Today I sewed together the two pink blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I'm not at all happy with these, and somehow I'm going to have to fix them or else start over.
Obviously, I decided to make my little ladies multicultural and multigenerational. The don't look too bad in these pictures, but they are quite wonky and they won't lie flat. The center part where the skirts are (made from the dreaded templates) is the problem. It could be that my templates are off and I need to remake them, or it could be a problem with the pattern. In either case, if I'm going to continue with this project, I'm going to have to figure it out.
The pattern was designed by Barbara Weiland Talbert, and I was able to locate a contact email for her. I have written to her letting her know of my difficulties and asking if she could offer any advice, suggestions, or corrections. We'll see what she says, assuming she responds at all. Originally, the pattern was published on the Fabshophop website, but it no longer appears. That makes me a little suspicious; on the other hand, it could be a problem with the templates that I made.
Whatever happens, I need to figure this out and fix these blocks, or else I'm going to have to choose a different quilt and start over. I still have enough pink fabric to remake the skirts. That section of the block actually went together fairly easily. But when I tried sewing it to the other sections, I had all kinds of trouble. I might be able to solve the problem by simply adding a strip of background fabric to each side to make up the difference in width too. Any suggestions from any of you would be appreciated!
So that was my sewing day, frustrating though it was.
I'll be linking this post to Scrap Happy Saturday.
I'll be linking this post to Scrap Happy Saturday.
16 comments:
They look really cute! Hope you figure it out. If you know someone with EQ software they can redraw it for you. I would volunteer but not sure I will have time to get to it this week. I will work on it if I do get time.
Would be nice if someone could redraft in EQ (I have yet to figure it out) and maybe have a paperpieced block to use instead of all the templates.
What if you don't use templates for the skirt area? I just finished a Craftsy class with Sarah Fielke (sew big things from small scraps, or something like that) (and it was a GREAT class), and from that it seems to me that you could avoid a lot of that wonkiness (not that its noticeable, I'm just trying to appreciate your perspective) by just free-piecing that section and then cutting it to fit the block. Maybe that makes no sense at all, after all I've had my second glass of wine. Hi to the kitties. I missed seeing them in this post. :)
Yeah, I was going to suggest paper piecing, too. They are really sweet -- and honestly, from the photos they look great. But I know how it is to work with something that's not working right -- frustrating! Can you draw it in EQ and then print out the paper-pieced form? I'm sorry it's not playing nicely for you! :)
It may be possible to salvage these blocks if you rip out the wonkiest seam(s), then trim to make them straight. Getting just a little off on the skirt angles can make a big difference in how it lays.
Oh no, I feel for you. As a relative newcomer to quilting, I can only offer sympathy not help. Sorry.
Your ladies don't look wonky on the photo but that doesn't help how you feel about them. I would suggest checking the templates are accurate as when cutting plastic I find I occasionally 'miss' cut them and leave the template slightly bigger or smaller than it should be...a matter of mm's makes a lot of difference. I went back to your post from 14th January and it looks like the one template may be very slightly out which could possibly cause a problem. If so I'd trim it and then make a lady using fabric I'm not fussed about wasting to see if this improves things. I miss cut by a mm on my dresden blade template and the first plate just wouldn't sit properly at all. Good luck sorting it out.
If you have all your pieces cut already I would go with putting the strips between them. I think it would look great..put more focus on each doll.
Yep, my suggestion would be paper piecing it too. I hate templates!!!! But these little girls are going to be SO cute - you should definitely try to make it work :*)
Honestly, I have never had much luck with templates :-) So I can't say anything about that....BUT, I can totally see this as a paperpieced pattern. For the record, they do not look wonky :-)
I have nothing to add to the above suggestions, but they do look cute in the pics.
I don't like template sewing, I've had the same problems. Paper piecing might be the best option. My scrap challenge block is usually done with templates but I drafted in in EQ so I could paper piece it to see if that worked better.
So so so so adorable! I love them! What about blocking them and hoping they dry flat?!? They look perfect from here!
Great looking blocks. I can not tell they are wonky. You might be able to quilt out the wonkyness. They are cute, Love the different skin colours you are using.
Make them DELIBERATELY wonky. This is a great tutorial from 2010. You can resize for YOU. http://quilt-it.blogspot.com/2010/08/bee-friends.html
They are cute, but look difficult to very make.
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