My sewing room is a disaster. I am wanting to organize it and make it an inviting place again, but first I have to get to a stopping spot on my Simple Folk Quilt.
I’m sure you know what I mean when I say “stopping spot”. It means I’m in the middle of a tricky part that can’t just be put in a box because if I do, I will never remember what I was doing again. It is the messy part of a project and I’m right in the middle of it. It’s a sticky, yucky, mess!
Those pieces just DO NOT work for me.. Center points be hanged! These absolutely positively HAVE to measure 12.5 inches but using the provided pattern they come to around 11.5 inches. Ugh!
I have taken them all apart. I have measured and remeasured. I have redesigned and have had to add on to the corner pieces and to the center pieces and they STILL don’t end up right! Each block is taking forever!!
I know- I know my printer must have been off because everyone else seems to have these perfectly pointed blocks. Well, I’m out of fabric to recut so now I just have to add on and sew and adjust and adjust some more.
It’s not pretty. … this one had to come out and try try again.
OK, calm down, Tracy—- It’s not as bad as it sounds… well it is, but the only good thing is that an appliqué circle will go over the point anyway. It won’t show up. But it absolutely must be 12.5” so.. I will make it work
I think that’s good advice-
- Calm Down
- Check and recheck the pattern
- Try to fix it
- Embrace the mistake and….
- A little bit of appliqué goes a long way!
Whew! I feel a little better already. It’s still going to take me way too long to finish 6 more blocks, but oh, it is going to be way worth it!:)
Yes—. I love it! Thank you for reading through my pity party and coming to the other side of the hill. Lol:). Have a great day!!
It's a T-Sweets day! 
I feel your pain, Tracy 😔 Perfect points…It’s a mystery to me how that’s done 😉
But I once read that the Amish work irregularities into their quilts on purpose, so when evil spirits enter the home they’re distracted, and won’t cause any harm 😊 I hope that’s a comforting thought 🥰 You did create a beautiful piece! 🤗💜🌷
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Hi Tina!! lol! I will be warding off plenty of evil spirits with this one 😊❤️❤️
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I’m glad I could present you with a silver lining 😉💕💕
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You did make it work! There is so much detail in this beauty, in the end I don’t think it will make a bit of difference, look odd in any way and will actually add to the uniqueness and beauty to this ‘beauty’ ~
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Hi Tracy! Make it work – get ‘er done. You may find this hard to believe, but I was JUST giving myself a pep talk. I was quilting the border of a quilt that has been in the works since 2019. It’s been a major PIA every.single.step.of.the.way. Maybe that’s why it’s been in timeout. So, I have a few tucks in the border fabric. I admit it – it doesn’t look perfect or right or anything. But the quilting police didn’t ring the bell and drag me away to . . . well, nowhere since we are stuck here. Once’s it washed it won’t be noticeable at all. And in the end, it’s just a quilt. It’s just fabric. No one will live or die over my tucks or your annoying block. It’s an inch off – make the other blocks 11.5″ and you’ll be good to go. Or add a strip to one side as a conscious decision – it will be unique and your quilt will still be lovely. {{Hugs}} Take care and take a deep breath. Step away from the sewing machine! ~smile~ Roseanne
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You are so right Roseanne! The quilting police didn’t make it over! I appreciate you sharing your border issues. I’m so glad we all have been in this quilting anxiety before and give each other the added boost we need. Thanks for the boost and let’s both quilt on!!…tomorrow..lol❤️❤️
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Hi, Tracy! That is one gorgeous quilt! And, yes, it will be worth the pain when you complete it. I totally understand how putting it away now will only cause you more grief. I remember putting one quilt away twice because it was painful to make and I was second-guessing my fabric choices. I began to hate it. Each time I took it out of the box, I had to re-read the instructions and then try to figure out where I left off. I finally committed to finishing it on the 3rd try and was SO HAPPY that I did because it turned out way prettier than I expected. Try to enjoy finishing those last 6 blocks. As always, your work is spectacular!! Eileen
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Thank you for sharing your experience with me Eileen:). I totally feel you when you talk about the dread of taking the unfinished project out of the box and being lost and having to relearn the pattern. So.. while I may not enjoy the next six blocks, I am definitely bound a determined to finish them. Thank you for your encouragement!!😊❤️❤️
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Great problem solving!
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Oh my goodness, the pain of trying to make things work, and they still don’t. Sometimes you just have to laugh at it, just so you don’t cry! This is such an intricate quilt, every one looking that closely will think it was designed that way! Sew on my dear, it is beautiful!
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Thank you Kate! To laugh or to cry, that is the question and I think I have done both on these blocks. Darn it all!! Oh well, at least my friends like you are my cheerleaders. It will turn out in the end:)❤️❤️❤️
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I’ve been bitten on the backside by too many block patterns that don’t come out right, and these days I always do a test version to check sizes and seam allowances before I cut everything. I think you’ve solved the mystery; it pretty much had to be the printer being set to ‘fit to page’ instead of ‘print actual size’ or something similar. It doesn’t spoil the look of it for me, it gives it the air of a vintage quilt, where the person who made it had to improvise to achieve her vision of how the quilt should look. And as you say, appliqué will cover a multitude of sins!
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You always make me feel a bit better about things Kate! Thank you so much. I guarantee that I will be taking your advice and will make one before cutting all my fabric in the future. Smart smart girl you are😊❤️❤️
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That block design is so captivating. I see why you weren’t finding a ‘stopping spot’. I think your adjustments are actually an enhancement to this particular design. Whether unintentional or not, I say you nailed it.
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Thank you so much!!! I’m glad I went scrappy because you are right that it adds another design element AND it hides a multitude of mistakes lol! I’m so glad you stopped by today. I hope you have a wonderful day😊❤️
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Well at least the applique blocks were more fun to make! I can see why you’d want to make these pieced blocks work by hook or by crook. What a charming quilt this will be. 🙂
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Thank you Sue! Yes, I am definitely invested in this one. I like your choice if the word “charming”. I think that fits it it perfectly:)! ❤️❤️
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It is going to be a masterpiece! I’m proud of you! You worked it through. And it is going to be a beautiful piece once all those 12.5″ blocks are assembled. Now you can carry on with your tidying.
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I think it is going to be a beautiful quilt and so what if you points don’t meet in the middle.
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Screw it – just let the center points be off – it’s such a lovely quilt with lovely fabrics! Remember the “Galloping Horse Test” – if someone galloping by on a horse can see the “mistakes” you got a problem, otherwise let it go 🙂
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