quiltingfan

I am attempting to make a simple, log cabin quilt for a graduation gift for my best friends daughter. I have ripped it out 3 times already and now I am facing the 4th mistake I have made and have to rip the seems on 17 of the blocks again. I made one just find, since I kept trying to make them at the same time, and then would have to rip out 18 blocks. I decided that I would finish one block and then go from there. Did the one, decided it was not that hard so I would continue on and sure enough sewed the next seem on 17 blocks wrong. I want to scrap the whole thing and start over. I still need more fabric no matter what I decide to do. But now I have all this material cut into strips of different leanghts and will have to figure out what block I could do with them. Thanks for letting me vent. Think I will let it go for one more day and then decide what I am going to do. Will post pics later.

quiltinghere

If you can make one at a time CORRECTLY, then do it that way. Then you won't have to scrap the entire project. It may take a little longer . . . but it seems like you've been spending lots more time UNsewing... KWIM?

OR - put the next color strip on - DOUBLE CHECK IT CAREFULLY AGAINST THE ONE YOU MADE CORRECTLY - then continue sewing the others. Line things up next to your sewing machine so you grab in the same way each time you go to sew the next strip on.

Good Luck!

susie0808

Sorry your having so much trouble. Maybe when you start again it will just work out. Sometimes starting over does the trick. Good luck.

hcarpanini

Is it just a matter of the strips being different sizes? What would it look like of you just continued the way they are cut? As long as each individual color is the same width, I think you may be okay. It just won't be as traditional looking but it is your own creation!

athenagwis

Personally I would keep going (though I HATE ripping as much as you probably do). But rather than fixing all 17 at once, I would do as Quiltinghere suggested and focus on fixing one block then finishing it right then. Then I would start a brand new block and start and finish it, then I would do a block that needs to be fixed and fix and finish, then a new block and so on. That way I am finishing blocks as I go and being sure to sew them right and I feel like I accomplished something instead of having 17 unfnished blocks. And throwing the new blocks that don't need fixing in there keeps me from feeling like I am doing a ton of ripping!!

Good luck!
Rachel

Boston1954

What exactly is it that is getting messed up? Are you accidentally putting a color in the wrong place? Or is it that the pieces are getting mixed up and one of the wrong length is going on when it should not? I just finished twenty blocks and had to stop and rip out a couple when I put a dark on the light side.

Pam

Are the 17 wrong blocks all the same? If they are, I would go with those, and "fix" that other one. You may have come up with something unique that will look just great with sashing, don't despair, show the pics, I bet they are OK.

Tiffany

((((hugs)))) I can only imagine how frustrated you must be. The others have good suggestions. Me, I would sit down and while watching tv begin the job of reverse sewing. I've worn out a few seam rippers so evidently I'm an expert at this now. :roll: I couldn't work on just one block at a time as Rachel suggests, but that's because of my personality. Hers is likely a saner method.

My suggestion for the future would be to make one complete block first, checking for accuracy of size and color placement, then use this block as the Master Block and check all the blocks you are making against this one. If the new block you are sewing doesn't match up, then you can fix the problem before you sew the strip on. This should help correct most of the mistakes before they are sewn together. Notice I said most. ;) Another way to do this would be to do a mock-up on your design board, assuming you have one. This way you can lay out each step and then as you are mass sewing the blocks together you can check that they are correct. Hope this helps.

If you are too fed up with this quilt to continue but aren't sure what to do with all those strips (besides send them to me :lol: ), check out quiltville.com and you may find a quilt to make that you are much happier with.

dkabasketlady

You're right to walk away from it for a day & decide what to do with it. Definitely finish it is the decision, right??? Our seam rippers are our closest friend so name her and tell her come on let's go to work. Eat some chocolate, drink a cup of tea(water, coffee, soda, or something strong in it,lol!!), turn on some music and solve your dilemna. Please post pics so we can see what you're doing wrong. You'll have a gorgeous quilt when it's finished & we're all anxiously waiting to see it.

Holice

I don't read where you say what the problem is. Describe what is going wrong........