April Fools Perfection Blunder Quilting

Bernie over at Needle and Foot Fine Fabrics is hosting a fun event and linky party today.  She has asked everyone to share their silliest quilting blunder(s).  Where oh where do I start?!  To limit this post to only one blunder seems shortsighted when three came to mind as soon as I read her post.

The Layout Swap

When working on the Hidden Stars quilt along, we used the design wall for our layout.  Sue put up the blocks, we both hemmed and hawed over it.  A little switch here, another switch there.  Then I started sewing them together.  There are only FOUR rows, so how badly could I possibly mix them up you may ask??

Quite a bit as it turns out.  The photo on the left is the layout, while the right is the quilt top.  Each and every row has been swapped around AND each square is in a different place.  The plus side is that the mono photos show that the accidental finish is more balanced.  Here is the planned vs. actual mono photos.

I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Tape

If you’re not aware, I love my newish acrylic board.  Several friends shared their experiences with either an acrylic board of their own, or a similar product.  At least a dozen friends suggested that I frame the edge of the board with painter’s tape.  Do you see where this is going?!!  I thought that my board is huge – it’s 18″ x 24″.  How could I possibly ever run off the edge when drawing on such a huge board?

Yup.  When you get carried away drawing, it can happen.  This was the first time I used the wet erase marker.  The internet is a wonderful thing, but it does NOT have the correct solution for getting wet erase marker out of fabric.  Despite all of our efforts, the mark remained.  So, the 2.5″ square had to be replaced in the finished quilt top; perhaps that is why my enthusiasm for quilting this top has diminished.  Recommendation:  just use the tape!  The square was then used to remove the wet erase marks from the board which is why it is so dirty looking.

Quilt Block Fiasco

For the bee hive group that we have joined, the queen in February requested a block that we had never made before.  No worries!  There are videos to watch and instructions galore to make the whole process simple and seamless.  Right.

Even the best instructions can help the issue in the left photo.  And of course it wasn’t noticed until all four sections were sewed together.  Another case of my handy dandy ripper coming into play.  And I don’t mean Sue either – I ripped both of these last two mistakes out myself.

perfection-graphic

In summation, we all make mistakes.  Sometimes they work out well, like the Hidden Star block mixup.  Other times they have to be ripped out and done again, or they could be considered a creative choice.  I chose to think they make us better sewers and quilters.  Each blunder listed above occurred in 2019 – between February and March.  Just imagine how many I could come up with if I had a better memory!  I hope you check out the link ups on Bernie’s website to enjoy a blunder or two from other bloggers.

 

Our other Linky Parties can be found by clicking the link above or along the sidebar on our website for more quilting fun – check out what our friends are up to.  Like/follow us on our Facebook page and you can share your photos of what you’re working on.  We would love to see them!

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12 Responses

  1. Ha! Some good lessons there and the 18X24 plexiglass square one? Oh yeah, been there done it, still haven’t put the tape around it…. I’m wearing the dunce cap yep.

  2. Mari says:

    Yep, been there! Except instead of a marker it was scissors, so that piece had to come out. Dulled my enthusiasm, too. As for mixing up blocks and rows, I actually think that step should be in most instructions — be sure to mix everything up like a real quilter!

  3. Hi Roseanne. Switching block pieces and layouts are such familiar mistakes, I admit to doing them regularly! The only thing I don’t do is the wet erase marker and I’m sure that’s just because I don’t own one! 🥴 Carol

  4. Linda says:

    Lol I had to laugh reading your blunders! I’ve been there, even with marking fabric with a marker.

  5. I’ve had that happen (like your first example) when sewing up the rows of a quilt – how on earth do they get mixed up like that? I’m glad you’re happy with the way that one turned out after all, Roseanne!

  6. chrisknits says:

    My mistake was to use my regular foot instead of my walking foot on Kidney Bean which I just started quilting! I am not ripping it all out to start again. I am just quilting the snot out of it now! LOL

  7. Great blunders~have done all but one of those. I have yet to do the acrylic board error – but I assume I will someday.

  8. Quilting Tangent says:

    Thank you for sharing your mistakes, we all make mistakes.

  9. Danette says:

    You are correct, I think the mistakes along the way, help us to learn more for the future.

  10. Shirley Clark says:

    I’m glad to know I’m not the only one! I just don’t take pictures of my mistakes. LOL

  11. Boy, all this sounds familiar. If only we’d learn to listen to those little voices giving us a nudge to not do this or that!

  12. Vicki in MN says:

    You are just normal like the rest of us quilters!!

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