I've learned from this thread so I'm really glad you were brave enough to post it. And, promise me and all of us, that you'll never call yourself a failure. Life can be tough enough without beating yourself up.

Relax! Breathe! We've all been there....:)

Not a failure, it is a learning experience..... I use that statement a lot....LOL...

Once I worked them up into smaller quilts, I realized it was a prettier set up than I thought it would be. I have to remember that people see the quilt, and the gift, not the mistakes.

I used two of the 4x5s to practice on a rented long arm machine, and the very first one that turned out funny, I gave to the shop to donate with their teaching quilts to the shelter. The second one turned out a lot better, and I finished a quilt that I have had ready to go for about 6 years. I feel really good today about finishing those. I now have a baby quilt ready for the next boy or girl. YAYAYAYAYAY.

And finally, I quilted the family reunion raffle quilt. It is by far the most ambitious quilt I have ever made. I am not 100% happy with the pattern I FMQ, but you know what? it's one of a kind, my first finished quilt and will make someone very happy to win it. It's a Karynne Original.

FMQ is a lot more difficult than it looks and I can see why the people who do it professionally, can keep doing it. I like doing it, but sometimes it's worth it to just pay someone else to do it well.

Thank you for all your kind words and ideas! Be fearless, be bold, and everything has a use even if it didn't turn out like you wanted.

The words "failure" and "useless" are two of the most destructive words in our dictionaries. Guaranteed to soul-destroy the minute they are uttered or put to paper.

Quilting, like life is all about the journey....destinations are not always as planned.

Loved this post, the replies and how it all worked out for you....happy quilting.

like your idea
 

Something was nagging at me when I saw the pictures and read your comment. I agree with MadQuilter...this is not a throw away for a pet, unless your pet is Princess Poopoo and gets all the best. The half square triangle idea sounds great! What if you used the method where you sew the two squares together all around the edge, right sides together, and then cross cut to make 4 half square triangles. How would that look? You may have to square it off first but this is definitely not a throw away!! I'm gonna keep reading to see what all these ladies are thinking...they are a great bunch!

Have you tried starching them? It's amazing what some starch and a steam iron can do.

I saw those blocks and thought -- what a marvelous modern quilt. It perhaps isn't what you first imagined, but has many possibilities. Have a look at Leah Day's site and the Free Motion Quilt along. She puts together a modern quilt very quickly and that's what I saw in your blocks.

P.S. There are no failures in quilting -- changed plans, but never failures.

amh

I agree with everyone who said you're not a failure. And here's a novel idea. If those silly little squares make you feel like a failure, chuck the little buggers into the garbage! Who said you have to use every square inch of fabric for some purpose? If you don't like it or the way it makes you feel-dump it and move on! They're your feelings - honor them!

I am sad for you that you use the word failure about yourself. Your blocks did not turn out as you wished, and you learned something from it. That is in fact a good thing- growing, learning. (And, I see from your subsequent post, you did end up with something you now feel good about, which is wonderful.)

How you think is how you feel. I advise you to guard against making a totally normal experience worse by talking it down! It's just fabric.

I could tell you you are wonderful, and that your blocks are pretty, but why do you care what I think? It's how you feel about yourself that matters and only you can change that. Please remove the word failure from your lexicon :-)