My son discovered this quilt top in my sewing room and asked me why I hadn't had it quilted. "Too many quilt tops, too little money" was my answer. He said he would pay to have it quilted if he could give it to someone special in his life. How could I say no to that? I had made the quilt top about a year and a half ago, the summer I was unemployed and finishing up a quilt every Friday. Check out my album of Friday Finishes on the right side bar. That was a productive summer! However, haste makes waste, as you will see.
I have been going to a certain quilt shop for my quilting for several years now. They do a great job and I love getting in there to talk to the gals and do a bit of shopping. However, due to my current work schedule, I have a hard time getting to my favorite quilt shop, which is closed on Sundays, my only free day to get up there to it. It is also a long way from where I live. So, this quilt has been sitting around for weeks waiting for me to buy backing and take it in for quilting. Today was the day. I took a half day off work and drove the 70 miles to the shop. We laid the quilt out on the cutting table to measure it, and the lady who was helping me said, "Uh oh". What? What? What's wrong? Did my darn dogs chew a hole in it?
She then pointed out how my border was totally ripply. Much too much fabric for the length of the sides and top/bottom of the quilt. When quilted, it would be a rumpled mess of folded fabric and uneven stitching. How did I do that? What a bonehead, novice sort of thing to do. And I was so embarrassed. Here I am, supposedly an experienced quilter, and how in the heck did I manage to mess up such an elemental thing? I have a reputation to uphold for goodness' sake.
I was so humiliated I just folded up the quilt and said I would take it back home with me and remove the borders and sew them back on so they were flat and even. My face was as red as this quilt as I drove home with the faulty quilt top. I just cringe when I think about it. Why hadn't I checked it first? How did I miss that?
Well, I can fix it. This has moved up to the top of my priority list. And I will be darned if I made that mistake again.
Look at the cute backing fabric I found–at least the 140 mile round trip wasn't a complete waste.
74 responses to “Hanging Head in Shame”
Been there. Hung head. Mortified. You’re not alone.
Been there. Hung head. Mortified. You’re not alone.
At least it isn’t a pieced border! And I love the backing fabric!
At least it isn’t a pieced border! And I love the backing fabric!
My heart sings with joy knowing your SON is being so kind – so that’s my very first thought. You’ve raised up a good man.
Borders-shmorders! Ratcha-fratcha! Best thing… you can knock this out, take it out, work it out and be done with this border. It’s part of the story of the special quilt. Just my thought.
My heart sings with joy knowing your SON is being so kind – so that’s my very first thought. You’ve raised up a good man.
Borders-shmorders! Ratcha-fratcha! Best thing… you can knock this out, take it out, work it out and be done with this border. It’s part of the story of the special quilt. Just my thought.
Nicole, the Chelsea Manor fabric is perfect for the backing. I’ve had ripply borders, is it because the border is too wide for the length? Wow, I never knew that. I always try to be gentle with my pressing so as not to stretch the borders. This is good to know, I learned something from your blog today.
Nicole, the Chelsea Manor fabric is perfect for the backing. I’ve had ripply borders, is it because the border is too wide for the length? Wow, I never knew that. I always try to be gentle with my pressing so as not to stretch the borders. This is good to know, I learned something from your blog today.
I have fixed a few customer quilts for this very reason (with their permission of course)they were often surprised at how much “extra” fabric they’d used in their borders (as much as 6″.
I have fixed a few customer quilts for this very reason (with their permission of course)they were often surprised at how much “extra” fabric they’d used in their borders (as much as 6″.
It’s happened to all of us – more than once to be honest! I love the quilt top but I especially love your son’s desire to have it. That had to have made your day. Where’s the pattern from?
It’s happened to all of us – more than once to be honest! I love the quilt top but I especially love your son’s desire to have it. That had to have made your day. Where’s the pattern from?
Gorgeous quilt top…fabulous backing fabric…wonderfully thoughtful son…what’s a border fix in the big picture? As you said in a previous blog entry, “easy peasy, Bob’s your uncle!” you’ll have this one ready for quilting in short order! Don’t be so hard on yourself Happens to everyone and your reputation is intact because you put it out here to remind the rest of us to check and measure before adding borders!
