Has anyone ever started quilting and not like the quilting design you started? I have started quilting and now want to take out all of it! Is there an easier way to take out the stitching? I've been doing free-motion meandering on the machine and I just don't like the way it looks on this quilt. I am so frustrated with myself!

i hate to rip cant imagine not liking it enough to rip it

Maybe you should put it away for a while. When you come back it may look better. We are own worst critics. :roll:

Welcome to the World of Frogging.

I like to get the top thread to a length I can grab it easily with my fingers (start at the end you ended with)
Then I pull it up, under it will be a loop of thread, snip that carefully and pull on the top thread again...
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.
Rip it, Rip it, Rip it...
Hence Frogging.
Enjoy the Art!

Yes I am doing that right now on a baby quilt. I thought free motion hearts would look great NOPE Sorry your did not turn out like you wanted. I found just make sure your seam ripper is sharp.

meandering is not for every quilt. Nest time you might draw a meandering design on clear see thru plastic and lay over quilt and see how it would look....before you invest in the time.

Bring your thread from the back to the front. Use your seam ripper cutting the top thread about every inch or so and then pull on the bottom thread it should just come loose. A wonderful Guild friend gave me this advice and it works so quickly. You may have to use a piece tape or one of those rollers to help pick up the loose threads but no biggy.

I've always liked frogs and collected a few.. think I was one in a former life or will be one after all my ripit,ripit in the next one !#&**

Yup. I just ripped out some quilting I didn't like. I use Havel squizzers to do it with. They're called "snip eze" on this page and they work slick! They're super sharp and super pointy. You just clip about every 3 to 4 stitches on top and then pull the bobbin thread out.

http://www.elegantstitches.com/scissors.htm

Good idea - what do you hate the most, the quilting stitches or the ripping?

Oh yes, I have done this too much - its very frustrating - I have always been happy that I did rip it out - I don't know why we are always so hard on ourselves - sometimes I reserve judement on my quilts until they are quilted and washed - I have fallen in love with them after all those steps.

Yes, I have removed quilting from a quilt. Not fun, but I was much happier with it after I quilted it again.

Ditto, It can't possibly be that ugly for me to rip out!!!

I once ripped out all of the strip sets for a queen quilt. As I was sewing each strip set , I just kept saying ... I"m not liking it ... I just don't like this , so took out every seam found a new pattern recut some of the strips to smaller ones. And loved the "new" quilt. Never regreted my decision to unsew. Sometimes that bad feeling is really telling you something.

Well if you turn back into a frog in the next life time...I hope you have nice skinny legs...you know how people like to eat frog legs..don't want anyone eating your legs!!!

That is a great idea!

So true had to do that Monday with project came back with new perspective really helped a lot.

That just happened to me. My thread kept breaking and I kept restarting. I got the body of the quilt quilted and then decided to just STID on this one. So....it took 3 days on and off taking the stitches out. There is little bits of thread all over my house as I dragged this quilt all over the place taking out stitches here and there. I'll wash it to see if I can get rid of the million little holes that are left. I feel your pain.

I agree with Sadiemae......I have been so much happier when I spent the time removing quilting I didn't like. If I find I don't like it or it is not making the quilt.....it is well worth my time to redo it and quilt it in a better way. Even when I've given a lot of thought to the pattern sometimes it just doesn't work and I have to rip and rethink to achieve the results I want.

If your meandering is large enough you can go back and add leaves and/or flowers. I did this on a table topper and it didn't look half bad.

Unfortunately, I am in the same place as we speak. Just have to take out some of the stitching tho. Not looking forward to that at all. Good luck!

You are so clever! Love your ripit remark.

Yes, I have done the frogging!!!

You don't say the size of the quilt. If it twin or smaller just finish it and donate to a charity. You don't have to look at it and someone else gets the benift of a warm homemade quilt. Or as someone else said, fold and put away for another day!

Before I start my quilting, I do a drawing of what I plan to quilt. When I am satisfied withe the drawing (and have not lifted the pencil from the paper in making the drawing), I then go to the machine and make some practice pieces. I have lots of practice pieces saved, and I always make something out of those. When I have my rhythm down, then I start on my 'real' quilt. Sometimes I spend days doing this. It helps put me in the right frame of mind.

After reading the replys, I am sooo glad I am not the only one who does this....Sometimes I too put it away and then look at it another time ..........A fresh look always helps. and I have just gone and ripped the whole thing out and felt so much better. thank you quilters . always enjoy your messages

i agree walk away from it for a bit and come back if you still dont like it start ripping , i have done that before

Thank you everyone for the input. I think I will bite the bullet; tomorrow is going to be another snowy day so I will put on some soothing music, pour a glass of wine, and start frogging! It's good to know I'm not alone, although I wouldn't wish it on anyone!

There is a utube tute called skinning a quilt! I think you can do it on the frame...nevermind I think you are doing it free motion on your machine!

There is a u-tube tute called skinning a quilt! I think you can do it on the frame...nevermind I think you are doing it free motion on your machine! I have frogged about 1/3 of a queen sized quilt when I was very new to my Lizzy and did not have the foot down and used nearly an entire spool of thread with loop de loops! No tension and it was hard to move but I was going to perivere!!! I was so upset when I finally rolled that quilt to the top and saw all those loops! Good luck Honey! I would help but I gotta go to work in the morning...snow and all!

I'm in the process of ripping now and everyone thinks I am 'mad' to (un)do it.

I'm in the same position too. I feel your pain and it is good to know that I am not alone! A puzzle quilt I'm making for a friend has machine quilting that did NOT turn out. I wish you success.

Don't bother to take it out. Continue and learn from it. Next time try the design out on a piece out the fabric first.

Oh yes I have had to take it out when it was not right or not what I like. just snip a stitch every few stitches on one side or the other and it will come out pretty easily.

I did the same thing today.....very frustrating

I would put it a way for a short while then come back to it. If you really have to rip it out then I would do it in short steps, do some, walk away and then do some more. I always get a little antsy when ripping out something I don't like so I have to do a little and walk away so I don't end up ripping the quilt at the same time.

Wise words.

I do it this way too, only from the back just in case there's a slip. Masking tape is great for picking off the little bits.