Quilt Block Layout Trauma
June 8, 2012 You guys I nearly drove myself completely mental yesterday. My original layout playing around was fun ... yeah, not so much anymore. At some point, this exercise turned from playful to painful.
I thought I had a nice block layout ... until Sue & Louise pointed out a problem - the bottom left block was red roundy and the other 3 corners were red pointy ... I spent way too much time trying to fix the problem.
First, I switched the 2nd and 4th rows.
Fine.
Uh, wait a minute. The 2 blocks with the most pink were beside each other in the top row. No good.
So switched the top 2 blocks in the middle column.
But then I had the same red fabric touching each other in the top row. No good.
So I swapped the outer columns.
THEN I realized I had the 2 roundy flowers touching in the second row ...
(Someone, PLEASE make this STOP!!!)
So I switched the 2 middle column blocks.
Crap. NOW I have 2 "lots of pink" blocks touching again.
Ok. One more try. Switch a few more times ...
This is the final layout. For sure. I really mean it this time.
Yes, I'm aware there are few little issues remaining. But I no longer care. And don't any of you DARE point out any other problems.
If you do, I'll hold you personally responsible for coming up with THE perfect layout that satisfies all my "seemingly ridiculous but to me and my OCD streak very logical quilt layout" rules.
Just sayin'. ;)
Hope you all have a nice weekend. I'll be working on this quilt ... and FW if I'm lucky.
Reader Comments (32)
That's it! Good work. . .sometimes it's worth the OCD. I have had a quilt all finished and seen a mistake in the layout of the finished project that bugs me forever!! Glad you obsessed. . .
I think the final layout looks great! I can't wait to see it all put together.
And seeing your blocks makes me really regret canceling this years Mystery Block of the Month, I did one a few years ago and it was fabulous!
You nailed it! Perfect balance of pointy and roundy, and pinks and reds and greens. Go for it!
By George, I think you've got it! Now.... don't think about it... don't ponder... don't do anything... just put the rows together! I have a quilt I analyzed to death... and finally just did it... I am not good at scrappy random.... there has to be a method to my madness....it truly can drive you insane and eat up a day or two for sure! Love your quilt! It is going to look wonderful - can't wait to see the borders!!! Hurry! Can't wait to see the FW, too! ;o)
Loooks greaaaat.... :) (step away from the blocks... go eat chocolate)
AHHHHH Your posts are amazing .... always ... I love read your blog and above all see your projects!!!!
But really the final layout ... I think is the best!!!!!
Your logical mind is so "COOL" for me ^__^
Have a great week-end ^__*
I second Bobanda's comment. Go eat chocolate. You deserve it. The quilt layout is great.
Love ALL of your layouts! And I wouldn't dare to say anything else;-) Have a great weekend, Hildy
where can we get these lovely blocks?? Now that you've finished, are they available to all of us? I love this quilt, and you did a MARVELOUS job on the layout, don't change a thing...
diannemitzel1@hotmail.com
You had me laughing out loud with this post! I soooo feel your pain! Your final product is awesome but then, so were all your other options.
Cheers!
DANG! That's the down side of 'advice'....it can make you CRAZY! ;p
When are we starting the 12 step program? I'm ready. Sounds like you are too. ;p
:)
I would buy a programme that you list the characteristics of each block and parameters and it positions your blocks.
I don't think you've revealed if you're loosely following Joanna's finishing kit. Because if you use her staggered layout with sashing, well, the blocks won't really touch each other. Does that help? Or maybe you have a secret layout that we'll see very soon! (Oh, if you're using her setting, I thought that those random rectangles of white w/red dots were just weird, so I used the white floral sashing fabric instead. And I deleted those flowers that are inset into the borders because I was just plain tired of sewing diagonal corners!)
Yep, just like childbirth!! ;)
Happy weekend Kristyne,
Vivienne x
Your quilt is going to be beautiful!
I swear, it's like you're in my head. ;-p I agonize exactly the same way when laying out blocks LOL! (But then my breakfast sausage must never touch my pancake syrup either. And I eat M&Ms in such a way as to have the same amount left of each color.)
OOohhh...I am so glad that I am not the only one that has that problem. It's a challenge in itself, like doing a puzzle with the same kind of pieces. Lovely quilt!
Oh, you had me laughing out loud! Too funny! But honestly, I think that this final layout is the best. It's going to be beautiful! Enjoy your weekend too.
Love your final layout!! So beautiful!! xo Heather
The angst was worth it,perfection. I always miss you on the weekends.
being a person who generally follows instinct, I would have been quite happy with any of the layouts that you presented. Done, is always better than Perfect... well, to me anyway. It is on a whole a completely lovey project.
I love all of the layouts - but I think you may need a lot of chocolate before you attempt to decide on a layout for your Farmer's Wife blocks. I could have moved mine around for ever - in the end I limited myself to five more moves, and then it would simply have to be as it was! Hope it works! Good luck.
You could throw them up in the air and be truly random.
Heh. Easier said than done. It looks great. All the layouts did. Honest. :-)
It's like you've been in my head!!! The arrangement looks great!
I can so relate! I did a queen quilt last week; was supposed to use 14 fabrics, I used 8. I finally decided I didn't care what fabric was touching what, I just wanted the top finished!
Your blocks are great; it's going to be a beautiful quilt.
The layout is perfect. Don't change a thing. Please make sure that all photographs show the quilt with this exact same alignment and placement. And if it goes on a wall or bed, the placement must stay exactly the same.
Porquoi?
Because that means my block is the first one in the top row. And really, that's the only thing that matters. <eg>
Good job. And don't worry, you're not alone. We all worry about touching pinks and reds. When you're from the same family, that kind of thing is frowned on.
as a picture framer for many years with lots of arranging experience, sometimes you just need to walk away from a project for a few hours (sometimes days) and then look at it UPSIDE DOWN before looking right side up...NO, i am not kidding!! try it!
Just catching up on your blog after time away ... So glad I'm not the only person who does this. The last layout is beautiful. :)
I am so glad to know that I am not the only person with this kind of OCD! LOL :-) I'm new here, but I think this blog is going to be a keeper. :-)
Thank you!
answer - play with it til you don't care any more.
This is probably a reason I don't quilt...
Thanks,
Peri