Indigo Dyeing and “Fall’s Splendor” Quilt is Done

Last week I made a quick trip to one of our local quilt stores, Wild and Wooly, and look what they had hung out to dry:

Indigo dyed pieces of fabric!

And some with very pretty patterns laid over a table:

I did a post on the history of indigo and indigo dyeing in South Carolina some time ago. The growing of indigo was pioneered in South Carolina:

To recall first, here’s the backing.

This older Kaffee Fasset fabric (which I saw as winter squashes like one sees in New England in this colorway) of “beach balls” started my recent play time with the 8-inch Cat’s Cradle ruler. This piece of fabric had been hanging out in my stash for, literally, years. I chose the fabrics for this new quilt series from those used in this fabric.

The first quilt is “Fall’s Splendor,” and it is done and bound.

BUT, there is a problem that is driving me more than a little crazy. When I sewed the rows, I didn’t put them back on the design wall as I went. So, I didn’t notice that I had sewn two blocks out of order on the third row from the bottom on the left until the top was quilted and bound. The reversal throws off that pattern of the small squares going up the diagonal line.

Ugh!!!

This quilt is otherwise so handsome. But what to do??

I tell myself that no one is going to hang this quilt on a wall or spread it over a bed. It’s a lap quilt. It’s meant to be hugged and loved. I tell myself I didn’t even notice until it was finished.

I also tell myself that I might be able to take off the binding in that spot and to take out the quilting stitches–which would involve more than those two blocks–and to sew the blocks in correctly and redo the stitching using the pantograph.

Can I do that? I don’t honestly know. It would be tricky–and I don’t want to hurt other parts of the quilt pinning it back on the longarm. Could it just be draped over the longarm rollers.

The current quilting is beautiful, so can I replicate that impact?

Honestly, I don’t know what I’ll do yet. I’m just letting this problem simmer.

BUT, I would hate to give away a flawed quilt.

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Author: louisaenright

I am passionate about whole, nutrient-dense foods, developing local markets, and strengthening communities.

7 thoughts on “Indigo Dyeing and “Fall’s Splendor” Quilt is Done”

  1. Leave it alone. I didn’t notice until you called it out and gave directions. Someone will snuggle in and love this quilt. You are not giving away a “flawed” quilt but love and comfort.

  2. Leave it like it is!! Don’t worry about it!! I did not notice the mistake until my third look (even though I had read where the error was!!). Trust me, you will only be in a disaster if you take it apart now!! I think it is beautiful!

  3. I don’t think we should ever point out flaws … they’re part of the artistry of quilt making. At least, that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it, lol!

  4. Oh for heaven’s sake! A done quilt is a good quilt! Don’t point out your “mistake”; consider it a “made you look” intentional variation. I get it with being aggravated after all the careful planning, but it’s a beautiful quilt AS IS.

  5. Louisa about your Fall Splendour quilt leave it. If anyone is mean enough to point it out,

    Tell them you did it on purpose to show isn’t perfect.

    It’s beautiful.

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