Oh You Have GOT to be Kidding Me!
June 15, 2012 Okay.
So.
(Sigh.)
I got a new iron. Which boasted - among other features to justify the $160 price tag - that it WOULD NOT scorch fabric.
May I present to you Exhibit A ...
Seriously? Are you KIDDING me?
I think I might have used every bad word in the English language.
More than once.
Because "picklejuice" and "fiddlesticks" weren't cutting it.
Don't worry, I spared the children by using my inside-my-head voice.
But I'm pretty sure Martin Scorsese woulda been impressed.
So now do I use one of my reject blocks? Or replace this one ... because it WAS one of my favorites ...
I think I need a break from this quilt. Clearly I'm being punished by the quilting gods for not making that 111th block.
Besides, I got a fun new book I want to show you next week.
And I really need some fun right about now.
"Look out Weekend, here I come!"
Reader Comments (58)
OOOHHHHH NOOOOO! (@*#&$(@*&@#!!! I would have let them fly, kids beware. Perhaps you should just step away from the fabric for now. I'll have to read my book again to see if there is a curse associated with not doing all of the blocks :) Can't wait to see what you are going to make from Joanna's new book! Have a great weekend!
Oh NOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Cannot believe it!! Scorching?? OMG! This quilt seesm to have more challenges every day!!! Can you wash that scorch out?? Soak in peroxide? google it,see how serious it is, may be able to save it! You are better than a mystery novel!
I have that book!! A nice little treat for a stressed out quilter!!! It will be a long weekend waiting to her the next chapter,you need to write a book to go with it teling all of your challenges!!! You have my sympathy! You need to have a column of "those quilts" I guess try not to oil your machine during thisr process too!!! I feel you you!!!
Well, they said the Titanic was unsinkable too. Yea, I would be throwing the naughty words around too. Hope that iron goes back to where it came from! Bad, bad iron!
I loved that block, too! Please rescue it!
Unbelievable!!! I don't know what else to say.
My opinion ( after teaching quilting classes for nearly 20 years)....with irons, just go CHEAP. Our shop has had every good and expensive iron that has been created. They leak, they scorch, and I haven't found one that justifies the cost.
Now we go to Walmart and buy less expensive irons in abundance. Then when they have a problem, we toss and bring out another new one. I do the same at home.
So sorry about your block. I say make another one. It is SEW worth it.
Oh no...you have every right to use any colorful word you want! I too am fed up with irons especially those high priced ones that advertise that they won't leak or drip!
sad, sad, sad!!! i would seriously cry! what a dumb iron! you definitely need a break and find some peace, love, happiness and joy in that new book. take a deep breath and make something pretty!
;)
OMG, OMG, OMG!!! It's time to walk away from this project.
It's definitely time for a new project.
Oh man! What a bummer! I applaud you for using your inside the head voice, I don't know if I would have had that kind of restraint! This quilt is quickly turning into your nemesis!
I'd march through the door of the shop that sold you the iron brandishing the scorched block and making an unholy fuss...at least I would in my head - in reality I'd probably curse the iron and put the whole project in a box for a while until I could forgive it!! I hope you find a solution...
I read that iron scorch marks can be removed by soaking item for 20 minutes or more in1 gallon of water with 1 scoop oxiclean. Worth a try!
Please step away from the ironing board! It's time to take a little break! Can't wait to see what you'll share with us about the book next week.
The person who invents the perfect iron will be an instant billionaire. With technology that enables me to comment on my phone from the doctor's waiting room, you would think someone could make an iron that works! Try to rescue the block...I love it!
NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOooooooooooo!!! :(
Yes, you need a break! A big break complete with chocolate and Duran Duran turned up to "11"!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO way,,,,, I am SO sorry... I canNOT believe this! And after all you are going through to finish this quilt.... I feel sick for you... this is a bummer... I am so sorry. :o( I would bring you chocolate right now if I could!
Send your iron back and buy more fabric from the money;-) And yes, I think you need a FW-break ... And YES, this is one of the best quilt/sewing books ever, I love it!!! But I've read that there'll be a beautiful book released in december 2012 (wink) with a cute little grey kitty on the cover (more wink). Wanna tell us more???
Have a wonderful weekend, Hildy
Oh no! I say take a break from the quilt, then remake that block. GAK! I am so sorry!
