Yes, Friends, it is possible to pluck a quilt. I am learning all sorts of new techniques as I progress with my Route 44 quilt (AKA My Humility Quilt). I have to ask myself what on earth else can go wrong with this quilt? My construction of it has been bass ackwards from the beginning. I thought now that I had the blocks all sewn together I was on a roll towards a big happy finish.
Not so fast, Nicole. You managed to sew the borders on wrong. Whassa matter? Can't concentrate?
This quilt has five borders. I got the bright idea to combine three of them into one. Guess what? That doesn't work. I vaguely recall someone saying something about leaving the borders longer at the ends and not sewing them on until later, but did I do that? Oh no. This was my misbegotten effort.
Oh geeze. That is not how it is supposed to look. It is supposed to look like Thelma's.
What a mess. I still don't see what good leaving the ends of the border strips unattached until later would do. My brain just cannot wrap itself around that concept.
So, I added more fabric, I fiddled around with it (for a llllooooonnnnnnggggg time), and then I unsewed. Hence, the plucking out of all the little straggler threads.
There was no saving these borders. After all that mucking about, they were all stretched out and funky.
So I started over again, with my friend Lisa's words in my head: "Always have more fabric than you think you will need". At least I got one thing right. Thank you Lisa.
So, today I try again. One border at a time.
I feel jinxed.
60 responses to “Have You Ever Plucked a Quilt?”
I can’t figure out how to attach all three borders at once either. Someone should do a tutorial!
I can’t figure out how to attach all three borders at once either. Someone should do a tutorial!
I’ve been there. Yep. It’s so frustrating to think you have it figured out, then when you sew it, you realize what you did wrong. Then sew it again and realize you did it wrong AGAIN. Ugh. It’s looking really pretty, though, and I know you’ll have it put together soon!
I’ve been there. Yep. It’s so frustrating to think you have it figured out, then when you sew it, you realize what you did wrong. Then sew it again and realize you did it wrong AGAIN. Ugh. It’s looking really pretty, though, and I know you’ll have it put together soon!
Phooey!
When you do two or more borders at once, mitering the corners is the only way I know of to have the borders match each other properly. That would not have worked so well with your pieced border since the corner squares would have turned into triangles.
Nicole, you can save stretched out fabrics by using an unthreaded machine and sewing backwards over the stretched out bias or regular fabric edges. Really! I cannot remember who taught me this. Hope you’ll fish those border strips out of the trash and give this a try.
I like your border plans and you’re flying along as usual!
Hugs!
Phooey!
When you do two or more borders at once, mitering the corners is the only way I know of to have the borders match each other properly. That would not have worked so well with your pieced border since the corner squares would have turned into triangles.
Nicole, you can save stretched out fabrics by using an unthreaded machine and sewing backwards over the stretched out bias or regular fabric edges. Really! I cannot remember who taught me this. Hope you’ll fish those border strips out of the trash and give this a try.
I like your border plans and you’re flying along as usual!
Hugs!
Hope you still have some hair left on your head. Sooooo frustrating. It is such a waste of valuable time re-doing. So sorry. It is going to be one beautiful quilt Nicole. Stay calm!
Mary
Hope you still have some hair left on your head. Sooooo frustrating. It is such a waste of valuable time re-doing. So sorry. It is going to be one beautiful quilt Nicole. Stay calm!
Mary
Hang in there and remember that this will make it even more satisfying when it’s finished!
Hang in there and remember that this will make it even more satisfying when it’s finished!
this too, shall pass! your quilt is gorgeous already…it’ll be pure icing on the cake when those borders finally get on! i’ve got a completed quilt on my design board that has hung there for, mmmmm, a year? it has block sewn in upside down. i’ve been putting that off this long because i just don’t want to take the time to fix it! can’t imagine putting all new borders on!!!! but~it’s got to be done! good for you for tackling the job!! anxious to hear if barbara anne’s tip of sewing backwards with no thread works! hang in there~~ i think you’ve encouraged me to tackle my backwards block!
this too, shall pass! your quilt is gorgeous already…it’ll be pure icing on the cake when those borders finally get on! i’ve got a completed quilt on my design board that has hung there for, mmmmm, a year? it has block sewn in upside down. i’ve been putting that off this long because i just don’t want to take the time to fix it! can’t imagine putting all new borders on!!!! but~it’s got to be done! good for you for tackling the job!! anxious to hear if barbara anne’s tip of sewing backwards with no thread works! hang in there~~ i think you’ve encouraged me to tackle my backwards block!
