Imperfections, I’ve Had a Few
Bernie at Needle & Foot is hosting a blog along event today, asking us to share our imperfections, goof ups, or snafu as we’ve created our quilts. I had to join in! Imperfections — I’ve had a few.
Things Spiral Out of Control
Y’all might remember my recent post of my Burst Mini, that pretty little purple thing?
Take a good look at that quilting, following the squares all neat and tidy. That was not the initial plan. The initial plan was to sew spirals in those squares, and it was going to be a breeze and look fantastic. Ha.
I had to think this through. I had to mark the quilt carefully, so as not to mess it up like the last quilt (pictures coming, just wait). So I marked it with lots and lots of dots, dashes and arrows. I happened to be having a rousing discussion of something with BigJ while marking. That might’ve been my first clue that things might go amiss.
I started to sew, from the outside working my way in. Do not ask me why I began from the outside in. I suspect this might have been part of the problem too. Plus I was getting a little confused with all those marks. It was going bang up fast, though, so hey — let’s just keep going!
I got the first square done. Sitting back to assess my work, I saw this.
Please ignore (if you can) that awful lighting in the photo; it was late night and the lighting wasn’t so good. That might’ve been another factor – late night, I mean. Anyway, do you see that nice little seam line there? Just to the right of it, by an inch or so, do you see my stitched corners? The corners should turn on the seam line, I said to myself. Hmm.
Did I stop and rip it up? Of course not. I stubbornly decided that I’d just keep going. I was hoping my second square, when stitched up, would create a fun, if unusual, design in the center square. Go ahead, roll your eyes with me, it’s okay.
Yes, I ended up ripping out both squares, and yes, I was berating myself with each stitch pulled out. But hey, I learned things. Like I really, really dislike ripping quilting.
Hadn’t I Done This Before?
Yes, in fact, I had. I was thinking of that as I was marking the spirals on the purple quilt. A while back, I made this quilt.
It was a pretty little thing, and I had a blast quilting it. This time, I followed the center diamond that is on point, starting at one point and just spiraling my stitching around it. When I was all done with the quilting, I noticed this.
See the seam line just right of center? See the corner turn of my stitching, just right of the seam line? Obviously I left it as it was, and it bugs me still.
I’m considering a Bluprint class that teaches spiral quilting . . .
And Then There’s This
This is one of my favorite quilts I’ve made. It is an oldie, but a goodie. A Thimbleberries kit from long ago. I just can’t look at it too closely. Can you see why? It absolutely drives me nuts. I didn’t see it until long after it was done and hanging in this space. While looking at it one day, I realized that I had switched the backgrounds on the two red houses. The red house with the white background should have the purple background and vice versa.
You may not have ever noticed that if I hadn’t pointed it out. That’s the thing to remember as we quilt and create. Sometimes what stands out to me may not even be noticed by others who see it. Sometimes you have to leave that mistake in there and just let it go. Sometimes you have to rip and redo.
What I’ve realized through blogging and getting to know my quilty friends in this amazing creative community, is that I’ve become a better quilter because of you. Not because I feel I have to rip out something and make my quilt perfect; but because when I make mistakes, I have friends who encourage me, give me guidance, and remind me to laugh at my mistakes. We learn so much from each other!
Thanks, Bernie, for hosting this fun event!
Wendy
26 Comments
Janine @ Rainbow Hare
These are all beautiful. I think it’s the little imperfections and errors that give value to handmade items and set them apart from all the characterless, mass produced things churned out of factories 🙂
piecefulwendy
I agree. Thanks!
Cindy Pieters
Those little imperfections add character to your lovely pieces.
Melody
The term my friends and I have come to love is “ it’s folk art”. Any flaws just add character to it!
Vicki in MN
Just think of your house quilt like an amish one, the humility block;)
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! That is THE best thing about the quilting community. Everyone I’ve ‘met’ is so helpful and willing to lend a suggestion, offer support and encouragement. I never in a million years would have noticed any of these creative choices. In fact, when you shared the picture of your houses, I was thinking how much I liked that piece and that there couldn’t possibly be anything wrong with it. It makes everything more real about this hobby we love. ~smile~ Roseanne
catpatches
Well, I love your little house quilt, and there’s no way I would ever have thought anything was wrong. It looks perfect to me. I like what you said at the end though. It’s very true that the mistakes stand out to us, but not to anyone else. Also…time is a great corrector of mistakes. Sometimes I forget about them over time and go back and try to find them to point out to someone for some reason. Often I can’t find them again.
karenfae
I would have never noticed the house roofs! I have had a couple really bad mistakes along the way and one that actually got tossed in the garbage years ago!
Linda
It’s funny the things we see that others don’t. I had to stare and stare before I saw what you were referring to – lol! I just see pretty things. 🙂
Terri L Gartman
I think we can be our own worst critic. I have always just gone with the flow–since I hate to rip out and start over. That and I have so many projects left to work on–I just don’t have the time! Thanks for sharing.
Danette
I would not have noticed the switch-up of the backgrounds. Things that bug us, probably others don’t even notice. I try to keep that in mind when I make screw-ups!
Louise Hornor
The house roofs made me smile! No, I would have never noticed them because I would have assumed that the houses were a little impressionistic. Modern, quirky, with interesting and varied sky backgrounds. But in your head, they were “supposed” to look a certain way, I know! When my fabric placement goes off the rails, I tend to call out, “Design change alert!” and my DH just laughs…
Kathleen McCormick
You are not alone in these mistakes! I think I have made each one… Gonna try and get one of the blunders or two up before the end of the day….not sure what I have good photos of..
Quilting Tangent
Your 2 red houses, just wanted roofs.
Danice G
Oh goodness, at the times I have made mistakes. Sometimes corrected them, other times did not. Yours do not look so bad to me, All still very pretty work.
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Wow, you’re right–I wouldn’t have known the house switch if you wouldn’t have told us! I love that display nook.
marissthequilter
I also hate unlocking, and I also go too fast and the have to unpick
Diann Bottrell
What you said about imperfections bothering us, but no one else noticing is so very true, Wendy! We’re looking at our projects up close, but friends and family just see the “big picture.” I have so many times had some brilliant quilting plan in my head, but when I tried it on fabric I couldn’t pull it off, so I know exactly what you’re talking about!
Tami Von Zalez
I’m not a fan of ASR (angry seam ripping) but I have to do it once in awhile.
piecefulwendy
Haha! Me either, but sometimes we must 😉
laughinggasquilts
Angela Walters says ripping out quilting doesn’t make a better quilter, but sometimes we just have to do it. I love that wall hanging; it looks just a little quirky and interesting, no? Thanks for sharing.
Quilt Schmilt
Isn’t it funny how WE see our “design changes” but so few others do! 😄 Carol
Sandra Walker
Well, exactly! Everything you said!! I didn’t notice any of the mistakes, had to really look at all three!! and then your final paragraph… I’m standing and clapping and nodding.
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Sandra! You make me smile 😊
Preeti Harris
Looks like I am in good company 🙂
But seriously that quilting boo-boo??? You are just making up stuff up now. That is NOT a mistake. It is still a spiral and is still uniform and quilted.
piecefulwendy
No making it up, it looked pretty bad! Thanks, Preeti!