A good laugh
 

I've been quilting for a while now and my quality has improved quite a bit (if I dare say so myself). Last night I decided to pull out some older projects that have been put away in project boxes to see what I had. One was a machine applique from an early class I took (we are talking early '90s). I still liked the colors of fabric I picked but when I pulled out the finished blocks I busted out laughing. (My DH even came to investigate what was up.)

OMG - what a disaster. I used no interfacing. I used a decorative stitch that competes with the pattern. There are areas where I barely caught the edge. The blocks are huge and lumpy and I have NO IDEA how I can fix this mess.

Sitting here scratching my head. Any tips on how to beat this puppy into submission?

Yeah ... DON'T!

Seriously ... as it is, I like it as "Shabby chic" look. Use it/them in a rag quilt and instead of quilting a big X on the rag sandwich, quilt a single echo around the applique. It will look like it "belongs"!!!

My first thought was to stretch it on a canvas frame and use it for a wall hanging. The design would be perfect for a framed fabric design

Ditto what she said.

Cut it apart and use the sections for potholders?

I forgot to mention that this beastie has brothers and sisters too. Thanks for the feedback. It gives me ideas to ponder.

A big puffy pillow form will fill out the block and make a beautiful accent pillow.

...or a puffy, high-loft batting, if you sew them together into a quilt.

Starch , starch and more starch?

Maybe you should just leave it as is. It will keep you humble and when others say "I can't do that" you can show it to them. If more people realized all quilters have a few disasters in the closets, more people would not be scared to try quilting.

Once you figure out how to finish this set of blocks, it will be one of the quilts that you will always be able to show people...this is where I started...now I'm here, with a newer quilt. Won't that be a fun thing to talk about? Your own show & tell. My first 2 quilts were for someone else and they people who got them loved them, but I don't even have a picture. Shame on me. I think it's pretty cool that you found these.

My thoughts went in the same direction. Thick poly batting (may be even double) and tie it instead of quilting. It would make a lovely cuddle quilt (IMHO).

This is why they are called UFOs. We all have some stuff away in the darkest part of a closet !! I think that there are some clever ideas that have been posted. I am anxious to see what you try. I wish you Good Luck !! :o

I think if it were me, instead of trying to something useable out of this I would either throw it or keep it as a visual reminder of how far I had come in my piecing. Time is precious,use the time that would be allocated to this instead use it for something new. Believe me, I understand the need to fix this, but, sometimes the smartest thing to do is walk away.

I think it will stay a UFO for a bit longer but my German stubborn genes will not let me leave it alone. I will finish it. Probably go with the shabby home-grown look and the quilt the lumps out of it.

We all had to start somewhere. Nothing to feel bad about.

I had a similar experience a couple months ago. When I first started quilting I made a Christmas Tree wall hanging with hst made from 1 7/8" strips. I tried putting a border on with cornerstones. It was way over my head and I got frustrated and put it in a tote. I was looking for something and found it. OMG..... crooked blocks, corners didn't match, cornerstones were crooked.... I could go on and on. I took it out and took part of it apart and fixed what I could. It looks ok. I haven't finished it yet, I had other projects going, but I'm going to put hot fix crystals on the bad corners etc and it will look ok.

Come on, they are some of your "first trys" at quilting. They must be kept all in tact. I would press them from the back into a towel, spraying them with Magic Sizing, and choose matching fabric and make a quilt. Sure you can laugh as you go, but let's face it, we were all there at one time in our lives. And laugh later on, but at least you can show others my "before" and "after". I have some too.

I actually like the flowers. Mistakes and all. This seems like the best idea to me.
Rodney

Whatever you do to "solve" the problem, hang onto at least one block for the sake of posterity. Somewhere, someday, somebody will be encouraged by it. Not that you asked, but you might name the quilt, "You've Come a Long Way, Baby" or something like that.

What a great idea. Thanks, I'll try that. Using the towel might give me enough "give" to do the pressing.

And I do like the blocks - warts and all. I barely remember taking that class but I'm sure I was proud as heck with those pieces. Now I am proud that I can finish them (with all your help).

