OK, the 'odd' block (bottom center) is not the problem. But the last border (left side) -- totally on it's own -- sewed itself on in the wrong direction. How can that happen? Woven shirtings are very thready, ravely, and those points are not perfect, and if you fiddle too much they distort. It takes some patience to get the points nice on the border, not too float-y nor chopped off. I worked very hard sewing, unsewing, until each one was as near-perfect as possible. You know sew, oversew, and then sew again a teensy bit closer? -- making unsewing a TERRIBLE chore. And the threads nicely disappear in the weave of the cloth. But I swear, I was SURE that last border was pointing the other direction when I pinned it on?
Once again, I should not have said to myself, "Hey, it's turning out great!" (ye ole "Pride Goeth Before the Fall" me thinks.)
Would you unsew that last border so it goes in the other direction? Since this is a casual-type quilt, my tendance is to leave it alone - you know - the "it adds interest" thing. It measures about 60 x 60 inches, and I really DO like it!
And once again, I owe the inspiration for this quilt to Bonnie, at www.quiltville.com, who has an amazing talent for making wonderful quilts out of scraps.
knowing shirtings I would be inclined to leave it, it does not jump out and if noticed say well hey that was my pattern. But on the other hand knowing you.... very very carefully uppick it... go to down buy an ice cream. then come back and sew it the right way. lol The quilt looks fantastic anyway you go. hugs
ReplyDeleteI think it looks great! If I were you I'd leave the border as it is and give it a funky name about geese flying south or in the wrong direction or something. I did a similar thing on a mini once and called the quilt Flying Geese till the Cows come Home. Love the use of the shirts. Cheryl
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely not! It looks just fine the way it is. And who's to say you didn't plan it that way? If anyone asks say that's exactly what you meant to do. That can represent the geese who no longer migrate the way they should because they have it so cushy where they are right now - like the Canadian geese at our golf course! They are there making a mess of the greens all year around. Or so my husband says!
ReplyDeleteMy opinion, leave it as is. I like it like that. Who knows maybe you really meant it to be like that.
ReplyDeleteLooks great, Leave it!!
ReplyDeleteThe only way anyone would ever see that is if it was hanging on the wall. In that case take it off. If it is a lap quilt, leave it as it is.
ReplyDeleteI would leave it - it took me a while to notice and I think it looks just fine.
ReplyDeleteTraditional quilts need the spark of unexpectedness. It's perfect the way it is.
ReplyDeleteI say "leave it". I live on a goose flight path and we have geese going every which way. It all depends on which lake they are heading to, now doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI would leave it and name the quilt "Which Way Did They Go?"
ReplyDeleteIt looks great. I vote with the "leave it" group of commenters. *s*
ReplyDeleteI love Ruthie's name suggestion, too.
If it is not critical or going to be judge, leave it as is. Life is too short to worry about it. It looks great.
ReplyDeleteHI Elaine,
ReplyDeleteI would leave it the way it is - It all lays beautifully and everything is straight- Who says it has to go in a continuous path- With fabric that ravels it would be a risk to take it off. It looks beautiful-
Anna
Leave it as your Amish humility block....only God is perfect.
ReplyDeleteIt does not disturb the eye.
If you can live with it..do.
On the other hand I undid fossil ferns and they are not too far away from shirting when it comes to undoing. For me it enabled me to enlarge the quilt and change direction so each and every darned unpick was worth it. To me this one is not offensive or is going to make a major contribution to the look of the quilt. Will be interesting to see how few notice it.
It is autumn and all smart geese fly south for the winter, no? I think it's perfectly lovely as it is!
ReplyDeletePat/LincolnNE
I think you should leave it. It's a lovely quilt, and one of the other commenters was right ~ unless it's hanging on a wall it won't be noticed. If by chance someone does notice, they have way too much time on their hands. LOL
ReplyDeleteLeave it and start a couple of new projects instead of ripping out. It looks wonderful as it is.