Gorgeous quilt top…fabulous backing fabric…wonderfully thoughtful son…what’s a border fix in the big picture? As you said in a previous blog entry, “easy peasy, Bob’s your uncle!” you’ll have this one ready for quilting in short order! Don’t be so hard on yourself Happens to everyone and your reputation is intact because you put it out here to remind the rest of us to check and measure before adding borders!
Sadly (as I hang my head sheepishly) I have occasionally (ok more like 5 or 6 times) sewn the longer border strip to the shorter border side. My quilter apparently used to fix them (she wouldn’t tell me until after the quilt was done) but now that I am my own “quilter”, it is a real pain to correct this mistake. Mostly due to embarrassment that I did it again.
Sadly (as I hang my head sheepishly) I have occasionally (ok more like 5 or 6 times) sewn the longer border strip to the shorter border side. My quilter apparently used to fix them (she wouldn’t tell me until after the quilt was done) but now that I am my own “quilter”, it is a real pain to correct this mistake. Mostly due to embarrassment that I did it again.
That is so sweet of your son.
We’ve all done it, and will probably at some point to it again. Like you said haste makes waste, and when we’re more focused on the finish then the process, it’s easy to make uh-ohs.
That is so sweet of your son.
We’ve all done it, and will probably at some point to it again. Like you said haste makes waste, and when we’re more focused on the finish then the process, it’s easy to make uh-ohs.
We’ve all done it…I love your backing…it is PERFECT!
We’ve all done it…I love your backing…it is PERFECT!
As your previous comments have said, I’m sure it’s a mistake all of us have made at one time or another. It’s still a beautiful quilt and won’t take much to fix it. Your son is so sweet to want to gift it to his friend. I love the back you chose for it, too.
As your previous comments have said, I’m sure it’s a mistake all of us have made at one time or another. It’s still a beautiful quilt and won’t take much to fix it. Your son is so sweet to want to gift it to his friend. I love the back you chose for it, too.
I’ve been looking at large wall clock with the wrong time since Sunday morning. It requires the tall ladder anytime the battery or time needs to be changed. This morning, instead of getting the ladder, I tried to change the time using a broom handle..whoops, knocked the hands off the mechanism…which turned what should have been a 5 minute job with the ladder into an hour long brouhaha. All’s well now but when will I learn, “haste does make waste!”
I agree with the others, be happy Ahren thinks enough of you and the quilt to have it finished and present as a gift for someone special.
I’ve been looking at large wall clock with the wrong time since Sunday morning. It requires the tall ladder anytime the battery or time needs to be changed. This morning, instead of getting the ladder, I tried to change the time using a broom handle..whoops, knocked the hands off the mechanism…which turned what should have been a 5 minute job with the ladder into an hour long brouhaha. All’s well now but when will I learn, “haste does make waste!”
I agree with the others, be happy Ahren thinks enough of you and the quilt to have it finished and present as a gift for someone special.
Don’t beat yourself up. That happened while it was in storage, not when you pieced it! I’m certain. It’s a well-documented phenomenon.
Don’t beat yourself up. That happened while it was in storage, not when you pieced it! I’m certain. It’s a well-documented phenomenon.
Love the quilt and I enjoy your blog! I believe we have all made the same mistake not knowing how important it is to measure, measure and measure before adding the borders. I truly did not understand how important it was until I bought my own long arm. I know one of the quilts I took a long quilter had wavy borders but she must have worked some magic. You are so lucky it was spotted before quilting! Easy enough to fix. So I really stress this with my daughter-in-law and the group she is teaching to quilt. Love the backing for the quilt and what a sweet thing your son is doing.
Laura T
Love the quilt and I enjoy your blog! I believe we have all made the same mistake not knowing how important it is to measure, measure and measure before adding the borders. I truly did not understand how important it was until I bought my own long arm. I know one of the quilts I took a long quilter had wavy borders but she must have worked some magic. You are so lucky it was spotted before quilting! Easy enough to fix. So I really stress this with my daughter-in-law and the group she is teaching to quilt. Love the backing for the quilt and what a sweet thing your son is doing.
Laura T
Oh gosh I’ve done this and the quilter fixed it. It wasn’t a great fix. I’ll never make that mistake again. Your quilt is beautiful! Love that toile.
Oh gosh I’ve done this and the quilter fixed it. It wasn’t a great fix. I’ll never make that mistake again. Your quilt is beautiful! Love that toile.
Well, it’s a beautiful quilt. At least I didn’t drive 140 miles all total to find my black embroidery floss. Bless you heart.
