Monday, December 21, 2009

A Cautionary Tale

This post should be called, "What's on my design wall?" However, this is really a cautionary tale entitled, "Read before you sew."

There is a similar adage in the non-quilting world called "Look before you leap."

Here's my story.






I played with EQ6 and came up with this design.










I thought it was a little bit boring, so I looked at my border book, Pieced Borders, the Complete Resource.









The first design that I liked was #158 Chevrons. On the following page is design #179 Chain of Parallelograms. Well, my teacher brain said, "They're both parallelograms. I'll do the first one."
I looked at the rotary cutting chart and cut all my diamonds and triangles. Then, and only then, did I notice that there was something that didn't seem to fit. The triangles didn't seem right to me. Back to the book I go, and actually read the authors' directions.

There it is on page 73, a lovely, clear explanation of the difference, in the quilt world, between a diamond and a parallelogram. Further down on the page is this, "A few borders such as #158 and 157 require set-in seams."

Y seams! I've cut my fabric and don't have enough to re-cut. I'm sunk! So, I'm still stitching Y seams rather than having this on my frame for quilting.

Also, now that I'm getting the border on I can see that the border is really too visually heavy for the interior of the quilt. I guess no one will be knocking on my door to have me design a quilt for them.













This is my reworked idea for this quilt. I like it a little better than my original design, but I'm still not crazy about it.
Now, the quilt I'm actually making did have some requirements, use the fabric I already had, and no buying new fabric. I can live with the quilt I'm making, and I'll enjoy cuddling up with it on Christmas morning. Maybe not this Christmas with all those Y seams, but some Christmas.


Visit Judy's blog to see what others have on their design walls.










7 comments:

  1. I think your quilt will be just FINE!! I really like the border, although I know it is a PAIN to do with set-in seams. You have places for really nice quilting in those setting squares, and that will bring the whole thing together, and add more interest to it, also. Great work!
    Kat

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  2. Personally, I think the quilt looks fine and those plain squares are a place for some feathered wreaths or maybe applique or red work. Design opportunities! And, I've designed quilts that I thought the world would love and no one liked them so you're being too hard on yourself. I say you get an A+ because (1) you designed something (2) you used the stash and (3) you're making it! Thanks for sharing on my blog!

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  3. I don't think the border looks too heavy. The quilt is unique with lots of places for drop dead quilting. I say good job!

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  4. I have to agree with everyone who commented before me. I don't think the border is too much. I'd have probably done something plain and simple and ended up with boring. Set in seams-yikes! :)
    Merry Christmas.

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  5. I think it is beautiful. And I think you sew y seams wonderfully!

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  6. I LOVE your border. It really frames the quilt ... in the picture, it looks like the centre on the quilt is "lower" than the border - just like a picture and it's frame.
    By the time you're finished, you'll be an expert at 'Y' seams!
    quilting gail

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  7. Would you like my address so you can send it to me if you don't like it? I do, I think it's great.

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