ReplyDeleteLooks fine to me! I really wouldn't rip it out - you are right in saying that the fabric ravels like crazy. And honestly, it doesn't look like a mistake - you think of it as a mistake because you intended something different that's all.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Evelyn
I think it looks great, but I am such a perfectionist that I would probably have to take it out and correct it. It is all in your personality. Your work is gorgeous and I love looking at what you share.
ReplyDeleteMary Jo in Iowa
I was showing my sister some of my not-so-sharp points, and mismatched seams, and she said that she wouldn't have known they were supposed to be sharp and matched up perfectly if I hadn't pointed it out to her. There is nothing wrong with the geese, it is simply a preference thing. Who said the geese have to fly around in circles? I like it the way it is.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is lovely as it is, don't go to the trouble of 'unsewing' that border. Love your use of shirting fabrics - you'll find that friends will be passing shirts your way. I've made 3 shirt quilts and have loved each one.
ReplyDeleteLeave it, it looks great. Besides, only you (and your blog readers) will know that it was supposed to go the other way.
ReplyDeleteJeez Looouise! Leave it alone. It looks great and most wouldn't even notice. Your work is so great that it will only add interest to the final quilt!
ReplyDeletePS...I love how some of the blocks look like T's and some look like geese!
ReplyDeleteI still need to finish the borders on mine.....I'm draggin....
Bonnie
I would leave it. It is a wonderfully interesting quilt.
ReplyDeleteLeave it alone. I looked at the photo twice before I realized what you were talking about. I didn't even notice the geese going in another direction.
ReplyDeleteLeave it - I vote for leaving it! The quilt looks great just *as is*.
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt full stop! Honestly, I like it better this way because it gives the geese motion, like the week before all the birds fly south. You see them all in different batches taking test runs in groups.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beauty! If it bothers you too much I would be happy to take it off your hands :-) (as if you would part with it!)
Keep Quiltin'
Dionne
Leave it....I'm always going the wrong direction, so it didn't bother me!
ReplyDeleteIf you like it, I say "let it be, let it be." However, if you feel the need to un-stitch, I'd give it a good going over with spray starch first to stabilize those rowdy threads.
ReplyDeleteI love it -- it's one of those quirky things that really sometimes just makes a quilt! I'd leave the border alone!!
ReplyDeleteI think the vote is in favor of leaving the border. The geese all flying south have direction, makes the eye move down the whole length of the quilt. The power of suggestion is stronger go with the FLOW..DEB};o
ReplyDeleteThere have to be a few non-conforming geese out there somewhere! And, remember, global warming, winters are getting warmer, so there might be a new geese vacation spot!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I'd leave it be. I have really marred some fabric by picking out seams, and if it's ravelly, don't risk it. The quilt looks fabulous as is.
Elaine,
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt. Was is a published pattern, or did you just think it up yourself? It's great.
What are the 2 "surprises" on the blocks? I'm talking about the bottom left in the picture and the top left. They seem to have a little extra something. Is that a part of the shirt from which they were cut??
Curious in NC,
Joan
I have an old quilt top that was all 9piece blocks except for one odd block that had a big star on it. I LOVE it. I've decided that should always happen.
ReplyDeleteI had to search your quilt to see the odd block. would have never seen it nor the arrows that sewed itself. It's beautiful!
Great quilt! I love all your comments! I am guessing that you left the border as it was. I like the name suggested above, or you could call it "Flys in the Face of Tradition"! Ha!
ReplyDeleteOkay...I am NOT a perfectionist and I leave mistakes in a LOT--probably most of the time. But this one--I think I would take out. I think the point of a Flying Geese border is to circle the quilt. It's directional, it's movement, and there is something amazing about flying geese circling the blocks...like they're circling to get a better view of something interesting! With the Flying Geese not circling, I think it takes some of the mystery out of the middle--like they're flying past without paying much attention. (Why, yes, I do have an overactive imagination...)
ReplyDeleteSorry...90% of the time, I say, "Ah heck, leave it in." But I LOVE this quilt and if it were mine, I would take it out. Just wanted you to hear from all sides!