Aarrgh! A mistake!

I just starched and ironed three yards of fabric, then measured out the length of sashing I would need between my Wild Goose Chase strips on a table that is 67" long. I needed 83" sashing strips, so I measured out what I thought was TWO lengths of 10" beyond the edge of the table. Then I cut the excess of the end of the cloth and cut seven sashing strips.

How on earth did I manage to measure just ONE length of 10" beyond the edge of the table? The sashing strips are several inches too short. I wasn't interrupted, as far as I can recall. I always measure twice, and I seem to recall doing so this time, but I apparently did the wrong measure the second time and just went with that without noticing the difference from the first measure, without bothering the chalk-mark where to start cutting. WHAT WAS I THINKING?

You know, it's moments like this I feel like an idiot and want to just put quilting aside for a week or four. Especially as this is a quilt on commission. That's three yards of material wasted in the course of a few minutes and a few strokes of the rotary cutter. But I'm behind on these commissioned quilts and need to get my gumption back in gear and get on with it. I have plenty of the fabric on hand (intended for the backing, binding, and borders), so I could continue tonight, except my back is shot for the day from ironing and cutting.

So I guess I'll just quit for tonight and try to prepare myself to get up and get on with it tomorrow. I have been really depressed lately (a chronic problem for me). I don't need this. Quiltmaking is usually such a pleasure; I think the setbacks are all the more disheartening for having the pleasure taken away.

I know you understand. I could use some encouraging words, if you could spare them.

ep

Reply to
Edna Pearl
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awww, EP, that is something we've all done once or thrice. at some point in a long day of cutting, ironing, sewing et al your brain starts playing tricks you. tis a bummer you didnt realize the time to stop earlier but i'm sure the quilt will not suffer from it. those extra seams will quilt out in the end. i'd not worry about it at all. be sure those seams are as far apart as you can get them so they're not so obvious. with enough beeeeeeeeautiful quilting the buyer wont notice that at all. i presume the buyer doesnt quilt, else why bother commissioning a quilt, so she'll be none the wiser. just use what you cut the best way and be done with it. now go have a nice hot bath and get a good nights sleep. all will sort itself out come tomorrow. night night!! j.

"Edna Pearl" wrote... I just starched and ironed three yards of fabric, then measured out the length of sashing I would need between my Wild Goose Chase strips on a table that is 67" long. I needed 83" sashing strips, so I measured out what I thought was TWO lengths of 10" beyond the edge of the table. Then I cut the excess of the end of the cloth and cut seven sashing strips.

How on earth did I manage to measure just ONE length of 10" beyond the edge of the table? The sashing strips are several inches too short. I wasn't interrupted, as far as I can recall. I always measure twice, and I seem to recall doing so this time, but I apparently did the wrong measure the second time and just went with that without noticing the difference from the first measure, without bothering the chalk-mark where to start cutting. WHAT WAS I THINKING?

You know, it's moments like this I feel like an idiot and want to just put quilting aside for a week or four. Especially as this is a quilt on commission. That's three yards of material wasted in the course of a few minutes and a few strokes of the rotary cutter. But I'm behind on these commissioned quilts and need to get my gumption back in gear and get on with it. I have plenty of the fabric on hand (intended for the backing, binding, and borders), so I could continue tonight, except my back is shot for the day from ironing and cutting.

So I guess I'll just quit for tonight and try to prepare myself to get up and get on with it tomorrow. I have been really depressed lately (a chronic problem for me). I don't need this. Quiltmaking is usually such a pleasure; I think the setbacks are all the more disheartening for having the pleasure taken away.

I know you understand. I could use some encouraging words, if you could spare them.

ep

Reply to
J*

Hey! I just realized I can cut these 5" wide strips in half to use for binding! Woo hoo! All is not lost!

ep

Reply to
Edna Pearl

No way I'm going to add extra seams to make up the length. I just can't let myself. :-) I'll spring for the additional 3 yards of cloth and re-cut. I caught it as soon as I had cut the seventh strip, so there's not much time wasted, just fabric.

And I just realized I can cut some of these 5" strips in half to use for binding. Yay! Not a *total* loss. I've already started ironing and starching more whole cloth to be ready to re-cut the sashing tomorrow.

Thanks for your kind words, J!

ep

Reply to
Edna Pearl

Well, I'll add my sympathy for the error. Boy, can I! I can't begin to tell you how many mistakes I've made so far in my quilting education. Wrong cutting, wrong measuring, sewn upside down...lol. I'm sorry you had one of "those" days but it looks like you're making the best of it using the wrong cuts for binding. It's the frustration of making the mistake in the first place that bothers you most, am I right? I commend you for sticking to this huge project and doing so will with it. Hang in there, E.P, you are not alone! Donna

Reply to
dealer83

clever girl. maybe some of the extra fabric you have to buy could go for a wee pillow, wallhanging etc for you as a reminder in your sewing room that all mistakes can be fixed with a bit of cleverness on your part. then again, maybe the buyer would like something matching from the leftovers, nothing big just a wee something. just a thot. well done!! j.

