The quilt I've spent the most money and time on is the only one I've made that I just hate. (Please see picture below.) I despise the look of it; I despise working on it. It's been a monster to put together. It's not completed. To complete it will take hours and hours (months) of hand work and I'm loathe to put more time and effort into it. On the other hand, I'm sort of compelled to finish things that I start, so I don't know what to do. I know what to do with the quilt if I decide not to finish it. If you've "been there, done that" please tell me what you did. Thanks.

Correction: I meant to say that I don't know what to do with the quilt if I decide not to finish it.

It's a fabulous quilt...perhaps you have been frustrated with it, but I imagine it will grow on you...put it away for a while, and do something fun to lighten your mood about quilting...then come back to it.

I like it. Why not have it machine quilted and if you dislike it so much give it to someone for a gift or just gift the top to someone. I've never made a quilt I didn't like and so many people are happy about it. But I really like yours. :lol:

I think that your quilt is beautiful!!! Like was mentioned...put it away for a while...and when you bring it back out, you may have a different feeling about it :wink:

I have been in that same place before--I started out with a pattern and fabric that I loved but as the quilt progressed, I ended up hating it. So what happened? Well, for me, it was that I'd spent so much time working on it and for the most part, working on it at a very stressful time in my life. I decided to put it away (which I did, for a number of YEARS...). I got it back out, still with much to do on it. I, too, feel compelled to finish a project that I start. To make a long story short, I did finish the quilt, and once again, I love the fabric and the pattern, and look back on the "process" and am proud of myself for sticking with it. So, my advice to you, which has already been given and which I second, is to put it away for awhile, take it out and finish it. I believe you will be proud of yourself for having done so.
Another thing you might want to do, is analyze why you hate it. Did you always hate it? Are you doing this for someone else? Do you hate the quilt because it is easier to hate it, than something else going on in your life at this time? If you can figure out why you hate this quilt, you might be able to figure out a way to NOT hate this quilt.

Hi Weezie, I know how you feel,it takes so long todo them sometimes. I had the same problem with my Attic Window Quilt a biggie. It took exactly one year to finish it. But I did mine by machine, not hand so I know it will take longer to finish.
You have a magnificent quilt. from the looks of it a Master Job. I love the colors. I am also like you on the compeled to finish something I have started. I think you need to finish it and I believe you will eventually get to love this quilt. Beautiful.
BillsBonBon

Were you making this one for you? I have learned even if you don't like it, somebody will fall in love with it and think it's the greatest gift they ever received. So hang in there and finish it. Somebody will be so happy you did!

Get it machine quilted. A quilt top changes personality once quilted. You may decide then that you love it. Make sure that you let the quilter know what's bothering you. She may be able to minimize it. We aren't miracle workers, but sometimes ***magic*** can be done!

I feel your pain ... But perhaps another opinion might help you to see it in fresh eyes. Now listen up!

This is a beauty of a quilt. You have done such a wonderful job on piecing it. The hours of work show care and experise! If you are discouraged with it taking so long, take heart. You are doing a wonderful job on something that could end up a family heirloom.

I so totally understand the love/hate thing. It took me about 4 yrs to complete a log cabin for my step-daughter. Partly because it was a surprise for her, so I had to put it all away every time she was at our house, partly because I did one of those "what WAS I thinking" things when I started it...I wanted 1 1/2 inch finished strips, but CUT the first few strips at 1 1/2 inches. :( Once I had that many I figured I would keep going. In the end, it was worth it as the pattern wouldn't look as distinct with larger strips. Then when it was all done and hanging for a picture, I didn't see my BIG oops until I looked at the pix...I had one block turned 90°. At that point , I was NOT going to start ripping!!!!

Hang in there....from the pic this really is a very beautiful quilt!!! Keep us posted on your progress.

I've been there, too.
Just put it away or send to a machine quilter & you'll love it when you get it back.
You just need a break from it.
By the way..I think it's beautiful!!
I can see the hard work that went into it!!

First of all, I think the quilt is very attractive. It is high contrast, and in a light room, it may read too dark.

