I have found that channel quilting does that. By alternating directions of quilting helps plus if you really don't like it cross hatch it and go the other way. I have only channeled two quilts. It seems to take forever. Quilts don't have to be quilted to death to work. I bet it will look fine once it is done. You don't mention sewing down folds so I believe it is working. It just doesn't look like it right now. Take a break, finish it and you may be surprised.

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.

I agree, I can't see a very big problem. As we have stated on her many times, we are our own worst critics. Take a break, finish it and donate it. Someone will love it because it is lovely.

Please, please, please don't throw it out. It looks like a beautiful quilt and the quilting looks good. I don't quilt my own quilts but I am sure your quilt be fine with just the diagonal lines. Maybe if you just take a deep breath put the quilt away for some time and work on another project then pull your JL out and start again it will look a little better in your eyes. Even if you finish it and don't like it, I am sure there is a charity or someone you can give it to and the quilt will be loved and treasured. Good luck on your decision.

You didn't mention if you were using a walking foot but that might help a little, along with a longer stitch.
The quilt is beautiful and a few puckers never interfered with the warmth of a quilt :o)

By no means should you trash it nor rip out stitching. Chalk it up to experience and learning. Finish it, wash and dry it and several years down the road it will bring a smile to your face. The process of quilting is a journey of learning and growing and these so called mistakes serve as reminders of where we have been and where we are going. We live in an age of complete "perfection" and it is a trap. The history of "blanket" making was never intended to be a journey of "perfection" it was a necessity to use up and wear out. Only modern times has changed this perspective of "blanket" making into a chore that requires "perfection". MHO and I will will step off the bandbox now, lol.

I do a lot of cross hatch quilting and the little poof you are seeing is fine. After the first washing it will relax. For the flat as paper look, the top needs to be backed with fusible so the fabric will not stretch at all. I learn this from several show quilt makers.
I have thrown out quilts that didn't work out before, never thought to feel bad about it.

I think it looks terrific. Even if you finish and donate it, someone will love sleeping under it. Once you're finished, it may be you! Don't give up.

So sorry you are disappointed in the quilting. It actually looks great to me. You don't say that you're getting puckers. If it's pulling in one direction, as mentioned before, you may need to quilt different directions.

Send it to me and I'll finish it.:)

Seriously, I would finish it. It can be your "picnic" quilt. The quilt you use for picnics, sitting in the garden on a cool evening, taking to a concert, letting kids build a fort outdoors - you get the idea. It can be a utilitarian quilt instead of a show quilt.

I have one. I bought the top in an online estate sale. It's mostly red, with some white and navy. It was not a perfect top. I ripped, re-sewed, and ripped again. After all the frustration and the inability to make it "perfect", I still liked it. So, I just christened it as my "picnic" quilt. It was my first attempt at quilting on my home machine. I'm happy with it. I like it. I used it a couple of days ago when DH and I were outside enjoying the evening.

So, my suggestion is to finish it and re-purpose it.

bkay