"Edna Pearl" wrote... No way I'm going to add extra seams to make up the length. I just can't let myself. :-) I'll spring for the additional 3 yards of cloth and re-cut. I caught it as soon as I had cut the seventh strip, so there's not much time wasted, just fabric.

And I just realized I can cut some of these 5" strips in half to use for binding. Yay! Not a *total* loss. I've already started ironing and starching more whole cloth to be ready to re-cut the sashing tomorrow.

Thanks for your kind words, J!

ep

Reply to
J*

The client has already mentioned that she might like a pillow to match each quilt. So I have chosen one shirt from each of the six batches that would look best as a pillow front with the solid (sashing and backing) color for that quilt as the back. The pillow front would be a 12" x 16" section of the shirt front with the buttons down the center and the front pocket to the side. Wouldn't that be cute? The shirt front would have a muslin backing behind it so the pillow stuffing doesn't come out between the buttons :-)

I have to learn how to cord a pillow though! I have done it years ago and have reviewed a couple of youtube videos on how to do it, so I think I can manage it, but it's kind of scary to just have one shot at each of the six shirt fronts I've chosen.

The bad cuts will go aside with all my other remnants of Kona solids from these six quilts. They're good colors that for the scrappy, reproduction Amish crib quilts I'm planning to tackle soon, some of which will involve smallish squares and triangles.

ep

Reply to
Edna Pearl

ah well, you've everything under control nicely then. there is a lot to get done. better you than me. : / j.

"Edna Pearl" wrote ... The client has already mentioned that she might like a pillow to match each quilt. So I have chosen one shirt from each of the six batches that would look best as a pillow front with the solid (sashing and backing) color for that quilt as the back. The pillow front would be a 12" x 16" section of the shirt front with the buttons down the center and the front pocket to the side. Wouldn't that be cute? The shirt front would have a muslin backing behind it so the pillow stuffing doesn't come out between the buttons :-)

I have to learn how to cord a pillow though! I have done it years ago and have reviewed a couple of youtube videos on how to do it, so I think I can manage it, but it's kind of scary to just have one shot at each of the six shirt fronts I've chosen.

The bad cuts will go aside with all my other remnants of K> clever girl.

Reply to
J*

The pillows do sound cute - what a great idea.

And it sounds as though you've found a way to salvage the fabric that was mis-cut! A quilter can always use the fabric in another project down the road, and that's just what you're doing. For now, you just have to get past the frustration of making the mistake. Rest assured, nearly all of us have done something like that at one time or another. You're definitely not alone.

You've undertaken a huge project, and you'll just have another go at it tomorrow!

Reply to
Louise in Iowa

well done, Polly. i was reading thru EPs post so quickly i completely missed the starching bit. yup, Polly is right. Critters LOVE Starch. wash those quilts before you give them to anyone. j.

"Polly Esther" wrote ... I happened to notice a scary word in your post, EP. You said 'starched'. Starch attracts critters. For goodness sake, don't let your creations out of your hands until you have thoroughly laundered them. We can expect that at least one of the recipients will treat their gift as a keepsake . . . and it could be destroyed by hungry bugs. Like you didn't have enough to think about. I know. So glad you've reported in. We were wondering how the adventure was going. Polly

Reply to
J*

My first thought was - use them for the binding strips, even if they have to be cut down. Better than just stuffing them in the scrap box. It is so easy to do, both on a large and small scale. I have done it my self on various occasions. For LONG strips I lay the fabric on the floor and then get out a steel tape and make a mark on the selvage on each side to help me get it right.

It is SO frustrating to realise after you have cut into it all :(

Lizzy

Reply to
Lizzy Taylor

Ah, EP, I did just that myself yesterday. I too will have to buy more material, fortunately, the other material won't go astray.

And yes, depression hit me too over the last three days and I didn't like it one bit. I will deal with the problem tonight and hopefully it will go away.

Cheer up, the end product will be beautiful anyway.

Cheers,

Reply to
DiMa

(((Hugs))) This happens all the time. You'll do better tomorrow! Blow up some plastic bags, tie a firm knot in the end, and stomp on them. (Easier to clean up and cheaper than throwing something breakable at the wall.) then have yourself a luxurious bath, maybe with some soothing lavender oil. then make yourself a delicious rich mug of hot chocolate, whipped cream on top if you like, and put your feet up for a while. Trashy novel optional. Roberta in D

Reply to
Roberta

Oh, I would never dream of letting a quilt out the door or on to my own bed without washing it. I find it much easier to cut and piece starched fabric, but the starch leaves little white, crusty spots on the fabric that are unsightly, along with all the other dust and thread-bits accumulated during handling, not to mention the markings with chalk or pencil or water-soluble pen. And a first washing can reveal problems that are easily fixed if you fix them immediately. I can't imagine using a quilt before washing it!

ep

Reply to
Edna Pearl

Now, this is some advice I can USE! LOL - You are a woman after my own heart, Roberta.

Reply to
Edna Pearl

Any chance of altering the design a smidge by putting a couple of geese in each sash strip?

Monique in TX

Reply to
monique

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