I am fairly new to quilting. Let me be honest. I've started three but only finished two for grandkiddos for Christmas last Valentine's Day. They were real tacky but the kids loved them.

I woke up this morning resolved to correct the 36" square Trip Around the World that I really messed up on--the pattern part. After about 30 minutes, I realized fixing it was folly. I am beginning to hate it a lot. So, here you are, my fellow but far superior quilters who always seem to have a supportive word or an idea for even the worst of us. Here is what I thought I would do and I am hoping you have other suggestions--but ones that are not too complicated.

I thought I would put all 30 strips of 8, 2" blocks already sewn together into a big sack, shake the hell out of it and just sew together whatever strip comes out next until I get my 36" inch "quilt". Anything more creative or less destructive that you can think of would be appreciated. I am going to start promptly one hour from now and will check this board before I start. I thank you in advance. I promise to make this my first submission to the picture part of this list-serve.

Now, I am going outside to cut weeds with the hedge trimmer to wear off a little aggression. Thanks, folks.

This made me chuckle, been there done that!

I kept misplaceding squares and seam ripping them out to fix, so I decided to just made a random jumbled mess. This did not work...
I still found myself trying to create a pattern! or trying to make it so no two like squares were side by side. It ended up being a bigger chore than the original plan! I think quilting makes me a little OCD.
Yes yes, best thing to do is walk away, and come back to it later.

I have found that sometimes that works great just take the next one that you pick I did that with 72 6" nine patch that I have done in a swap and they were all colors and I thought I do not want to put that much time in sorting out the colors so just started sewing and I really looks good so just start sew and see what happens. I will be watching to see what you do.

Looks like you have a creative deviation from the pattern. You are the artist of this quilt and what ever you make you meant to do that.

Sounds like you will make a new version of the lasagna quilt. Sounds like fun and take lots of pictures.

Some times I just don't want the stress of matching seams so you can off set the next row by half a block so no seams have to match. send up a cry of HELP if you need us. Someone will give you just the right information you need:)

Don't be discouraged. I find that patterns that come so easy to some people can drive me nuts going together. My advice would be to put that out of sight for now and start something that you can get excited about working on. Find a pattern that there is almost no way to mess up. Someday, after some successes, you will want to dig that back out and do something with it. You could always just do a postage stamp or something random. Another idea is to finish it just as a throw or wall hanging so that you do not have to work on it long. I find that frustration makes the process NO FUN! I want to enjoy making quilts and it is such good therapy when you do enjoy it. Sometimes when I begin to struggle with a project I can not get to the point where it is enjoyable again. For that reason I have some UFO's lying around. No worries... someday I will do something with them. I have gone back and made something small out of some of them already. Your skill level will progress as you work. Don't be discouraged! This board is the best place for advice. When you get stuck post pics and ask for some more expert help. Sometimes the ideas people come up with astound me! I love the fence rail pattern. It is so easy, but it can look complicated when set together. You can strip piece and it goes so quickly. I did a trip around the world baby quilt and I found it really difficult to get right. My daughter thought I was crazy because they were so easy to her. If you aren't frustrated to the point of not enjoying the process finish it in a more random way. If you are, start something else. The quilt police won't come get you for having a UFO, or we would ALL BE GONE!!!

Cut all the pieces up. Then start sewing until you have the size "quilt" you want. Trim the overhang. sandwich, quilt and bind.

Now you have a "Crazy Trip Around the World". :)

Good luck. It's too much fun quilting to let the mistakes we make get the best of us.

It's okay to just throw it away or stuff it in the back of the closet.

I just threw away two yards of black fabric, the fusible web fused to the back of the fabric and a $10 pattern. I took a class on an interesting technique and because I don't have a quilt shop handy I bought black fabric from Walmart. The technique involved freezer paper and it absolutely would not stick to that fabric and after trying to stick it to that fabric it wouldn't stick to any thing else either.

I considered attempting to salvage the fabric and fusible some way but I decided my time is too valuable to fight with cheap, crappy fabric.

The moral, if you really hate it, toss it and start over.

Great advice here!!!! Quilting is our pleasure not our pain!!! You reminded me that my very first project was 2 Around The World pillows with 1" sqs. The pattern said it was for beginners. I somehow got them done & didn't even know to quilt cross hatch~ yep, I stitched around evey one of those little squares. Now I look at them & think NO WAY would I want to make them now! Walk away if you must; it's allowed!!! Tossing all the squares in a bag is actually a really cool idea tho. Do whatever will bring you pleasure.

:thumbup:
I've done this. Or you can insert another fabric between the rows if you need to make it bigger - also no matching of seams.

I had a quilt that I started for my sister... i HATED it... so, I binded what was finished (it was a quilt as you go method) and gave it to her and told her that she could use it as a mat, a dog rug, I didnt even care... lol. :) We were both happy! Me to be rid of it, her for the new dog mat!! :)

THere are NO quilt police. If you cant salvage something from it? then... maybe it should go to quilt heaven and be considered a learning experience. :)

I totally get where you are coming from, I've had a few quilts I tossed in a closet for awhile. LOL It's ok to cut it up or change it into something that makes it fun again.

I started a large lone star YEARS ago. Sewed on it with all those bias little bits until the star was done. Stepped back and went "OH SH*T" - apparently I had turned the first piece the wrong way so instead of a nice gradiation, mine was going the wrong way. It is still in the tub and I will have to finish it some day. After getting really mad at myself, I now simply accept that it "meant" to be different.

Your idea about the random placement sounds good. You can also post a picture and I bet you'll get even more suggestions.

I cast another vote for your random placement idea.

It'll be such for to see what you get!

