The Ups and Downs of in the Creative Process

About a year ago I made my first quilt block, thus branching out from my existing passion for sewing (aprons, bags, accessories, and some garments).  Since then I've made a lot of blocks (really a lot!!) and done some modest quilting projects.  So in January, I decided I wanted to make something for our own home, which I do not do much.  I'm always getting little hints, that would be nice here...

One side to be 'whole cloth'

So I'm totally in love with the wonderful fabrics that were recently released by Birch Fabrics with Charley Harper prints. We have what I've discovered is now called a 'mid-century modern' home and these fabrics are perfect.  A friend and I sent away to California to grab some of the special booty for ourselves.  Then I saw the project I wanted to do and needed to get more fabric for the backing. Panic! Sold out all of the place.  Finally located what I wanted, placed the order and waited.  

Charley Harper prints chosen for the wedge pieces

Many little decisions crop up in every sewing project, and this is no exception.  First off, the two sides are very different in coloration and feeling, which is not typical but I want a piece that can be used at different seasons and with different table settings for us. The blue side is already graphic enough to be effective and interesting in whole cloth, so the other prints could be the wedge pieces.  Another decision: use the gold twigs as binding, since the gold will unite both schemes.

Next, decide the print order and directional orientation was decided.  I was working from a pattern published by Jacquie Gering, but I wanted different sized pieces (bigger) and more pieces.  I also had eight prints to work with, not a different print for each wedge as the pattern suggested.  Most of the prints are directional, meaning they run one direction.  Cutting was a careful process to make sure that within a set of wedges each faced opposite directions (a design decision by me).

Lay out order and orientation of wedges

Once pieced with neutral strips between each wedge, the batting and whole cloth backing are put together and the 'quilting' step began.  Yet more decisions: what color(s) of thread? What type of stitching design?  I decided I wanted grey on the wedge pieces, and neutral on the insert  pieces between the wedges.  Grey looked great on all the prints, but would look terrible on the blue, gold and neutral on the back.  I tried threads in all three colors and decided that blue worked the best, gave texture, showed up but did not glare and stand out like neutral and gold.  Good! Since I am new at quilting, straight line techniques are all I will venture, but since this is so geometric, I think that will work well.  Follow the wedge shape in concentric lines.  Good again.  Go.

"Echo" stitching pattern, following wedge shapes

Loving the effect of grey thread choice

All is great, over two days I got all 17 wedges stitched, trimmed the excess, and put it on the table to review the look 'in situ'.  Wonderful, right?  NOOOOO!!   

I spotted a major problem - I accidentally used the wrong color thread in the bobbin for 6 of the 17  wedges on the blue side.  Some were in neutral and others in blue.  What to do?  Live with it? Claim artistic license (I meant to do that!!)? Rip it out and fix?  I am always told to let things stand a bit, don't react instantly.  See if you can live with it.  Is it big, small?  

Leave it or fix it?

What should I do?  Next chapter coming soon.