Ack! I snipped through my fabric!
Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 1:58PM ;)
Most of today was spent stitching out this one block, it’s large, 12 x 12 inches. I am having so much fun combining these monkey motifs for this quilt!
I finished the block, and using my duck billed applique scissors to trim away the stabilizer, I still managed to snip through my background fabric!
I’ve added the text “snipped” and an arrow pointing to the spot where I cut through the fabric. I’m hoping one of you geniuses out there can suggest a fix so I can make a repair, rather than having to redo the entire block.
It’s in the wrong place to applique a little bug… will fabric glue bond this down?
Created by CJ
Thank you EVERYONE for the suggestions. The snip is right above the top of the birds head, and within a 1/2 of the block edge, making it tough to add anything there, by the time I have a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
I did go ahead and fuse the back, and apply permanent fabric glue to the front, and the snip is completely undetectable, my only concern is durability. In the end, I’ll probably redo the block. Sigh. LOL
Reader Comments (20)
I'm sure there is something like Bo-Nash bonding agent that would do the repair:
http://www.bonash.com/index.html
But, when I do something like this it really bothers me to the point that I have to do a complete re-do. Sure is a cute block! The whole quilt is really wonderful!
Can't see the snip and I can't enlarge to see better.
Here's my shot in the dark!
I have used an iron fusible interfacing.
Also there are BoNash powder, Liquid Thread, an Liquid Stitch to name a few bonding agents.
If you use fabric glue, it should be permanent.
If it is in an area that will be quilted, Elmers School glue will hold but not be permanent.
I use a DSM and caught the top of the quilt in the arm of the free motion foot. Some threads were distorted and a couple torn. I marked the area with a pin and quilted it closely. I doubt that I could find that spot now.
I agree with the above in that i would go with soem fusible from the back.. Life is way to shot to get all mental on something that can get pooped on ;-)
Maddie
CJ, You could embroider a branch in the toucan's mouth. Or use the above methods & quilt that area a bit heavier. Hate when that happens, & I'll bet we all have had that experience. Good luck. The blocks are cute. Diane in CT
Hi CJ,
The branch will work great or even a piece of fruit. I would not redo the block. Free motion embroidery will do the trick.
Use Steam a seam 2 to fuse a small piece of the background fabric to the back and then put a branch in the mouth! Have done this on several occasions when I snipped trying to trim stabilizer.
How about a fish in the toucan's mouth?
Bo-Nash is the way to go!!!
I'm inclined to agree with the comments about redoing the block. Just a thought - can you add like an inner border at that point? Even if out of the same fabric might not be too bad.
What if you made it look like the bird was carrying something in it's mouth?
gosh, I HATE when that happens...and we've all done stuff like that! I think a bit of fusible with a piece of backing fabric behind the cut should do it. Then use a small brush with some fabric glue to seal it carefully on the front. I've also heard of a powder called BoNash, but have never used it myself! Good Luck! the block is as cute as can be!! Polly
I would applique something in bird's mouth to cover the snip -- which I can not see. First I would fuse a bit of backing fabric behind the snip using rounded or scalloped edges so it does not show through.
I just hate when that snip through the background happens!!! And it happens to everyone sometimes.
Diane in MD
How 'bout the bottom of a cloud?
After sealing the cut with something suitable I would add another toucan as though the two birds were playing in the sky.
XX
I have used something I bought at our local quilt shop - can't find the name of it yet, but it's a small plastic sheet - you cut a tiny piece and iron it on the back. It melds in with any fabric and is virtually undetectable. I'll keep looking for it and find out the name if you have trouble locating some. It was around $3 and worth it bc. you can use little pieces and it lasts forever.
Good luck - 'been there too!
Thank you EVERYONE for the suggestions. The snip is right above the top of the birds head, and within a 1/2 of the block edge, making it tough to add anything there, by the time I have a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
I did go ahead and fuse the back, and apply permanent fabric glue to the front, and the snip is completely undetectable, my only concern is durability. In the end, I'll probably redo the block. Sigh. LOL
CJ, Add another bird. Since you have reinforced the area, it should hold up with addition of the embroidery. I did the same on an applique block which had a kitten, so added a ball of yarn with tail. Looks as though it was meant to be. Only you will know. Nancy
With the amount of work you are doing on this I think a redo is called for. Otherwise you will always focus on that when looking at the finished project. Maybe you could use this for the center of a pillowcase or wall hanging with the name of the child it will go to?
I use Bo-Nash, but don't feel like the granulas are small enough for quilting fabric. I was doing the Modern Mix quilt and and had a simular problem. I did Bo-Nash on back, fabric sealant that doesn't show up at all, and we are hoping the quilting can cover it up. It was of the big blocks and we were out of fabric. I hope this works out for you.
I know you will redo it as you won't be content until you do. But how about turning that block into a cute potholder? It would be a great conversation piece. He's so cute. I bought myself some really small curved scissors just for the same reason. I think those duckbills are unreliable. I've cut too many pieces of lace when I was doing baptismal
gowns. I do not ever use them anymore. Hilary