This is most the quilt top I've been making for the doll quilt swap. I need to add a border to it, which will also have a black "shadow" to it ... and, which, will hopefully tie the squares together well.

The overall top is actually straighter than it looks in this picture, I was moving it around (with my toe) without straightening it up again.

I brought it out to show Jason last night because I was wondering if the top and left side of the sashing should be longer than the bottom and right side, because they don't have the "shadow". We agreed that while that'd be technically correct, it'd throw the balance off and would look wrong, rather than right.

And then I started seeing real issues ...


See the bottom left white/blue block (why is this picture upside down ...)? There is hardly any background on the left side at the black shadow. It's supposed to be a tiny white square, not a sliver. I *think* I can fix this one by pulling out the block and resetting it slightly. The seam allowances are 1/4" so I don't have a lot to work with but there should be enough there to make it look right.


Top middle square ... the shadow is a very wavy line (also upside down). I was hoping I could press it back but it's not budging. That one I don't think I can fix without doing a new square and trying to set it back in.

Overall, I'm just flustered. As the close-ups show there are other squares that are also slightly off. I have a few thoughts as to why this happened but I'm not really sure ... I was so careful with cutting and sewing ... but I think when I squared the squares up I may have created some of the issues, and also when pressing.

So I think I need to start over. Do you agree? I'll finish this one anyway, but I'm not sure it's good enough to give. I love the shadow quilt idea and I'd do it again on a larger scale (it'd be a great way to showcase a charm pack).

I can't believe I managed to write this post without sending the cuss-o-meter through the roof.