Some people call this a seam ripper, others name it after a 19th century Whitechapel serial killer, but I prefer a more positive spin for my seam ripper! It's my Magic Wand!
I feel that reverse sewing is all part of the process. If you don't like something, the 'magic wand' makes it easy to make a change.
For example, I've had these few blocks on my design wall since I wrote about these scrappy postage stamp blocks a couple weeks ago.
It kept bugging me that maybe the light/neutral border on the alternating blocks wasn't 'fun' enough.
Sure enough, with the help of my 'magic wand' I tried out some colorful strips and I much prefer the revised blocks on the left in the photo above over the original blocks on the right. So, I'm in the process of making a 'design enhancement' on the remaining blocks.
This reverse-sewing process seems to be a recurring theme this week, as I really didn't like original fabric I chose for the block centers for these place mats I'm making.
Add a little magic and the project has a new life.
We've all pulled out a seam or two from time to time, but I find it can be a little intimidating to make a change once steps have been added. And here I've created SIX holes in one little place mat! Actually two! . . . Alright, I'll fess up, I was on the third place mat before I decided I just didn't like the color combo I chose (not shown).
Here's what I did. To keep things simpler for the photos, I'm working on the fix for one block by itself for starters.
'Do the magic' first and remove the offending piece - in my case, that's the center square and the four borders around it. I like the center square fabric but not the inner border I chose. I removed the entire center unit, then removed the inner border (like magic!).
Next I added the new raspberry border to the center square.
I followed the same sequence I used when I made the block the first time. The new center with new raspberry border is on my wool mat, right side up, and I put the rest of the block right side up, over the new center, the inside edge of the shorter border roughly aligned with the center unit.
Then I flip the outer border (white print) so it's inner edge is right sides together, aligned with the new center (bottom right). Notice that the side seams have been removed just enough for the width of my foot plus a little extra (below right).
With the first seam sewn, I repeat the process with seam number 2 (below left). The last two seams (3 & 4) (below right) are partial seams. . .
. . . sewn between the arrows rather than edge to edge.
A good press and the 'magic' is complete!
To make the same adjustment after the blocks have been sewn into the rest of the placemat top, I need a little more space to accommodate the 3rd and 4th fixes. If I remove the 3 or 4 stitches at each end of the seam (circled, below), I can manipulate the seam under the presser foot to avoid puckers as the stitching approaches the seam intersection.
Lather, rinse, and repeat, and repairs are done, just like magic! Ready to sandwich and quilt!
And no one needs to know about the holy (hole-y) mess I created to get to this point! (You won't tell, will you?)
Happy Stitching!
Head Hummingbird
Hummingbird-Highway.com
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