Originally Posted by
PaperPrincess
I'm looking really hard and don't see much 'pull & poof'. If you want to quilt a cross hatch pattern, you will probably get the best results by quilting each section in alternating directions. So you would quilt a row from the NW (north west) to the SE then the next row would be from the SW to the NE. I would also start with the center most row, then the next rows out, each time alternating sides.
I also agree with the posters that once it's washed it will look better. If nothing else, it looks like a beautiful top, finish it & donate it if you still don't like it.
This is how I was taught to quilt, from the center out and in opposite directions. I agree that I wouldn't "overquilt" this pattern, that kinda makes the pattern disappear behind the quilt lines. Don't give up on it! Give it to a friend if you just can't bear to stick with it.