Yes, I'm channeling Scooby Doo because I've made a mistake and I need some help.
I'm ready to start stitching G - Gifts from my "Snowmen A....Zzzz" project and have run into a snag.
I decided to do my blocks on Kona Snow, cut a handful of squares and prepped them for stitching. I've completed those letters and now I'm ready to move on to do more prepping and stitching. Guess what? The Kona Snow I have does not match the Kona Snow I've already used. I took a swatch to Joann's to purchase more yardage and brought home a yard that does not match either. There's definitely a dye lot difference - I know that all whites, snows, creams, etc are not created equal - ACK!!!
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| "Snowmen A...Zzzz" by Crabapple Hill Studio |
I'm at my wit's end here because I don't know what to do. Should I just go buy lots of yardage and start anew? Should I use the new Kona Snow and hope it doesn't matter when the whole project is completed?
I've considered using the new Kona Snow (need to go purchase more) and then when the whole project is completed put it in a dye bath with a teeny, tiny drop of tea or coffee (just enough to make everything blend).
I'm a fast stitcher so I'm tempted to just start all over again - big, big sigh!
What would you do? Help, please!!!!
It's been a very frustrating day.
(I'm tempted to scratch the whole project)
I hope your day was pieceful - mine was not! :-(
In Friendship!
41 comments:
I hate when that happens. I hope you don't have to remake your stitcheres.
I've had this happen before too...but not with stitchery. I did end up picking apart my blocks and taking out the mismatched Kona Snow...I knew it would always bug me if I didn't. But with stitcheries...wow...I don't know...that is so much work!
I've had that happen as well; not a happy discovery. I would go ahead with the new Snow and dye the quilt when finished.
i would start again Darlene and you can always make mug rugs or small wallhangings with the others,good luck.xx
If you use the new fabric and then overdye everything, will it still bug you when it's finished. If so, I guess you need to cut your losses and start again, otherwise that's the route I'd take.
I wouldn't mind the variation -but then I am an extremely slow stitcher. But the important thing is that you would, so you probably do need to start again.
Perhaps you coulduse the already completed blocks to make gifts or cushions.
Oh my...you have a dilemma! Your snowmen are adorable but the whites are definitely not matching. If this was for me, I would probably live with it as is...gives your quilt a story! But if it were to be a gift, I would probably start over...so sorry for your situation.
Darn, I think I'd have to get more and start again...the ones you've already done would make wonderful pillows for Christmas gifts. Did I already say DARN?!
I would finish them and add the dye! And if there are slight variations, it adds character! I would maybe even add a couple others to add to the variety!
I'd go ahead and start stitching on the new fabric. Even if you are a fast stitcher, that's a lot of work to redo. I'm sure once it's all together it will look fine! But that's just me letting go of trying to make things perfect! LOL
I'm kind of a teadye/coffee dye kind of girl-- I think it's a great idea. But you may have to redo that one piece.... Bummer..
Perfect is over rated, go with what you have, Making Do is a good thing!!!
Oh no!That is a tough one! I'm not even sure what I would do. All I know is that you have to go with your gut. Good luck!
Darlene, I think at one time I may have been fussy enough about it to start over, but these days I think I would just ignore the slight color difference and, as you suggested, put all of the completed blocks into a dye bath after they have been sewed together and overdye them.
So frustrating! I would keep going and give it a little dye bath at the end!
Darlene, I have to LQS that sell all the Kona solids...If you want to send me a little sample of the correct Kona Snow, I would be more than happy to go check and see if they have matching before you start all over. They are very close to my home so it wouldn't be a problem. Just let me know and I will email you my address so you can send me a little piece. I can even compare dye lots if you have a number and I could just check that out. I do know that one of the shops has several bolts of Kona Snow and I can see the tiniest variance in them, so they may very well have a matching one. Happy to help if you want me to try. Big Hugs....
Oh no! Don't scrap the project...it is too cute. Shez suggestion is a good one. Want me to see if TOWQS has the kona. I can send you a sample to see if it is the same.
Are you going to be having setting blocks around the embroidery? If so, you may not notice the difference once they are all together. If you are, I would check that first and see what they look like together before I made a decision.
I like it when the backgrounds vary! I would never, ever, ever, start over...but that's just me;)
I would add additional mismatched whites to make it look like that is what you were going for. I think it adds life to a quilt to add different shades.IMHO.