Oh I always think the borders are the hardest thing to do – especially if they are pieced and I have to fiddle around to get them to fit. I so understand where you are on this one! (But i also have faith that as ever you will pull a rabbit out of the hat and it will be gorgeous!)
Oh I always think the borders are the hardest thing to do – especially if they are pieced and I have to fiddle around to get them to fit. I so understand where you are on this one! (But i also have faith that as ever you will pull a rabbit out of the hat and it will be gorgeous!)
Talk about a tale of two quilts, you read my post and it’s nothing but “happy this, happy that, don’t I live in a happy quilty world” . . . . It must make you cringe to read it!! You have had your troubles with this quilt, that’s for sure, I’m so sorry. But once it’s done you’ll forget the trials and tribulations and remember the happy times we had….hang in there, you can do it!!
Talk about a tale of two quilts, you read my post and it’s nothing but “happy this, happy that, don’t I live in a happy quilty world” . . . . It must make you cringe to read it!! You have had your troubles with this quilt, that’s for sure, I’m so sorry. But once it’s done you’ll forget the trials and tribulations and remember the happy times we had….hang in there, you can do it!!
If it’s any consolation, your nails look way better than mine, ; ))
If it’s any consolation, your nails look way better than mine, ; ))
I once made a quilt called “Grandmother’s Dream”. By the end of the quilt I had renamed it, and it still remains my “Grandmother’s Nightmare”. I know how you feel. Yours is much pretty than mine was. Yours will be a dream when it’s done.
I once made a quilt called “Grandmother’s Dream”. By the end of the quilt I had renamed it, and it still remains my “Grandmother’s Nightmare”. I know how you feel. Yours is much pretty than mine was. Yours will be a dream when it’s done.
I’ve done that before too! It really didn’t make a difference with my quilt, but I did learn a lesson from it!!
I’m glad you had the fabric you needed to redo.
I’ve done that before too! It really didn’t make a difference with my quilt, but I did learn a lesson from it!!
I’m glad you had the fabric you needed to redo.
After I’m finished “plucking”…I use a lint fabric roller to remove all of the rest of the threads that just don’t want to leave! I have quite a few fat quarters of Primrose Inn if you need them…..they are yours!
After I’m finished “plucking”…I use a lint fabric roller to remove all of the rest of the threads that just don’t want to leave! I have quite a few fat quarters of Primrose Inn if you need them…..they are yours!
Take those waste borders and use them to trim matching pillow cases for the quilt. You might have to starch and trim a bit but precision isn’t too important here. Sorry for all that ripping. 🙁
Take those waste borders and use them to trim matching pillow cases for the quilt. You might have to starch and trim a bit but precision isn’t too important here. Sorry for all that ripping. 🙁
Oi! So sorry for the mishap. My mother had a saying for moments like these, but I forced myself to forget it since I heard it too often in my youth. I’m sure my daughter would know. LOL!
The longer borders are to Miter the ends which is the only way you would get the three separate border look in one shot. I hate mitering borders.
Here is hoping for a more successful day today!
Oi! So sorry for the mishap. My mother had a saying for moments like these, but I forced myself to forget it since I heard it too often in my youth. I’m sure my daughter would know. LOL!
The longer borders are to Miter the ends which is the only way you would get the three separate border look in one shot. I hate mitering borders.
Here is hoping for a more successful day today!
My motto is, it never hurts to have a little extra fabric! Sorry you are struggling with your borders. See, I graciously waited to finish my quilt top so I could get great tips from you and Thelma about how best to actually do the borders!
My motto is, it never hurts to have a little extra fabric! Sorry you are struggling with your borders. See, I graciously waited to finish my quilt top so I could get great tips from you and Thelma about how best to actually do the borders!
When I read Thelma’s post yesterday my thought was…how did she do that?…it’s going to be gorgeous when your get it all done!
When I read Thelma’s post yesterday my thought was…how did she do that?…it’s going to be gorgeous when your get it all done!
At our annual retreat we used to give a stuffed frog or something with a frog on it like socks or whatever for the “Ribbit Award”. Get it? Ribbit! Rip It! What was always nice is that if someone really had a lot of “unsewing” to do, we would all stop and help. It happens to all of us and your quilt is still going to be beautiful!!
At our annual retreat we used to give a stuffed frog or something with a frog on it like socks or whatever for the “Ribbit Award”. Get it? Ribbit! Rip It! What was always nice is that if someone really had a lot of “unsewing” to do, we would all stop and help. It happens to all of us and your quilt is still going to be beautiful!!
