Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly {Triangle Quilt Along}

Work on the triangle quilt continues.  I forgot to get a pic of the finished top before I began quilting it, but I'm not quite ready to show you the whole thing yet.  So, in the interest of brutal honesty and full disclosure, I thought I'd show you some of my points.   That's right, no artfully blurred shots from a distance here. Up close and personal and definitely not perfect.

This one classifies as a "good" point, although not perfect.
Points are the main reason triangles are so scary, because it's so difficult to keep them, well, pointy and get them lined up just so. 

"The bad."  Ok so they don't line up. I'd like to point out that are all still pointy, though.
From close up it's easy to see all the mistakes, but I promise, once you get done quilting it no one will ever be examining your points that closely again. (Unless you enter it in a show.  Bah Humbug on them!)  Also, I think that echoing the seam lines with quilting does a good job of distracting from less-than-perfect points.

And the just plain "ugly".  I should be ashamed. And yet, I'm not ;)
This is my personal beliefs on quilting:  it doesn't matter whether your points line up or your Y seams lie flat or maybe you have to quilt down a few tucks when you're quilting.  Only another quilter would ever notice those things, and they ought to have the decency to forgive you. We don't quilt for other quilters. We quilt for new babies and ailing grandmothers and happy newlyweds, who can't quilt for themselves or else they wouldn't need us. And believe me, none of them will even notice the points.

This is one of my favorite things about quilting. That things can go really, horribly wrong with the design and you'll still wind up with a good blanket that can keep someone warm and comfortable.  Quilting is so forgiving!  And so are the people we quilt for.  So relax, chop off a few points, enjoy your quilting and don't agonize over a few mistakes.

The elusive "perfect" point.
And when it does all come together perfectly, smile, enjoy it, and maybe take a picture to brag to your quilting buddies, but don't let it define you.

Just my two cents :)

Linking up to the Triangle Quilt Along.

7 comments:

  1. I think it's great! I have some "less than desirable" points as well. And I've fallen terribly behind again as I only have five rows of my top done. Better get myself in high gear this weekend!!

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  2. I love this post. It is always a good reminder and when you quilt it you see it all but when it is done I so love it again! Thanks for a fun read and to see your uglies! Which look really pretty!

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  3. Well said! I have never sewn anything perfect and the only person that notices is me! We are so critical of ourselves. I love seeing your good, bad and uglies, they all look good to me. :)

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  4. I agree. Your points are not far off. I have quite a few like that too. Some of them were better points originally, but when I checked the seams there was less than 1/8" in the seam. Then it's a toss up between less than perfect points or seams that are likely to burst. Guess which I chose. We're not likely to bump into the quilt police, and as you say our loved ones never notice.
    I love the fabric you've used; just right for spring.

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  5. That is something that can never be said enough - and is worth far more than two cents!

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  6. You tell 'em! My grandmother always said you don't want it to be too perfect or it looks like you bought it at the store:) I love every wonky seam in the quilts she made me and it makes it so much more personal. P.s....don't you love that star made where all those seam intersect!

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