Mitty

This is what I was going to say, but Jennifer23 has already said it very well.

There have been a couple of times when someone has been asking if something is noticeable, and even knowing it's there I haven't been able to find the mistake in the picture.

I do agree with the general point that if something is going to bother someone, then they should redo it, but when people know this, they probably aren't asking about it on the forum.

maviskw

Love this! I totally agree with everything Bear said in the original post. If there is something wrong, be honest. I have a place to hang a flimsy so that I can see it straight on every time I enter the living room. If it jumps out at me, I'd better change it. Sit in front of it and enjoy it for a day or two. Can you live with it? Will you be OK with that 10 years from now? Changing things that I don't like has a calming effect on me.

bearisgray

Interesting -

My observation was limited to the "Should I change it?" threads -

Of course, the final answer is, - "It is your quilt - do - or don't do - whatever you want."

In the grand scheme of things, more often than not, it really does not matter - any more than if I wear one black shoe and one navy shoe to work - of similar styles - most people will not notice one way or another.

What I thought was interesting - and I have not counted the responses in the threads to get an accurate number - is that the majority of responders seem to say "leave it, it's okay, I don't see anything wrong" and a minority encourage "fixing/changing" it.

So - my question/observation actually is: Why are the ones that encourage "fixing/changing" in the minority?

ArtsyOne

If I post a quilt with an error I see, I want to know if others notice it. If they do, then I'll bite the bullet to fix the error. If they don't, then I say "whew!" and move on to my next project.

Cotton Mama

Apparently I did not express myself well. I was merely observing that we seem to be offering conjecture as to what other people are thinking and their motivation as to why they post what they do.

momsbusy

Honesty is what the person wants. I made a difficult quilt as a large wall hanging. I showed it to many people prior to having it quilted. I wish that I had spent more time really looking at it. I was so happy that I had finished it. My friends and my quilter never mentioned that one of the appliqué blocks was facing the wrong direction. This quilt has been sitting folded up for a while. I wish that someone had looked at it with a critical eye.

Sewnoma

I always answer those questions the same way I would for my own quilts, which is usually in the "it's fine" category. As long as it's not structural. Then I'll recommend fixing it.

For me, quilting is a hobby. I have a job that involves a lot of stress and precision, I don't need that stress in my hobby. I also don't want other people to stress about it - I think (unless you're being paid) quilting should be done primarily for the fun of it.

So if you're the type that a flaw left over will stress you out - I'm assuming you're just going to fix it and not ask about it. If you're asking, I'm assuming you're somewhat like me and leaving it there is an option, and maybe you're even looking for permission to just leave it be. And for me...I fix some things and not others. Good enough is good enough and if it's good enough for me it's good enough for whoever I'm gifting the thing to. *I* will be aware of the flaw and try to do better next time, but I won't necessarily rip into a finished top to fix it.

"Nobody else will notice" is definitely something I've said over and over, and I say it because its TRUE. I know it's true because I grew up thinking both of my grandmothers were perfect quilters. It wasn't until I became a quilter myself and began examining their quilts with a critical eye did I discover that lo and behold...there are wonky seams and cut off points and 'cheater' bindings and all sorts of things going on in those quilts that I was completely oblivious to. I still love those quilts just as much (if not more) and if anything I'm ENCOURAGED to see that both of my grandmothers produced work with some flaws, because I know how well-loved and cherished all of their quilts are.

And if their flawed quilts are that awesome and that well-loved even after both of them have passed away...well then my never-perfect quilts are just as lovable too, and so are yours.

I guess the simple answer is - they ask, so I give my opinion, and my opinion is often to just move forward and keep it in mind for "next time". It's not heart surgery, nobody is going to croak if a point got lopped off here or there. If you're being paid that's something different IMO, but for your own quilting for your own pleasure or for gifts for loved ones...I think it's perfectly acceptable to give yourself a break and allow a little imperfection every now and then.

joe'smom

When a person asks, 'should I fix it,' they're asking for another person's point of view. When there are lots of 'I wouldn't's, I assume it means the people replying don't find it to be a glaring flaw. We all have different standards.

As to why people ask this, I asked once. It was a border issue, and I didn't have the knowledge at the time I made the quilt, to do it right. I also did not have more of the fabric needed to fix it. I genuinely wanted to know how other people saw it -- if they felt it aesthetically ruined the quilt, or if they didn't find it terribly noticeable. I know it will still bother me when the time comes to quilt it, so I'll probably think of a way to deal with it at that time. But I did feel better after hearing all of the comments from those who didn't think it ruined the quilt.

joe'smom

I don't think that's necessarily the case; we are more aware of the details of the quilts we make than a casual observer is. That's why people ask -- they want to know how it strikes someone who is looking at the quilt as a whole for the first time.

joe'smom

I remember a previous discussion about this. I think the consensus was, that when we post a photo and want to be told if there's a mistake, we should explicitly say, 'Please tell me if you see a mistake.' It also goes the other way; if you don't want a mistake pointed out (and some people do not), take a moment to say, 'Please don't tell me if you see a mistake.' Before that discussion, I had always assumed that anyone and everyone would want a mistake pointed out.