to make it work. What other people will see is the love from the kids. I think the pattern you have it in looks adorable and the kids will be so proud. And nobody but another quilter will ever know how you bit your tongue as you "made" those little suckers fit together. Bless you for taking it on and making them so happy. And bless her, too, she probably had no idea how much work she was getting into (cutting blocks with scissors! OMG! makes my hands hurt to think of it!)

Since this is essentially from the children do you think the teacher expects perfection? I think she will love the quilt without matching seams etc. The love of her students is what you are trying to convey, not your quilting skills.

I totally agree with scissor queen.

I can see that the shorter rows are going to be lengthened with the extra fabric. Save her rows for the shorter rows. Your better rows can be the long ones and if you need to adjust her rows, you can vary the fill in fabric lengths. It's going to look great and the kids will love it.

Thank you all for giving me that little smack upside the head that I needed. I'm just going to go with the flow and fix what I can where I can to make it look it's best, with out being a perfectionist....

it would be a little more work, but i would put sashing, or just above and below the each row, and on the sides, not betweeh blocks, maybe. lay some strips of fabric out and see. You might like it even better

Ohhhhhh; I know how you feel I did one for someone retiring from the hospital and they gave me all sorts of 5 inch blocks. to big to small puff paint cross stitch quilted and anything else you can think of. Then a center medallion of a photo of the hospital. took me weeks to get it organized. Don't think I'd offer to do that again. Good luck on the finished product.

I have been involved in making charity quilts where the guild members were to each supply a 12 1/2" block. There were about 100 very experienced quilters who made blocks that (unfinished) varied from 11 3/4 to 13 1/2. I put sashing around the blocks and made some very lovely quilts.

Since what you are doing is going to be a cherished keepsake, accept that things are off and do what you can to make them special. The quilt will be lovely.

On a group effort like this we can afford to be perfectionists. Do your part, let her do her part and the quilts will be wonderful. Believe me, no one will notice or care if the seams don't match up perfectly or something is a little off. The love that they are made with will shine through. Just let it go.

The fact that you're all TRYING to make a memory for the teacher is what matters. It will all work out. Don't sweat the small stuff.

Been there, done that! Sashing around the squares works really well to make the overall view of the blocks seem uniform. As you have it designed there are not any seams to match, so there shouldn't be to much of a problem.

Note: You may have to do a Quilt as you Go approach, in case your helper doesn't turn in her blocks until the night before the quilt is due! I had something like this happen, and I finally just tied the quilt at the last minute and had to turn in the quilt without all the binding attached (just pinned) because I ran out of time. The teacher didn't care, she was just happy to get the quilt.

Moral of the story: Don't Stress! Just plan for the worst and you'll be happy it doesn't happen like that. It will bring back fond memories in later years when you think back on what it took to make the quilt.

The "let her do her part" is exactly right, she may be just thrilled to be helping and it's not fair to take her "feel good about herself moment" away so that you can make the quilt perfect. They are not judging the quilting skills, they are making a gift of love. Just relax and take a deep breath, I do know that's very hard for a perfectionist to do, but you have to try on this one.

I agree with kappy, redquilter and scissorqueen.

If you use this brick pattern you won't have to worry about seams matching (intersections). I think all the cute blocks will catch everyone's eye, and seams won't even matter. Don't stress over it...have fun with it !

One of my things I always say is "Who is going to die because it is not exact?" Nobody! but I do understand, stuff like that makes me absolutely nuts!

If its not to late, I suggest you call the lady and tell her that you were wondering if she'd like you to set all the blocks together and then she could do the borders?
She might be relieved.

The quilt will be beautiful. It doesn't have to be perfect.

I would not ask for the blocks back - could hurt someone's feelings & make you look bad. Just let her do the blocks her way & adjust as best you can in putting it all together. The fabric is forgiving, & I'm certain the teacher doesn't expect perfection - it's a kids' project after all.
Enjoy the process - you're helping with something very special!

As a teacher and a Mom, I had to learn the hard way (headaches and raised blood pressure counts I caused myself) that perfectionism has no place when working with young kids. They will love what they have done and so will everyone else. It is a gift of the children's talents and the actual quilting comes in a far second. Trust me, let go and relax to the extent that you can and enjoy the children's happiness. I know first hand how hard it is to let go of your standards even for a little while. :):):)

TRIM before sewing together. Rip out the seams, find the smallest size and trim to same size on all before putting together. That's the only way to square it up. Good luck, your left with a mess.

I agree! The quilt will be beautiful and the children will be so pleased to see their blocks! Just relax and go for it!

What a fabulous quilt!!! You deserve 10 gold stars for doing this.

Let it go, it is a work of art and mean't to be imperfect. I know this is easier said than done. (from another perfectionist). It will look good after it is finished.

I agree with scissor queen in that this is a project for the children, they aren't going to care if everything is exact, they just want to see "their" block sewn into a quilt.

My thoughts are similar - just enjoy the project.

They need to be trimmed to the same size. Can you contact others that have blocks and make them all the same size?

It will be a really neat quilt. The kids will be proud of their creativity. As you said, you'd add fabric to the shorter pieces and a border (possibly the school colors) and it will be fine.
The brick layout is great for this quilt. Thanks for sharing. Eiltcoq.

You need to redefine perfect. When all the children have their block included, that's perfect. When all the blocks are put together is a reasonable fashion, that's perfect for this project. When it is handed over as a finished product and the teacher and children see what they have done (no one will remember who assembled it) that's perfect. If all the blocks were precisely cut and the seams were precisely matched, etc. that would look very ODD for a children's product. That's like doing your child's homework in your own handwriting because your child's handwriting is big and messy and not nice and neat like your own. This is their project, not yours. Don't put your signature quilting on it = keep their signature on it. In a really perfect world the kids would have also assembled the quilt blocks themselves.

With all the backgrounds being the same color (muslin), it won't even matter or show if seams don't line up. The quilt will be admired and loved anyway!

Try to relax while you are doing this. As a retired teacher, I remember worrying when it was my turn to do the hallway bulletin board outside the principal's office the first year I taught in that building. Then, one of the other teachers reminded me that everyone would be looking at the children's work more that at how perfectly I designed the setting. That will be true for the quilt. First students and parents will look for their work then look at the whole thing.
I think once it is hung you will be able to see the timeless beauty of children's art work. I hope you start to feel good about this work. My thoughts are with you.

YEAH..... YOU ARE GREAT!!!

I would say, "Don't sweat it." Even if there are mistakes, it will just look like it was meant to be. No one will will expect perfection. Afterall, this is "child's play" The focus is on the kids!!

Don"t worry about it so much. Everyone's focus is going to be on the student art work. Use the other sewer's blocks for the short rows so you can make it work with the filler fabric. Good luck and show us a picture when it's completed!

Great layout idea. Just go with the flow as the best things in life are not always perfect. The teacher and children will love it. What a wonderful gift for the teacher.