Pardon me for being a little arrogant today, but isn't this a beautiful design wall?
Now let's get real, do you ever wonder what a quilter is hiding inside that quilt? Did it come together as smoothly and easily as they make it look?
Probably not.
Well I'm here to tell you, mine don't always never come together without troubles. But I do my best to fix the issue and move on.
Like this handsome little devil below. You'd think after about 20 yrs of making quilts this is one mistake I wouldn't make. Oh but it happens.... regularly. Then I cuss myself for shortening my stitches in order to keep the unraveling to a minimum.
The blurry picture shows you I'm not perfect at photography either.
This baby has been through the photo editing and still looks like crap.
So I finally finished all the blocks and was starting my pressing marathon when this happened. A twisted seam or two...or more. First let me say, I'm doing a little experiment with pressing the seams open instead of to the side. Just testing out the water on the last few quilts to see if it's all they claim it to be. I'm not completely sold on this idea yet...we'll see if I'm a changed woman after the quilting process.
A quilter that is more dedicated to perfection would rip out this seam and restitch. Eh...I'm not that dedicated. Who's gonna know but me and you?
I'll just give her a little snip and tuck.
Press it open...
And TA-DA! Perfect! No one is none the wiser! You would have never known had I not told you. Now I bet your wondering where I learned this handy little tip. JO MORTON! Yeppers she clips seams. Seen it with my own eyes on the PBS Fon's and Porter's Love of Quilting. Jo stated that if she has a seam that's too bulky she'll clip it to make it lay flatter. So if JO can do it we can too!
A good quilter isn't defined by perfection but by how well they can hide the mistakes.
~ Lea Anne ~
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Nice to see that I'm not the only one that will leave something in one of my quilts that someone else might not. I have been pressing almost all of my seams open for several years and haven't found any problems with it. I was told that when you press your seams open and then stitch in the ditch you're actually stitching on your seams threads which does make sense to me. But lucky for me, I rarely stitch in the ditch. And yes, your design wall is very beautiful. Love that quilt!
ReplyDeleteI've been oggling this quilt on Instagram. So very pretty!
ReplyDeleteGood for you. I wish I could do that. I agonize when it happens and then give in to my anal retentive side. I really do know I that it isn't necessary but I just can't let myself do it because it would be the first place my eye would go. Such a pretty quilt.
ReplyDeleteLOL love the quote.
ReplyDeletelike you I have problems with seams don`t we all? but once the quilt is made nobody sees do they!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work! I recently found your blog and I love everything I've seen! Your daisy quilt is amazing. I couldn't find the photos of your finished daisy quilt. I would love to see that charmer. Is it your design and if yes, did you make a pattern for it?
ReplyDeleteI made a baby quilt in 2005 and I'm working on my first full sized quilt right now. Its not perfect, but I am loving it. I think it looks amazing! I am encouraged to hear quilters talk about the issues of real life quilting. Its wonderful to hear I'm not alone.
I have never snipped a seam but have quite a few that need it! thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteKudos to you on bravery! I, too, am not so perfectionistic that I'd rip it out unless it was crucial. Sometimes I just press it very flat with the fold in it instead of clipping.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful quilt, and I will bet you're anxious to get 'er done. I have a new found respect for bloggers who work on big quilts, and have to keep plugging away on the same project. You will have a grand prize in the end.
As for pressing those dagnabbit seams open, I am now in the "Open" camp most of the time. I see the difference now that I have experimented both ways. Not everybody will think it's worth it unless they've tried both ways, but if it's your quilt and special to you, I think it's worth the effort. I'll wait to hear your vote.
Julie @ Pink Doxies
Great post. I'm at the "sometimes press the seams open" stage when my quilt tops get to thick where the blocks meet. And as you've demoed, snipping those mess ups are a great way to fix things as you go!!
ReplyDeleteI love your quote at the end Lea Anne: "A good quilter isn't defined by perfection but by how well they can hide the mistakes." That's a big part of it for sure. And yes, your design wall looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI am loving this quilt--can't wait to see it finished! I saw the program with Jo and have used that little tip many times, but I always feel like I am doing something very naughty!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a BEAUTIFUL quilt!!! I just love it - you've really done a wonderful job! I've always wondered about pressing the seams open and I really appreciate you showing us the back of this top.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to remember to try clipping. I'm aweful and usually just mush it down with the iron and then try to figure out why I have so much bulk to run over when I try to quilt it. You quilt is gorgeous - brag away!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I think I will see what pressing seams open does just as soon as I get though binding these two quilts
ReplyDelete"A good quilter isn't defined by perfection but by how well they can hide the mistakes." I think I have to make a sampler with that quote on it now.
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt! (And I never press seams open. It's way easier to mend a popped seam when the allowances have been pressed to the side.)
That quilt is a beauty! I am glad I am not the only one who gets blocks turned around. And my seams twisted. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!
ReplyDelete