FRACK ME!!!!! That is terrible! I would definitely take the iron back. I found the expensive Rowenta's didn't last so now I use cheapo iron from Target. I've been much happier. ;p
You've got nothing to lose with soaking the blocks. I'd try it. Have a Margarita tonight to blow off some stearm. I'll have one for you! ;p
Hey, what's the secret Hildy is hinting about....just askin'?
I just found your blog the other day and have now read through the entire thing. I feel like we are now friends :) The hard part is that I live on the other side of the world and I have to wait all day to ready your new posts!
I cried out when I read this blog post and my husband just rolled his eyes at me when I told him what happened to your block. He doesn't get it. But I do. And I feel your pain.
Whoa I guess that irons going back!!!!!!!!
Hope the quilt takes a lucky turn next :)
Have a sweet weekend
Karen x
Me again Kristyne,here is a link that says if yu put the fabric in cold water,scorch will disappear
Tip #2: If you scorch cotton fabric while ironing, plunge into cold water immediately and let stand 24 hours. The scorched areas will disappear.
What do you have to lose?
Read about the cheap vs pricey irons,I agree,our LQS has the same experience.
You will never forget this quilt!!!
If it was one of your favorites, you have to replace it - you won't be happy if you don't. But yeah, that break first sounds like a good idea. Were any animals or small children harmed in the making of this quilt? I'm just wondering what you did to deserve all the punishment you are receiving from it.
POO!! I would have been sooooooooo stinkin' mad! So does the iron go back then? Of COURSE it had to be on one of your favorite blocks. Grrrrr.
Gosh darn it!!! I had the same thing happen but with a much smaller project so I can only imagine like a tenth of your irritation, but my inner swear monster goes out to you But you will love love love that book so there is at least one good thing on the horizon. I got mine a few weeks ago and it is darling!
Oh NO, poor girl! My heart goes out to you after all of the the trials you have been through on this sweet project! It is so cute!
The iron must be shunned - never again allowed to touch the front of any good fabrics. And punished by getting the lowly, and sticky, duties -such as ironing on interfacing and fusibles .
Susie
legato1958@aol.com
This is from the Country Women's Association Book (1st pub 1936) in Australia. To remove scorch marks proceed in the following manner: Chop an onion small and put it with 2 oz. of Fuller's Earth and 1/2 (half) a pint of vinegar into a saucepan. Boil the mixture until it becomes thick and pasty. Stir well, and allow to cool. Spread some of the paste on the scorch mark and leave to dry. then brush off the paste, and wash the article in cold water.
The next solution is simpler. "To remove scorch marks damp them and expose to the sun."
The next requires immediate action by putting a "scorched article of any kind immediately into boiling water and left for a while, the marks will fade out."
With linen - "rub with a raw lemon and allow to dry in the sun" .
Also have hints for woollens and silks.
Mum always swore (in the other way) by lemon as a cure all for anything from colds to whitening/exfoliating elbows. though why elbows I never found out.
Also Kristyine if you are still with me these irons, if electric had no steam just marked from say silk/lace to linen. Or more probably be flat irons left on the stove to heat then do you want to know how they were heat tested???
So you can see re-making the block would be easier but would love to know if the onion one worked especially with "Fuller's Earth" I have heard of it but never seen or used it.
If anyone wants to make a door mat from a motor tube (used to be inside car tyres to inflate) I have the directions.
Reading Joanna's book would have brought a different light and Hildy's words are a tease.
The solution can be worse than the problem..........at least with the above.
Hope you had a good one ............. weekend.
Oh my gosh.... how disappointing! My heart just sunk for you!!
Seriously I would take that iron back get a refund, buy a cheapie and spent the rest on fabric!!!
Take a break . I'd replace it with one of your adorable, didn't make it into the quilt blocks. You have worked soooo hard on this quilt. All your blocks are just beautiful.
Have a lovely weekend, work on something else and have a read of your lovely book with a cup of tea!
Therese xx
I'll ditto my last post, "you poor thing". Try squeezing fresh lemon juice on the scorched areas and setting them in the sun a few hours. That gets out rust every time and may work here. Worth a try. The new book looks darling. You could also start a setting for the Mystery BOM. Hint.
Oh.dear.lord. That totally stinks!!! My iron bubbles & spits out brown water sometimes ... I know how you feel. ugh. Maybe if you scorch the rest it will all look 'vintage?" Kidding. Don't do that. :)
I would used all of those words to I have really been upset with myself when my iron left marks on my fabric. Especially when I worked so hard to put the block together like you did. I am glad that you decided to take a break from it I could tell you were getting so upset with yourself. I have done that with clothes when I can't get the pattern right and it looks just awful. I about wan to throw it away but I lay it down and go to something else. Then try my hardest to stay calm and fix what ever I have done wrong with it.