I don't think I've ever seen a 'messed up' quilt...... I'm with everyone else; you have made the quilt your own.:)

Just as an aside, Trip Around the World is awesomely easy as hand pieced starting with the single center square adding rounds (stairsteps) as you go and somewhat more involved in getting the placement correct when strip pieced by machine.

So try out that random placement and I think you'll get a really coool quilt!

sounds like a good plan to me -- or make pot holders, dog blankies, or donate to your quilt guild for someone else to figure out

hang in there. At least your are trying - i've stuck with small quilts because I'm too scared to even attempt a large quilt for fear of screwing it up and wasting all the time and fabric. We are always our own work critic and it is your art and expression and like someone here said "I don't think I've ever seen a bad quilt".

Oh I know your pain! I have been quilting for 40 years and have many times pitched blocks, rows and even almost finished tops across the room followed by very colorful phrases! I go back to them later and figure out how to do something entirely different with them. In the end, I have always liked my way better than what I was trying to do anyway! Tantrums are permitted... at least from my point of view!

I cannot thank all of you enough. Your advice got me out of one of the most rotten moods I can ever recall. I even declined to drive my husband to his special eye exam and am now remorseful for letting him sit that extra hour or so until is eyes get over the dilation. That's a bad spouse and I will have to make it up to him.

Chop it up, throw in the bad quilt box, whatever! Your support is what I needed most. While I awaited your responses, I went outside (cursing the fact we had come back from NH to southern IL to face blinding heat too early) and used a hedge cutter to mow down my garden and salvage the few plants the deer or the heat had not destroyed. Our gardener (neighborhood kiddo) just could not keep up and I understand completely but it was so disappointing. I whacked and was finally out of energy until now. I feel so much better.

While I was whacking, I finally came to the realization that the situation was hopeless but not serious (from my favorite prof). And I have all of you to be grateful for--thank you, my lovely sisters. And I will summons up the courage to post on this list serve whatever I come up with. Holding you all in the Light, Ginny

Don't know what you decided, but by doing the random thing, you at least can practice your 1/4" seams.

I have a burn barrel and it helps me. njf

had to chuckle! Even the most experienced and expert quilters can relate. Sometimes when these bquilts are finished, they could become some of your favourites. Soldier on

when I get to that point, I just resolve myself to start anew. Cut the previous one into manageable pieces and make a bunch of mug rugs!! LOL!!

I would love to see the outcome. Please post pictures. It sounds like a fun project.

In everything we do we have moments like this. Even our husbands / friends / children etc, have moments. The very best advice I can offer is to walk away from it for today. Go back tomorrow with fresh eyes and you will be surprised at how easily things will fall together. Being the quilting is new to me, I only have experience in sewing clothes, and crafts. However, I have to walk away sometimes. Even when DH is working on a M/C I can hear him cursing and tell him the same thing. Walk away and tomorrow will be better. He says he has to just get the words in the right order and things will be fine. lol. Best of luck and be sure to post what you decide to do. I personally like your idea!

Best of luck

Get rid of it..each time you see it you will be reminded how upset you were.

Your learning as you go, do what you want. We've all been there, it's just part of the process. I opt to putting it away until the urge strikes you again.

I love this idea! There are days..... :-)

And if you still don't like it when you get it put back together, cut it in creative ways, piece back together for a totally different look! How else did someone come up with D9P or 4-to-9P? You are getting a super opportunity to be creative! Who knows, in a few months we may all be copying what you are working on now just cuz it's so cool :thumbup: :thumbup:

I kinda did that making split 9P (didn't know there was a "way" to do it) and ended up with a bowtie looking split 9P and I really like it!!!

as the saying goes ''been there done that'' and the bag trick works for me.I have a Spools quilt that is still waiting (3yrs now) for me to finish, or re-design the lay out and as a last resort I could sign up for ''anger management classes'' to get it done.but for now it can wait --- UFO's are just future projects :-)

I think you should save them as a border for another quilt or binding. What do you think?

grandkiddo will love it...sort of a crazy I spy!!!!!! Do it and it will be loved...

Well, I have looked through all the comments and was hoping to see a picture of what you did with your Trip Around The World. Hope to see it at some point. That is almost what I did. I got so sick of that quilt I stopped at some point, added a border with applique flowers and vines. One of my kids loved it and uses it for a table cloth. I still haven't done a Trip Around the World.

Yes, please post a picture when you're done. Loved to see the finished master piece.

Sew it together the best you can and call it "Off the Beaten Path". Sometimes we let the name of the original pattern be too tough a taskmaster, and then whip ourselves because of it. Quilting should be fun and adventurous.

Thank you for all of your helpful comments. A wild kind of flag/banner is my latest creative inspiration for all the strips--flying together off the top of my deck. Better yet, how about a long string of little peace flags that connect us to out dear neighbors who are only a couple of acres on each side of us! This is more fun than I ever thought.....
Ginny

Ginny, I made a Trip of the World quilt about 6 months ago. I got so tired of it...I came on this site and explained my frustration. I got so many good suggestions. I've been quilting about two years and finally decided I had just gotten over confident in my abilities. I did finish the quilt, and I love it, but I will never make one of those again. The skill level is just beyond me..or at least for now.

BUT, isn't this group of people the greatest group? They come up with so many good ideas and suggestions. That is probably why I am addicted to it.

The best advice I got was that whatever I did, it would be okay. :)

My trip around the world, sort of becamse a "wild jaunt around the neighborhood" because I had cut too many strips without realizing it. It still looked ok, just not your traditional TATW.

So you have more of a National Lampoon's Vacation quilt. Sometimes I think we get too caught up in what it "should" be, I have seen beautiful stuff made up with no pattern and vice versa....make it into something you like! Go for and have fun!