Thread: It's okay to be a failure

Originally Posted by MadQuilter

I respectfully disagree with the title of your post. You are not a failure. You may have failed at meeting the expectations of this project but that is it. YOU are not a failure. That said, the blocks are cute. One possible use is to turn them into HSTs with the black on one side. Then it wouldn't be noticeable that the lines don't match up. You can square up the HST and nobody will ever be the wiser.

I think this is an absolutely fabulous idea!!! You just turned a light bulb on for me for my next donation quilt using mile-a-minute blocks!!

Remove the black piece, press the block and square it, then measure the black to be sure both blocks are the same size and sew together. I like the look of your block. You have many interesting ideas given here. By following some/most you will have a very nice quilt. And no your are NOT a failure.

Originally Posted by KarynneStorm

Attachment 391831Attachment 391832

So, I spent a lot of time on these..and now I hate them and don't want to put them into a quilt that I will see on a regular basis, they ended up slightly different sizes and if I matched them all to the smallest one, it would be out of proportion and just weird. I have already started putting together smaller collections to make baby size quilt tops instead of the one queen size duvet I was going to make.

I learned a lot making these pink blocks. But they turned out so catty-wompus that I just can't even allow myself to make it into a quilt for my stepdaughter. I want something that is more polished. I had intended to put a fleur-de-lis in each white block since that is her favorite shape.

LESSON LEARNED: This is what happens when you are fearless and thinking you can just sew fabrics together and that will make a block. Not saying you can't do that, but I think I will be more successful once I have a lot more experience, knowledge(and quite a few more failures, I'm sure), and have followed a pattern more than once. I have 18 pairs left, enough for two more tops.

Now... what to do with them? 1) use them to learn on the long arm....

by the way, the pinks match a whole lot better than they appear to here.

Ok...don't fret....you can save this. Try this: now that you have them sewn together, now square them to the black. It looks like your pink is larger. You can do this to each 2 that you sew, each time. Then put them together. I would press your blocks well first before cutting down. By the time you get this done, it will look like the blocks are supposed to be done that way, as they will all look alike. When you put the rows together, if they don't quite match, you can fudge as much as you can, & if it's not enough...design opportunity--applique a little butterfly or something over it. Just make sure you have at least 3, or 5, or 7 of the appliques. It brings it all together. Now, I do have a little advice for you to help you learn & I think it will save you a lot of heartache. You already have a set square size (the black). So before you sew your pieced (the pinks) block to the solid square...square up your pieced block to the size of the solid one (take the same amount off on all sides), then put your 2 blocks together. If you get used to squaring off your pieced blocks to match your solid ones, you will match well. Takes a little more time, but worth it! And always press your piece well BEFORE squaring. Hang in there!!! We all were once where you are. Don't get discouraged, we're all here to help. Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by MadQuilter

I respectfully disagree with the title of your post. You are not a failure. You may have failed at meeting the expectations of this project but that is it. YOU are not a failure. That said, the blocks are cute. One possible use is to turn them into HSTs with the black on one side. Then it wouldn't be noticeable that the lines don't match up. You can square up the HST and nobody will ever be the wiser.

This is a really good idea too! Hadn't thought of this... I hope you will finish your quilt...please don't give up. Your daughter is not going to be seeing mistakes...just the love you put into your gift to her. Plus, once you wash & dry it; it's amazing how you don't see the "mistakes" so much.

My suggestion, first of all, is remove the black block. Does not belong there at all. Secondly, remove the top row of fabric which has what looks like red in it and redo that row with more of the fabrics from below and see what it looks like then, but add either a matching pink block or a white block to it rather than the black. It is a mistake. Mistakes can be fixed so that they are no longer mistakes.