After yesterday I really felt like I needed to put in a little time on a project today. If I finish something I can start on something new with all those pretties, right? Anyway, the Little Miss quilt had been staring at me from across the top of a box this week, where I’d put the initial chain-pieced strips.
I know this doesn’t really look any different than the last picture of this quilt, but I promise it’s actually put together now.
I got it put together. Which should make me happy, and while it does, there’s also this little annoyance that happens every time I put things together:
Grrrrr.
This doesn’t happen at all of my corners, thank the gods, but it happens often enough to make me want to tear my hair out.
Finger for size reference.
Yes, I know it’s only off by a tiny bit, but it annoys the hell out of me. I try and try to get my 1/4 inch seam accurate, and this still happens. Granted not nearly as often as on my first quilt (did any of those blocks match up?) but between this one and the Bloudeuwedd quilt it makes me want to scream. I know when it’s quilted it probably won’t be noticeable, and I highly doubt the little girl this quilt is for will care much, but it still bugs me.
OCD a little? Maybe. Just maybe.
The Bent Bookworm 
Yes, can relate to this…I once made a whole quilt out of squares to practice getting the seams to match. Guess what…still did not match a hundred percent. If those are your only two, you are doing really well and like you say, it will not be noticable once you have quilted it all.
LikeLike
I’m sure those are not the only two, but they were the most easily noticeable of what I had pieced so far. I do hope it gets better, I haven’t made that many quilts yet so I guess I shouldn’t expect wonders, but the perfectionist in me just stands up and screams.
LikeLike
I know exactly what you mean. Perfect seams are definitely the product of careful preparation of the fabric from prewashing to cutting to piecing. Unfortunately it’s also very time consuming. For a bed quilt I wouldn’t obsess about it. It will keep you just as warm whether the seams match or not!
LikeLike
Guess I need to work on that too! It’s definitely still a pretty and (will be) comfy quilt. 🙂
LikeLike
I used to obsess about this more than I do now. When I first started, I found a book at the library, called something like “Perfect Piecing” It was part of a book of the month club by Rodale publishing, one of those things where you get a new quilt book in the mail every six weeks. I found it really helpful. Of course, now that I know how to make things match, I no longer care. Your quilt will be beautiful when it is finished.
LikeLike
I’ll have to look for that book. Maybe one day I’ll be able to not care – but for now, it’s driving me crazy!
LikeLike
Once you wash it who can see it any more. Besides if they are looking that close there is something wrong with THEM.
LikeLike
Eh, that’s probably true, I hadn’t thought of that. As small as the gaps are they’ll probably disappear between the quilting and the crinkling. Happy thought!
LikeLike
I think perfect is unnatural! You did great. Have fun with your quilting. Piece and move on is my motto!
LikeLike
That’s pretty much what I’m doing. For this quilt I just don’t have the patience to redo it – I want it done before it’s super cold so the little one it’s for can enjoy it (I hope she will, anyway)!
LikeLike
Those are really small errors, but if they will bother you, you could rip out an inch on either side of the seam and resew just that part. The feed dogs will tend to ease in the slight extra fabric on either side of the seam you are matching. But I agree with Shelly T., and I think imperfection adds character and is a sign that the piece was made with love, not by machine.
LikeLike
Character and love sound good to me. 🙂
LikeLike
I remember the first “around the world” quilt I entered in our local fair. I stood behind a woman at the fair where it was displayed. She was saying to her friend, “Nice colors, but (she laughed here.) my corners would have matched better.” Well, I was crushed by her comment and haven’t entered a quilt again. I try to remember the Amish feeling on quilting. “Quilts aren’t perfect, only God is perfect.”
LikeLike
Oh no! 😦 I’m sure your quilt was beautiful, too. You should enter again. 🙂
LikeLike
Cari, don’t let a thoughtless comment keep you down. What she probably meant, in my opinion, is that she wouldn’t have the nerve to show her art unless she thought it was perfect. And that’s a shame. Your, and her, artistic points of view are interesting and inspiring to other quilters, and I think there are far more people who love to look at creative work than feel the need to be critical and tear them apart with criticism.
LikeLike
Exactly! I certainly don’t look at a quilt to criticize it. I enjoy that particular artist’s work of art and beauty. 🙂
LikeLike