mary quite contrary

I made a quilt and had just a little trouble (understatement). I have it finished and it didn't turn out very well.

I'm trying to decide whether I should try the pattern again. I'm afraid if I don't do it again I will let the pattern win.

So, try again or not to try again?

bj

Maybe on a small scale (like a baby quilt?) just to prove to the block that you can do it! :) :) I hate it when I feel like a pattern has gotten the better of me, but it seems to happen a LOT! Good luck!

Moonpi

Sometimes a bit of distance and time is needed before going after a pattern that causes you problems. Sometimes there are easier ways to get the same pattern done. Just curious, what pattern was it?

mary quite contrary

Spinning Stars.

Two friends & I started it severals years ago getting together once a month to work on our quilts. I feel like part of our problem is that we folded it up and put it in a box until the next month when we would pull it back out, figure out where we were and what we needed to do next. It didn't turn out well for any of us.

It is full of puckers and just not fun. It really is a beautiful quilt though. I did it in blue & yellow and I am considering trying it in Christmas colors.

sspingler

What caused the problems to begin with? What kind of problems did you have with it? Can you pin point the problem?

Is it piecing? Take a ruler and slide it under your presser foot. Line up your needle with the exact 1/4". If it doesn't meet the edge of your presser foot, put a small stack of sticky notes, a small piece of foam or something to act as your guide.

Is your pressing ok? Are you ironing from the top of your work or back?
Always press from the top, that way you will be certain to get the pieces flat. Pressing from the back and cause a "ridge" at your seam line and subsequent pieces won't fit.

Is the pattern correct? Sometimes when you use pattern pieces (if it calls for templates) can warp or be off size during the copy process in printing. I always redraft a pattern to make sure it is accurate.
Even with bought patterns, cutting instructions could be wrong. As a pattern designer, I have a pattern tester test all my patterns for mistakes.....even she can miss something....and has.

Is your cutting accurate? Measure twice, cut once!! Even a fraction of an inch can mean a lot when the block is finished.

What thread are you using to sew with? Do you realize that a thicker thread sewn at an exact 1/4" can take up space in the seam?

If you could post a pic of your work and explain what caused you problems, we may be able to help. Right now I'm just trying to think of different things that I teach my students to ensure accuracy.

beachlady

I love the pattern and the puckers aren't all that noticeable. Love blue and yellow.

purplemem

You are right, this is an absolutely beautiful quilt.
Have you already quilted it?
I couldn't tell.

sspingler

Apparently we were posting at the same time.
It really doesn't look that bad!! Maybe a good steaming and spray starch will take care of it. Try it, it couldn't hurt.
As longarmers, we get quite a few quilts that look a lot worse than this one.......which by the way is fabulous........we spray starch and steam it into submission.

Moonpi

You said the others had ripples, too - I would think all of you were not making the exact same mistakes, and put it off to an inaccurate pattern. If you decide to try again, measure each subset before you sew it on, then square as you go along.

mary quite contrary

Because of the puckers I am hand quilting it. I thought I could ease in some of the fullness better that way.