One of my favorite people ever to work with was Sue K. You never had to wonder what was on her mind — she would let you know! We were using copiers side by side, and Sue was doing some sort of complicated copying of boxes of documents, unstapling, double sided, trying to keep everything in order. Sue said, “Do you ever feel like you’re way too smart for this job, and then you go and *flub* it up anyway?” Okay, if you know Sue, you know she didn’t say “flub”, but this is a family post. That is exactly how I feel today.
I’m working on my Bears in the North Woods quilt, a Quilt Along offered by Judy Laquidara at Patchwork Times. And let me say up front, JUDY”S DIRECTIONS ARE PERFECT. This was totally my screw-up. Judy sent out the last of the instructions for this quilt, and we are going to finish the quilt with three more borders. The next border is comprised of 86 half-square-triangle blocks, which will march in a row around the entire quilt, 23 on each long side, 20 on each short side = 86 blocks. So far, so good.
Last night I made the 86 HST blocks, then laid them out next to the quilt.
This may not look like a problem, unless you count the blocks. This is a 20-block strip on what should be the 23-block side. What??? I’m usually accurate to a 1/4″ or so, and this is waaaay off. Checked the math, checked Judy’s directions, and still didn’t stumble onto my error. The pattern clearly says to trim the blocks to 3 1/2″ (these would finish at 3″); my blocks are FINISHED at 3 1/2″. I used Thangles (r), and having 3 1/2″ on the brain, I grabbed the 3 1/2″ pack, not thinking through that it says 3 1/2″ finished right on the package. Grrrr. (For you non-sewers who might care, you lose 1/2″ on each block on the seam allowances.)
So here’s the deal. I could take one of the previous borders off and redo it larger to compensate for my HST blocks so at least I would come out even with a whole block so I don’t have half a triangle or something strange. I could do that. If I had any more of either of those fabrics.
Then I started experimenting with adding another border as an even-up-the-dimensions border to anything that’s divisible by 3 1/2″ plus 1/2″. Math! I have light green yardage (used in the bear paw claws) and the light taupe (the inner sashings) left. I’m not thrilled with either of them, but here are their “audition tapes”:
I’m leaning towards the green one. What do you think? I’m going to walk away from this one until tomorrow and then look at it with fresh eyes. I really don’t like this border so wide, but it’s either that or a very slender border (1 1/4″) so my blocks will come out okay. Right now I’m thinking the wide border will improve with some quilting in it.
On a brighter note, when I was looking for another fabric that might save the day, I came across this Minnesota hanky that was sold during the 2007 Minnesota Shop Hop. Cute, isn’t it? It will go on the back close to the label.
Sue
yes, yes! go with the green!!! I think it will look really good and add some interest as well.
Don’t you just love it when the ‘fix’ turns out even better than you thought it would? that handkerchief will really add a unique touch for the backing.
this is going to be a fabulous quilt.
I like the green one too. Glad you came up with a solution! Your quilt is looking great!
I vote for the green, too, Sue. It is always comforting when someone else makes mistakes. I can’t begin to tell you the number of times, I have done something similar to your problem. There’s always a “fix” though, and sometimes it looks even better than the original plan! Did you get my e-mail re: my PIF question?
Thanks you so much for making the wrong size of triangles!
I wanted to be an over achiever and made my triangles before Judy posted the instructions for that step and made mine to finish at 2″. I didn’t have enough fabric left to make 3″ HSTs so I used what I made and it turned out great.
I love the green. It was meant to be.