There are choices:
You can finish it yourself (just bite the bullet and get it done).
You can pay to have it finished.
If you decide to keep it, you can change the decor of the room to work with the quilt colors.
If you decide not to keep it, give it to the person who is just googoo-gaga over it (honest response - not fake).
If you don't want to finish it AND you don't know anyone in your acquaintance, donate it to a guild that gives to charity. BTW: there are members on the QB who donate/finish work for assorted charities.

You're all most kind. I have put this StarFlower quilt aside a few times. I just brought it back out this a.m. after taking time away from it to make a machine embroidered quilt for a child and a pieced king sized top just for fun. I never had a moment doing either one where I was unhappy or frustrated with them.

There was a lot of unplanned hand stitching in this StarFlower quilt. I couldn't get the points to match right using my machine so I ended up having to finish most of them by hand and not doing a very good job of it. Then, because the "melons" are constructed of 6 different colors, sewn chevron style, the seam allowances did not want to lie down, so I hand basted them down before I put the quilt sandwich together. Then I machine stitched around them all so they are forced to stay put; I'm removing the basting this morning. The binding is already sewn on topside and the next step would naturally be to hand stitch it to the bottom, but AGAIN, the points are a mess and I have to un-stitch most of them and re-do them by hand. I'm fairly used to making lemonade out of lemons, but this quilt has really tried my patience. I think that my biggest failure here was a lack of spray starch. I think if the black fabric and the multi-colored melons had been starched stiff as a board, I might have had more control and less problems. There are lots of quilts with curves that I want to make and I'm not going to let this one keep me from doing them.

None of my family or friends like the StarFlower, so I can keep it for myself or give it to charity. I have a simple design to quilt in each of the black centers, easier done by hand than by machine. I'll quilt one or two blocks before I attempt to repair the binding and then decide whether to continue the Star Flower effort or give it up.

Thanks so much for your input!

I had to make a quilt, I didn't like for a show. It was black background with primary colors. My DIL loved it so I gave it to her. I am so glad that we don't all like the same colors and designs.

I have only made one that I really didn't like when finished. It was a fairly easy pattern, so unlike yours, I didn't have lots of time invested. I donated the top to a church group that was thrilled to get it. They were going to tie it and give to someone in need.

I have seen half finished quilt top sell on e-bay sell for big bucks maybe sell it

I got one in the same category. I am frustrated with it and keep putting it aside for 'better' projects! This winter I WILL put the layers together and I think I will just tie & knot it, to get it done quicker. Then give it to my kids who have pets that will probably love it.

I really understand that love/hate thing with your quilt..But I think it's a fabulaous quilt. Wow it's a realy georgous piece of work!

What don't you like about it? It's beautiful. Maybe you should set it aside and work on it another time. I've done that with quilts that I don't like and come back and finish them and like them. Or you could send it to me.LOL

It does look pretty good in the photo, but does not stand up well to a close inspection ... especially on those points. It has tons of flaws. Because I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I should have had proper quilt making training to help avoid the pitfalls, instead of learning everything the hard way. Plus, I made this quilt before I joined this QB and I've learned a lot from here that I didn't know then (such as heavy starching helps). The reason I originally asked this question is that I'm ashamed to give something away, even to a quilt guild, that needs so much work done to it. On the other hand, I'm having trouble making myself finish the thing or even repair my mistakes.

It looks great in the photo.

Have you heard about the Jane A. Stickle quilt that was written about in the "Dear Jane" book - that many of us are trying to emulate.

Overall, the quilt looks great - breathtaking - but look closely at the pictures - many of the points don't match, joins are wonky, edges are uneven - in some ways her work is a technical masterpiece - but in other places - oh, my - her blocks are of different sizes and compensated for by sashing -

So - your points may be 1/16 of an inch off - I can relate - but if you can't see the glitches from six feet away (or more) - don't worry about it.

As far as time and expense goes - I can also relate to that - but if you had spent that same amount of money traveling or on a vacation - what do you have left? The memories - (and maybe some unpaid bills).

But if you don't like it, you don't like it. I've bought clothes that I thought I liked, and then later wondered what was I thinking.

Pretty much ditto.
The quilt looks stuning and I like the colors and shadowing.
We may not be able to see the 'mistakes' but we can see perseverence, stick-to-itiveness(sp), and a process of learning. Maybe you could have a fellow quilter finish this one up for you if you cannot afford to send it out for quilting and because of your frustration. T
Then raffle it off for a good cause or give it to a Women's Shelter. Then let it go. Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves and don't know when to back down and just accept things as they are. Who cares if no one else in the family likes it? Sometimes they are our biggest critics and naysayers.

