Hi, I decided to stay off the forum and maybe I would get lots of quilting done but that didn't work well, you guys/gals are all my inspiration and there are a lot worse addictions. Anyway, I tried to make a octagon table runner and I wrecked the ouside borders. When putting them on I went in order around and ended up with a tiny area, it looks funny. When putting the border on should it be done in some better kind of order (eg, 2 sides, 2 tops etc?) I am terrible at explaining things, hope you can understand what I mean. Hopefully I attached a picture.

I see what you mean, the bottom border should have started with the start of the dark blue like the others,however, with that said, unless you are looking for it - you don't notice. I like it. Most of the time, we are the only ones that know and see our mistakes.

I thought I saw somewhere that you do one set of opposite sides, then another set of opposite sides, and so forth.

No one will notice it, especially if you do some FMQ like stippling in that area :wink: :D:D:D

Trust me NO ONE is going to notice after it is quilted. Cute quilt.

I'm with dunster-quilt it and no one will ever notice it.
It is very cute!

It looks incredible :)

I'd just keep going and finish it. I like it.
Kay Woods does hexagons. she might have a tute on her site. I have her nesting hex templates.

Do opposites, but no one will ever notice--if they do, just say--oh , that is a new technique I tried! They will never know it was tried by accident! :>)

Once it's quilted, it won't even be seen. You're border fabric isn't directional, and the eye doesn't zoom right to that spot. I actually I had to follow the pieces around to see what where you thought the problem was.

The only way to avoid that is that the first piece (let's say the "little" one) has to have a partial seam that will be completed later. The piece would be the same size as the others (or oversized to be trimmed later). You would trim the upper edge to align with the center, like you did, and work around the center adding border in a clock-wise direction. When you came to the last border piece (the one on the bottom), that would be attached to the center, AND then it would be attached to the hanging piece of border piece #1.

I hope that makes sense.

[quote=okiepastor]Do opposites, but no one will ever notice--if they do, just say--oh , that is a new technique I tried! They will never know it was tried by accident! :>)[/]

That is just so funny, a new technique! Thank you all, I was really going to throw this in the garbage, my first learning experience for freezer paper/hand sewing applique, now I think I will just finish it up for myself and maybe in a few years I will laugh at what I "used" to do! No wonder I love being here, I was getting back in to my "failure, can't do anything right, maybe quilting is not something I can do" mode by taking a break from the board, you are all my Dr Phil and I thank you!

WELL, I can't even see what the problem is, so I don't think you really have a problem here. Looks great to me!

"I planned it that way!" is a good motto.

I think it's just to cute.I don't see any mistakes,where?

Squinting... It's perfect! (I took a marker rendering class in college and my teacher taught me a trick about color values and such - Squint your eyes and look at your quilt the seams disappear and the graphics pop out.)

Our very own Riversong posted a tutorial on the Quilt in a Day Site---
www.quiltinaday.com/community/topic.asp?forum=3&topic=22047

If the above link doesn't work (I've been known to make typing mistakes!), you can click on the Search function at the top of this page and enter "Octagonal tute".

Your table topper looks fine. Looks like you had to do "y" seams with the borders (YUK!!) After you read the tutorial from Riversong, your next one will be easier!

Sue

[quote=Pinkiris]Our very own Riversong posted a tutorial on the Quilt in a Day Site---
www.quiltinaday.com/community/topic.asp?forum=3&topic=22047

OH, thank you SO much for this info, I now know what I did wrong! I had seen the instructions from Riversong on how to mae the octagon pattern but did not see the rest of the instructions! Oh, well, I will be making more of them this way!

As a friend of mine says "If you can't see it from a galloping horse it won't matter!!!" and when you finish it up, it will be beautiful!! We learn from experience!

I love your topper! It looks absolutely gorgeous.

It's adorable. Your 'small piece' will never be noticed once the quilting is done.

Like many of us you are just to hard on yourself. This is a fun cute piece, just quilt it and go on and enjoy it. Gosh if we were all perfect no one would ever have any funny stories to tell at get togethers. :)

that is adorable!

your table topper looks FINE! i think it is really cute! there are no mistakes, only creative options!

I do see the "problem", in that one spot...but I don't really think its a problem. You can quilt that out :) NOBODY will notice, unless you point it out to them, and I wouldn't have if I wasn't studying it, LOOKING for a mistake. It's beautiful! Finish it!

P.S. I like to call those "mistakes" Character ;)

I had to look hard to find the "problem" but agree that it isn't noticeable and doesn't detract from the piece, and I would love it if it were given to me.

It's not noticeable unless you know what your looking for. It's very nice and I say finish it. It's very pretty!!!