You are much better than me. I would throw the project in a corner until I was done with being mad at it.
You are much better than me. I would throw the project in a corner until I was done with being mad at it.
Isn’t Operator Error the most annoying kind of required unsewing? Glad you’ve got plenty of fabric to play with…
How’s the house selling going?
Isn’t Operator Error the most annoying kind of required unsewing? Glad you’ve got plenty of fabric to play with…
How’s the house selling going?
Sounds very frustrating. I am having trouble wrapping my mind around how to accomplish 3 borders in 1 as well. I am one that needs to have it layed out step by step so I can “see” it–I don’t visualize well if it isn’t there in plain sight. I do believe though, I have learned something from every rip out session I have had. You do beautiful work, Nicole, and I appreciate your perseverance!! I have an idea you will soon have another beautiful quilt in your hands. Hang in there…Beverly in WA
Sounds very frustrating. I am having trouble wrapping my mind around how to accomplish 3 borders in 1 as well. I am one that needs to have it layed out step by step so I can “see” it–I don’t visualize well if it isn’t there in plain sight. I do believe though, I have learned something from every rip out session I have had. You do beautiful work, Nicole, and I appreciate your perseverance!! I have an idea you will soon have another beautiful quilt in your hands. Hang in there…Beverly in WA
hey…when you have loose threads and are tired of “plucking”, try a lint roller.
Works for me.
hey…when you have loose threads and are tired of “plucking”, try a lint roller.
Works for me.
The reason you need your border pieces cut long is that you should always measure each side and through the middle when adding a border. Take the average of these three numbers and cut your border strips for the sides this length and sew them. Then measure the other way, all three times, ave that # and cut the top and bottom borders and add them. Keep doing this over and over and you will have a flat, straight, square quilt. If you cut the border pieces the length the pattern called for, say 45 inches and your center of your quilt is 45 3/4″ then you will have a big problem. Been there, done that! It’s looking gorgeous with the pieced inset border, I love it!
The reason you need your border pieces cut long is that you should always measure each side and through the middle when adding a border. Take the average of these three numbers and cut your border strips for the sides this length and sew them. Then measure the other way, all three times, ave that # and cut the top and bottom borders and add them. Keep doing this over and over and you will have a flat, straight, square quilt. If you cut the border pieces the length the pattern called for, say 45 inches and your center of your quilt is 45 3/4″ then you will have a big problem. Been there, done that! It’s looking gorgeous with the pieced inset border, I love it!
Good luck! I think this time your borders will be perfect!!!
Good luck! I think this time your borders will be perfect!!!
You may feel jinxed but you have a beautiful quilt goin’ on there. Keep going :o)
You’ll be glad in the end that you did!
You may feel jinxed but you have a beautiful quilt goin’ on there. Keep going :o)
You’ll be glad in the end that you did!
Oh I feel your pain…I had that bright idea once too lol!! Thankfully I didn’t get quite so far as you…only because I’m a slower sewer (say that 5 times fast). It’s a beautiful quilt and will be worth it in the end 🙂
Oh I feel your pain…I had that bright idea once too lol!! Thankfully I didn’t get quite so far as you…only because I’m a slower sewer (say that 5 times fast). It’s a beautiful quilt and will be worth it in the end 🙂
How comforting to the rest of us that even experts goof up sometimes! It will be beautiful when it’s finished!
How comforting to the rest of us that even experts goof up sometimes! It will be beautiful when it’s finished!
I thought of you this afternoon when I became one with my seam ripper! I’m always glad I spent the time re-doing something that’s not right, but it sure is frustrating while it’s going on! Your quilt is going to be spectacular!! Can’t wait to see the finished product!
I thought of you this afternoon when I became one with my seam ripper! I’m always glad I spent the time re-doing something that’s not right, but it sure is frustrating while it’s going on! Your quilt is going to be spectacular!! Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Been there, done that…at least mine was only a wall hanging, but it is sooo frustrating!
Been there, done that…at least mine was only a wall hanging, but it is sooo frustrating!
Bummer on the borders, but I know they will look fantastic when you are done with them. And I love your reference “bass ackwards”…very clever 😉
Bummer on the borders, but I know they will look fantastic when you are done with them. And I love your reference “bass ackwards”…very clever 😉
Tweezers are like the sixth finger of my right hand…handy for pullling up the short thread from auto thread cutter and I’m always pulling out stitches!
Tweezers are like the sixth finger of my right hand…handy for pullling up the short thread from auto thread cutter and I’m always pulling out stitches!