Oh, and I agree with bearisgrey about the DJ quilt. Great point and look how popular her quilt is all of a sudden? Wonder how critical she was of herself when she made it? :lol:
Ease up Weezie and give yourself a hug. Your doin fine.

I never knew that about the DJ quilt. That's a hoot! Also, when you mentioned clothes, you reminded me that, back in the days of yesteryear when I worked in an office and made much of my own wardrobe, that occasionally I'd choose the wrong fabric or pattern or both and end up with a lulu that I wouldn't be caught dead in. I'll just think of this StarFlower quilt as one of those lulu's.

Our guild wanted everyone to do a Turning Twenty quilt for our anniversary.

I did....HATED it and after the meeting a gave it to our project "red Cross" quilts for fire victims.


Last time I saw it and now it keeps someone else warm.

But on the other hand I like your quilt and think the design is great...and sewn by hand.

It's absolutely beautiful. You could put it aside for a while and finish it later. You might like it better after a break. You could have someone else finish it for you. Or you could send it to ... MEEEEEEEE!! (LOL).

Seriously, I know how you feel. I've had quilts that I absolutely couldn't stand to look at after a while. Set it aside for a while and you'll probably feel differently after a while.

I understand how you feel. I made a T shirt quilt for my DD using her sorority T shirts. It was a king size quilt and was a bear to piece and even worse to quilt. By the time I was done I called it the "quilt from He**". She loves it. I hate it. But if it had been made for me I might not have finished it. I understand where you are coming from, but maybe you could finish it and donate it to an organization you like and they could raise money with it. That way it would do some good. It's really too pretty of a quilt to just sit in a closet. JMHO.

Weeeellllllll, if you really hate it that much, you could always mail it to me. LOL :lol: :lol: :lol:

well i think you,ve done a beauitful job ,but i know what you mean about love and hate ,look at it this way you,re almost done spend it out to have it quilted and then surprise you,ll love it ,good luck to you and your beauitful quilt

oh my. i love it. its gorgeous :D

Thank you, all you great ladies, for advice and complements.

First of all, I've gotten over the worst of my "EEW YUK" about working on this quilt again, so I spent some time and effort on it yesterday.

Second, I want to make clear that I have the utmost respect for long arm quilters who are there for us quilt top makers when we need them. However, this quilt already has enough quilting done on it so that I could safely put the binding on (which it is). Also, being of Scot-Dutch ancestry, "frugal" is in my DNA. I would pay to have something I like professionally quilted, but not something that I dislike.

Third, I've decided that, if I do not want it when I've finished it, I will donate it to charity. We've recently had much flash flooding in this area, with people losing practically everything they own. There are always people in need and Mother Nature is always creating new crises.

Hope you will end up liking it well enough to keep it for yourself. It really is a very attractive quilt.

if you are all the way to the binding and still don't like it, chances are you never will like it.

that quilt is a stunner. beeeeeeeeeuoooooteeeeeeeeefaminous, for sure. so, if you still don't like it, go ahead and give it to a flood relief organization.

you can rest assured that whoever gets it will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the quilt and by your generosity. :wink: :P

I love that quilt. I'll take it! Finished or unfinished... :D

I think it looks great in the photo. I do hand quilting with the ladies at church, and often times we see things that no one else will ever see in a quilt because we are up close. No one else will ever see what we see. You know what you have done, and you are not 100 % pleased, but none quilters will not see what you see. I think it is a beatiful quilt and you will be pleased with yourself for finishing it. Then you can put it away and look at it later and be proud. :lol:

I think it is wonderful!! I have seen some quilts that were in shows that are not as nice as this. As someone else said, have it machine quilted and you may change your mind.

I think it looks just fine! I recently made a quilt for a benefit that I was SO unhappy with- I embroidered on the corners that were cut off, you could do buttons or a yoyo flower on each corner to hide the flaws that you see. But believe me non quilters don't see it!! I had lots of ideas from members of this board and they helped me see it from a different point of view!

This is what I would do.

Good choices weezie. Glad you are in a different frame of mind about it. It really is pretty.