Well, it’s a beautiful quilt. At least I didn’t drive 140 miles all total to find my black embroidery floss. Bless you heart.
It will be beautiful in the end!
It will be beautiful in the end!
What a beautiful quilt. It’s just gorgeous, and whoever your son presents it to, they will be thrilled.
Maybe you could post a tutorial on the proper way to measure a quilt for borders, as it sounds like it would be helpful to some of your readers? I used to measure down and across the outside edge before I learned correctly, and the borders would be wonky.
What a beautiful quilt. It’s just gorgeous, and whoever your son presents it to, they will be thrilled.
Maybe you could post a tutorial on the proper way to measure a quilt for borders, as it sounds like it would be helpful to some of your readers? I used to measure down and across the outside edge before I learned correctly, and the borders would be wonky.
I’m more interested in the someone special in his life! :~) Could there be some exciting news in the near future!
I think we have all had to deal with the ripply border thing. :~)
I’m more interested in the someone special in his life! :~) Could there be some exciting news in the near future!
I think we have all had to deal with the ripply border thing. :~)
I hate doing borders. They take as much time to measure and pin and pin again than it takes to make the whole rest of the quilt it seems. You’ll be glad you fixed it in the end though, I am sure.
I hate doing borders. They take as much time to measure and pin and pin again than it takes to make the whole rest of the quilt it seems. You’ll be glad you fixed it in the end though, I am sure.
Nicole, its still beautiful and will be extra beautiful when you redo the borders. I think my little Gettysburg Sun wallhanging has some of the same problem. I need to do things differently. Just think how special this quilt will be when it is given away…a true labor of love! Nancy in WI
Nicole, its still beautiful and will be extra beautiful when you redo the borders. I think my little Gettysburg Sun wallhanging has some of the same problem. I need to do things differently. Just think how special this quilt will be when it is given away…a true labor of love! Nancy in WI
What a beautiful quilt. One time I didn’t take the time to measure my last border and when it came back from the quilter it was an ugly site. I was pretty disappointed with myself for not taking the time. I still have the quilt but it doesn’t have any binding on it. I definitely learned my lesson.
What a beautiful quilt. One time I didn’t take the time to measure my last border and when it came back from the quilter it was an ugly site. I was pretty disappointed with myself for not taking the time. I still have the quilt but it doesn’t have any binding on it. I definitely learned my lesson.
Honestly, you probably don’t even remember what was going on when you put those borders on. Maybe an off day, maybe you were rushed… so many maybes. The thing is that you caught it before it was too late. It will be a beautiful piece and I’m sure that your son will be proud to share your work with that special someone.
Honestly, you probably don’t even remember what was going on when you put those borders on. Maybe an off day, maybe you were rushed… so many maybes. The thing is that you caught it before it was too late. It will be a beautiful piece and I’m sure that your son will be proud to share your work with that special someone.
At least your quilter mentioned this to you instead of quilting in tucks and ripples. I”ve seen that happen. It will be worth it when you have it finished, it’s lovely!
At least your quilter mentioned this to you instead of quilting in tucks and ripples. I”ve seen that happen. It will be worth it when you have it finished, it’s lovely!
We all get our lessons to humble us! But after all that will be an easy fix… look at all those points you did! I think you did a fantastic job. I also think the backing will be perfect! What a sweet son you have also:)
We all get our lessons to humble us! But after all that will be an easy fix… look at all those points you did! I think you did a fantastic job. I also think the backing will be perfect! What a sweet son you have also:)
I have done this to, I love the colours in the quilt
I have done this to, I love the colours in the quilt
I want to know who your son wants to give it to!
Love, LOVE the quilt. I have seen that pattern before and made a mental list to do it someday. My list is longer than I will live at this point. I’ll live vicariously through yours. You can have those borders off and measured in a jiffy. No sweat.
Are those letters on your backing? Do they say something?
I want to know who your son wants to give it to!
Love, LOVE the quilt. I have seen that pattern before and made a mental list to do it someday. My list is longer than I will live at this point. I’ll live vicariously through yours. You can have those borders off and measured in a jiffy. No sweat.
Are those letters on your backing? Do they say something?
I say no worries because you will make fast work of the fix. What I do ask is that you help the rest of us avoid the same mistake. Tell us how to avoid this! SHOW US! Please! I so dislike unsewing.