There are some good idea's here. I like the high loft and then tie. I do all most all my quilts that way.
I just can't get my fabric tight and without a wrinkle or two. I have seen some of your work and you are good.
I keep going, one day I will be able to use my sewing machine and not have to tie. Have a great day and enjoy
your quilting.

MadQuilter,

I don't think it is as bad as you think somehow. It does somehow remind me of a Venus Fly Trap. I don't think you did so badly first time out.....smiles

Ladibug

I'm in the "starch it to death, press furiously, baste well and quilt the dickens out of it" group. I really like the colours, the design and the texture. I do believe this is a sleeping beauty....I was an avid follower of your "Sue" series ..... so I know you have the determination and skill to do something pretty amazing with this....keep us posted, this could be an interesting beginning to the new year.

I don't see them as your first attempt at quilting--but rather applique as so far I can't see any quilting involved.

I'd use the squares in an "orphan block" quilt and just throw them in as they are--doing my best to quilt around them when it comes time to actually do the quilting.

My first thought was wet and stretch then starch. how about trapunto the flowers .

Sometimes a project provides an opportunity to learn and is not destined to be finished. Sometimes it needs to just go away. Not all class projects are worthy of all the time they would take to make worthy of display. Just understand what you did incorrectly and use the skill in a new project without the same problems. At one time I bought a wedding ring quilt from someone who could not finish it. The colors were pretty and I was sure I could rescue it. I spent hours deconstructing, starching, etc. But the end was that I realized I couldn't do it because it had been poorly cut. It got dumped and I spent my quilting time doing something I could enjoy and be proud of. What a relief!

[QUOTE=Tartan;6482445][B][COLOR=#0000cd]I would mist the blocks and block them to get them as flat as possible.

That is what I would do also. Can really get rid of a lot of excess that way.

I like your plan... can't believe some have advised you to dump it! I see only shabby chic LOVE there. I love it and think it would make and awesome looking quilt. I like it just as is.

Good for you! I have those genes, also.

Those blocks are never going to lay flat! I would cut some sashing as long as the center of the block, the way we cut our border fabric. Then sew the sashing on, scrunching in the fabric to fit, (as in ruffling it? ? ?) Then your quilting will go right over these tucks and I'll bet that would look really cool. Add as many squares as you have, and people will ask you how you did that.

I don't know the size of those four blocks but I'd be tempted to make a nice big floor pillow out of it, then put a button in the center front and stitch through to another button in the center back, your stuffing will puff up the uneven parts and the center button will pull it in in the center.

The idea with the pillow is good too. Unfortunately a floor-pillow at our house would soon be covered in fur (dog and cat). Hm, but then that could camouflage the original problem. Whoohoo.

Is it possible to carefully cut the threads and use what you have learned since them to sew the appliqués down properly? I would go to the trouble of doing so to give me something to work on while watching TV in the evenings with DH. You did say you still like the fabrics you chose, so don't waste them, redo them a couple at a time until the job is redone?

I agree completely!

My first thought was to unstitch and retry, but I see there is way to much work in it. I would probably fold it up and pull it out again in a couple years and notice how far I have come in my endeavors.

I agree with the fluffy batting and tieing the quilt. let us know what you. Do!!

Shabby Chic is really in. I would go with the puffy batting, and hand quilt primitively, with a chenille needle and embroidery thread. Maybe in a red or a rust colour. Or you could tie it. It would be so cool!! Please show us your completed project.

I do think they have possibilities. Several years ago, I pulled out UFO's from beginner days. I could sure tell they were primitive. I choose to honor my efforts and finished the quilt as I would have back then.

During a trunk show the woman said all she had she liked. She did have a wood stove and cotton burns. What she didn't like no longer exists.

I would finish it off,and use it for "everyday", it is lovely. If I did that, I would think it was good.

I actually like it... sort of a "primitive" look... I think the others are on to something... mist, starch where possible, use a puffy batt, and enjoy it! If there are other "siblings" combine with sashing into a "sampler" quilt and use it. Love it, knowing that if it gets dirty or falls apart in the future, it was a work of love, and in the end, it was well loved!