I had the same thing happen when I made my Great Granny squares. When I put the blocks together you could see some difference but not enough for me to do it over. Because I use a lot of snow and natural Kona, the next time I buy some I will buy as much as I can afford at the time. Buying a bolt would be nice but I think that is out of the question but maybe ten yards would last a long time.
uggggggggggggggggggggggggh!!!!! I so hate when that happens :-( !!!!
Darlene... you have to do what YOU feel is right otherwise you'll never be happy with the finished quilt. The pattern is so cute...it's going to be gorgeous.
This person would NOT start over. I'd give them a tea dye when finished. I like the primitive look and "making do" is what the pioneers would have done.
Darlene: I'd stitch with the new Snow and then soak everything in a bath with a bit of tea at the end...that should even the blocks out. The other thing you could do is leave the blocks as they are, use the new Snow on some of the new blocks and maybe another slightly different neutral on others...that would make the quilt look like you meant to have 'mismatched' backgrounds......JMHO!
How much will the shade difference bug you? If you think that every time you look at the finished project you will notice it, I would start over. Perhaps you could test the over-dyeing to see if it will work?
I like Sally's idea, but if I make my guess about your preference, starting over with the "new" Kona will please your eye the most.
I personally would start again but if you were going to tea dye them all in the end then it probably wouldn't be worth the effort to restitch the blocks you've already done. However, if it was your intention to leave them white, I'd suggest that you re-do them because you'll never be satisfied with the results.
What a bummer!
I would get a few more Kona Snows and then nothing would match - I've seen redwork quilts with different variations of whites and they look good - like they were meant to be that way, especially if you can move the different shades around and not have them in a row. Otherwise I would probably start over again - I'm just that way.
Can you try to dye a few scraps of your different fabrics to see what they look like together after they've dried? Just to see if it might work? Oh my - that is a lot of work put into those stitcheries... I feel so bad for you!
I love a little variation in my backgrounds. It gives some movement to the quilt. I would not start over!!!! However, i would give your blocks a wonderful home if you decide to start over, but really, i wouldnt start over.....
So sorry that is happening to you! I hate when things like this happen when I'm well into a project. I have a bolt of Kona Snow and would be happy to see if mine matches your original if you can send me a little swatch.
Otherwise, could you start over and use your already-stitched blocks to make pillows, mug rugs or tote bag fronts to use for Christmas gifts?
Why don't you make it a white "scrap" quilt. The trend lately is on "low impact" quilts. In fact, I saw a scrap white quilt that was really pretty. You could purchased a couple more "white" fabrics, to really make it look more intentional. Just an idea. Either way, I know it will be beautiful. Be sure and post pictures.
I would use the new fabric and keep going. Go ahead and tea dye the quilt in the end. It will look fabulous! Your stitching is wonderful by the way!
What did you decide? I would keep going and give the whole thing a tea bath.
You have probably seen 'Winter Wonderland'...they use scrappy whites and it looks 'wonder'ful! . Can you use polkadot whites and snowflake whites on some of the block or have you stitched too many to start adding scrappy whites? If so, then do what others have suggested...have a tea party! BUT don't start over!
Good luck!
P
If it will drive you crazy, redo it and make sure you have plenty of the new Kona Snow to make it work. If you want, keep going with your new blocks and come back to the old blocks later to finish up.
Never thought about Kona Snow being in different shades as I've used it before, but I think it was from the same bolt.
BTW, love the blocks. Quilt will look fabulous once it's done :)
I just got this pattern. I won't get it completed before Christmas, but maybe for next year....I would start over. I know that the variation in color would bug me to no end. Maybe use the ones that are already done as throw pillows? I'm not sure about the tea dye, I would try a very pale blue. My two cents and that's just about all it's worth!
That's a shock that white is not all the same!
Who knew?!? I would probably just continue on and then do a quick tea bath at the end of the project. But I really like the antique look, so don't know if you want to go that route or not. Big decision!
You have to do what you will be happy with in the end, but I can not imagine starting over. How many blocks have you stitched? I like the idea of using a variety of off whites and whites if there will be sashing between the blocks.
I quilted one of the Crabapple Hill quilts, and my customer used a variety of whites/creams in the stitching. It turned out pretty neat! No way would I restart this.
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