I say no worries because you will make fast work of the fix. What I do ask is that you help the rest of us avoid the same mistake. Tell us how to avoid this! SHOW US! Please! I so dislike unsewing.
Hey…at least you get to fix yours…I have a quilt hanging in my laundry room…wavy borders and all…it reminds me nearly every day of being better with borders!
Hey…at least you get to fix yours…I have a quilt hanging in my laundry room…wavy borders and all…it reminds me nearly every day of being better with borders!
It is a beautiful quilt and I’m sure that you will make the alterations and it will quilt beautifully. Don’t be too hard on youself — we’ve all done this sort of thing. I hope that the weather was nice for your drive, we need to find the joy in the moment however small it is — take care and happy quilting!!
carolfun
It is a beautiful quilt and I’m sure that you will make the alterations and it will quilt beautifully. Don’t be too hard on youself — we’ve all done this sort of thing. I hope that the weather was nice for your drive, we need to find the joy in the moment however small it is — take care and happy quilting!!
carolfun
Can you call that your humble border? You know, like a humble block? It is a beautiful quilt and anyone will be thrilled with it.
Can you call that your humble border? You know, like a humble block? It is a beautiful quilt and anyone will be thrilled with it.
Can I tell you…your not the only one who has had border issues….wanna know how I know? I’m a longarm quilter….I see it every now and then. 🙂 Your not alone dear friend.
I think it was wonderful that your son wants to give it to somebody…a special somebody?
Can I tell you…your not the only one who has had border issues….wanna know how I know? I’m a longarm quilter….I see it every now and then. 🙂 Your not alone dear friend.
I think it was wonderful that your son wants to give it to somebody…a special somebody?
It happens to everyone; at least you found yours early! I didnt realise I had a wobbly border until the whole middle of my quilt was quilted; I had to un-baste the border and fix the seams with great difficulty. Look forward to seeing it when its finished 🙂
It happens to everyone; at least you found yours early! I didnt realise I had a wobbly border until the whole middle of my quilt was quilted; I had to un-baste the border and fix the seams with great difficulty. Look forward to seeing it when its finished 🙂
I think I have been tempting fate with my poor border construction in the past but luckily, they all ‘quilted’ out. Shamefully, I really have never understood what is truely the right way to do it! Please, oh yes, offer up a tutorial one of these days! Your quilt is beautiful – and your son’s gesture equally so!!
I think I have been tempting fate with my poor border construction in the past but luckily, they all ‘quilted’ out. Shamefully, I really have never understood what is truely the right way to do it! Please, oh yes, offer up a tutorial one of these days! Your quilt is beautiful – and your son’s gesture equally so!!
Dagnabit! Don’t we hate it when we can’t catch our mistakes before they are made public? Nobody’s perfect, so don’t beat yourself up. Its fixable! How sweet that your son has “claimed” this one. Sending Air Kisses in his direction.
Dagnabit! Don’t we hate it when we can’t catch our mistakes before they are made public? Nobody’s perfect, so don’t beat yourself up. Its fixable! How sweet that your son has “claimed” this one. Sending Air Kisses in his direction.
OOoooo sooo pretty! I made that quilt in all aqua tones, scalopped the border. I donated it to my DD’s school, and they got 500$ for it!
Sorry you had to drive so far, then have to bring the quilt home!
Gael
http://gaelt.blogspot.com/
I’m in the snowball gropu, and do have a blog…lol
OOoooo sooo pretty! I made that quilt in all aqua tones, scalopped the border. I donated it to my DD’s school, and they got 500$ for it!
Sorry you had to drive so far, then have to bring the quilt home!
Gael
http://gaelt.blogspot.com/
I’m in the snowball gropu, and do have a blog…lol
The red and white quilt is stunning. What is the pattern setting? I think you’ve learned your lesson about borders so that you will never do that again. I’ve learned to never say “never”. Sometimes when we’re in a hurry, things “just happen” even to the best quilters. Enjoy the wonderful compliments and just keep sewing up beautiful tops.
The red and white quilt is stunning. What is the pattern setting? I think you’ve learned your lesson about borders so that you will never do that again. I’ve learned to never say “never”. Sometimes when we’re in a hurry, things “just happen” even to the best quilters. Enjoy the wonderful compliments and just keep sewing up beautiful tops.