Oh Kristyne!!
I so feel your pain! And at this stage in this quilt!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
I recently scorched a Cocorico Bee block which had taken me days of planning, designing, sewing, unpicking...........
OMG, I was DEVASTATED!!
Happily though, I did manage to remove the mark. I googled how to do it and used cold water with some oxygen soaker stuff. I wasn't expecting it to work but it actually did!
Might be worth a try :)
Oh no! That sucks so much! :( I think you're right, it's definitely time for a break from this quilt. Take some time out and go back when you feel fresher! (I do think maybe you should re-make the block, cos it was a fav, and after some time-out hopefully that won't sound quite such a terrible idea!)
Look forward to seeing the new book though
S x
I haven't got time to read through all your comments so not sure if anyone else has said this but read the end of this post....
http://maria-lifeontheblock.blogspot.fr/2012/06/one-flower-wednesdayhouses-and.html
This happened to Maria and she used vinegar! Google it and see what to do.
Good luck xx
nope, my "fuzzy ducks" wouldnt have covered it either! yep, you need a weekend away!
I can offer some word suggestions if you run out!!!! Take a break for a while, make something else, then come back to it with fresh eyes, oh, and maybe a new iron.
how disappointing...
This is one of those times when "life is NOT FAIR! You did not deserve for that to happen. I know you will get past this....I have had my fair share of iron woes too. I am really looking forward to learning more about that book. I may even have to bite the bullet and buy it. I will see what you think first.
OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I would be tempted to cry and would definitely say a few/lots of naughty words. I am in the market for a new iron and am so undecided on what to get. My Rowenta has given me faithful service for 21 years and now it is starting to spit water....I think it is on the way to iron heaven! I have heard they only last a couple of years now and I hate to spend that much for something I have to replace in a few years. I looked at the Oliso and read reviews, which were terrible for the most part. My mom buys an inexpensive Black and Decker and says they work great, but I want more steam power. When you figure out what iron is best, let me know!!!
Seriously? That from a $160 iron??? That happened to me for the first time a few months ago, but the iron was like $11 (what a waste of $11), but what can you expect. But, obviously you DON'T get what you pay for!!
I don't know how a company can tell us their irons won't scorch fabric. It's practically a law of nature! Jerks!
Oh Kristyne!!!! That was my favourite block! Do you have enough fabric to re-do it, as much of a pain as that would be? I think I'd be sending that iron back with a SevERe letter. I'm crying with you (and mumbling unspeakables in my head!) x
ACK! yes, take a step away from the quilt! And go beat the iron with a baseball bat.
It bears repeating seriously, "are you kidding me?"
I feel your pain!
Hope y'all don't get onto me for saying this but, did you test the new iron on a scrap fabric before doing that? That's what my late mother taught me to do with new irons, especially with different settings. I'd try different settings until I found a setting that would work on the fabrics I'd use. Otherwise, I'm with you... send the iron back, and get a cheap one (and test this time on scrap fabrics!). I hope you are able to salvage the scorched block or whatever it was! I'd be bald by now, pulling my hair out, if that happened to me! LOL!!!
I had that happen with a block in the center of a Double Wedding Ring quilt. It's heartbreaking. The quilt I'm working on now is the second one---I had almost finished quilting the first iteration and discovered the batting was defective. Long story, but I had to remake the quilt from scratch--it was a graduation gift I had promised my daughter's boyfriend. Sigh. Quilting the last borders this week.
Oh no! I had to skim to the end to see the happy ending... that you washed it in vinegar or something and it was all better.
Reality bites. And I am so sorry for your awful day. I don't think even chocolate could make it better.
I LOVE that block! the colors and all. Try what the other folks said about getting rid/lessening the scorch....I've heard that for decades.
This is the first time I've read your blog! now I have to go back to the beginning to see what everyone is referring to .
I am so very sorry, I will pray for you and your poor little quilt square. May quilting go without anymore 'hicups'.
Kristyne,you are linked over at Craft Gossip this morning!
http://quilting.craftgossip.com/iron-fail-at-pretty-by-hand/2012/06/17/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+craftgossip%2FxQGh+%28Craft+Gossip%29
Waiting to hear how this all turns out!