I Hate This Quilt Top
 

I've had this quilt top for awhile. I keep going back to it, but I still don't like it. It's too blah. Help! I need ideas to give it a little life and interest.

Applique on top? or quilt it using brighter thread and design in the blue like feathers or a geometric design

No ideas. I really like it!! Does this pattern have a name?

Maybe add some appliqué? A sunflower or two? Or some fancy quilting will probably bring it to life. Personally, I think it's a great looking quilt.

I love the idea of adding sunflowers. I think that would be beautiful!

<3 Mandi <3

Are you planning on quilting this yourself? Or sending it to a long-armer?
The reason I ask is: I've only had one quilt done by a long-armer and oh my!! She brought it to life. Told her to do whatever she thought was right. My only requirement was not too heavy on the quilting. It was a black & white with small touches of red. She quilted it in lime green thread. Totally impressed with how she saw it.

P.S. I really like your quilt. Thinking once it's quilted, you will be happier with it.

Nice geometric design. Does it bother you because it is only 2 colors? If that is it, I don't know what you can doth other than taking it apart in moderate size sections and adding other blocks with additional colors. But personally, I would leave it as is and have it quilted in dark blue thread in a fairly elaborate design--which will add a third dimension and perk it up. Appliqués are another option but I hate to appliqué so that wouldn't be an option for me. The only other idea that occurs to me is to switch out the borders to a different fabric that has a bold, colorful print.

I think you have looked at it too long. It's gorgeous! Quilt it and go on to the next one. You will love it when it is quilted.

Ditto sunflower idea!

I think a new border maybe a large floral that incoparates your current colors and adds a few more would be the easiest fix. You could also appliqué flowers that match the new border to add even more interest.

I love it just the way it is. The only suggestion that I can make - and I'm stretching because I like it just as it is - is to take the borders off and then make the outer edge of all the blocks that touch the border all blue. It will create more contrast with the border.

If the flower fabric has some green in it - can't tell from the picture - taking the borders that are on it now off and replacing the thin blue border with a wider green or a wider blue might make the quilt look better to you.

If you are thinking about the sunflower idea..... https://www.pinterest.com/pin/307652218264636764/

I think it could be neat to put a big yellow sun in one corner with long rays reaching out and the sunflowers down in the opposite corner reaching up towards the sun with a lot of leaves.

I do agree with the others that if you change out the border, putting at least a dark blue stopper border, then add your other border back to the quilt and have it quilted professionally, you might like it more. I don't like a lot of mine until I get them quilted. Then they look a lot better.

Put a relatively wide blue binding on it - after it is quilted, of course.

I think it is nice- comfortable looking -

I think a little touch of red in it would have you liking it much more. And I agree that it will look entirely different after it is quilted. Sometimes the texture and patterns created by quilting completely transform a quilt.

I think your quilt top looks great!

Maybe you're just sick of it for now

Take a break and do something small. Maybe it will refresh you. Then quilt it. It will probably come to life when you quilt it.

Thanks for all the comments. It's a kingsize top and I plan to quilt it myself. It's only 2 colors, the solid navy and the floral is also navy with a tan background.

You could try auditioning several colors like, yellow, green, red or blue. Lay them on your top one at a time. Then you could tell if you like the idea or not.

This is what I also think. To be honest it is a bit plain for my taste too but I think quilting feathers along the streaks of colors would bring it to life.

I like the applique idea but since I don't applique, that would not be an option. I really like the pattern and I like the blue. It's the background that I personally think is blah (maybe because I like white or off white backgrounds). I don't know how your blocks are constructed, but I would consider changing out some of the background squares with solid colored squares like red, lime green , yellow. Try cutting squares first to see if you like it. Maybe then I'd also switch out the print border for one of those solids. I like the navy flange border.

I believe it looks like Falling Charms by MSQC. I think with the right quilting done it will be OK. Not my color palette.

I think its great as-is. You can liven it up w/ shams or pillows using one or both fabrics w/ a couple other colors.. and/or make a bed-runner that will inject the color you think it lacks. Its a great pattern! 2-color quilts are so versatile and soothing to me and they do tend to appeal to most people.

I would remove the tan print border and use a darker border.

Then it's time to quilt and move on. I like it and I'm a brights girl. It reminds me of the heart monitor beating when someone is in the hospital. I agree with others a beautiful feather in the navy in a contrast color will help bring it to life.

I like it as is. It nice to see a quilt once in a while that's easy on the eye. Not everything needs to pop.

I love your quilt top just the way it is! I think you will love it too once it is quilted. Quilting makes all the difference in the world. I have one quilt that I considered the Ugliest quilt ever, but once it was quilted.....Wow! what a difference, now I love it!!

I second this remark.

I have to agree with the others in that quilting will make all the difference. If you hate the top, this is the perfect top to really try some FMQ that you have been afraid to try in the past. If you ruin it in the quilting process it will make no difference but you may find once it is quilted you will like it much more. I had a top I hated so it was the sacrificial lamb when I first got my longarm. I am glad I had a top I didn't care about because it lead me to be fearless on the quilting. Once it was done I liked it a whole lot more. I still didn't love it but I didn't hate it either and I happily gifted it to a friend who thought I was crazy when I said I didn't really like it. Here is a link to that quilt. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...rm-t77776.html

If you don't want to spend too much time on it. I'd trim the light border down and then add the navy that is in the quilt. I think it would help make it "pop". The teeny navy border gets lost.

do a vine in the light areas...from top to bottom, don't lhave to everyone but green leaves and green vines would really POP

I'd add some yo-yos diagonally, using the darker color. IMO it would pull the quilt, whichis quite pretty but could use "something", together.

I rather like this quilt. It seems to have an old fashioned look. I do agree with some of the others here about the border. I think a wider navy border would look better than the print border. And perhaps add a smaller color accent border before the navy border.

What about usins white thread in the blue areas and blue thread in the white areas? Following the zigzaggy diagonal lines? Or just meandering?

it is the falling charms. I just thought I'd make bigger squares

I love your quilt just as it is....calm, peaceful , comforting. However , if that's not your choice, some flowers in yellow or even diff sized random stars would brighten it up. If I were to add appliques, I'd want them placed randomly. Just my opinion.

I was going to say some beautiful quilting would perk it up wonderfully but yes, you could applique some flowers and vines going up the lighter fabric ways. perhaps every other one. think on that.

I like it as is. Were you going to keep it or was it commissioned? Maybe scallop the border?

I really like your quilt. The colors would go perfect with my living room :)

Cut some flowers and use some bonding and iron them on, then maybe a bird or so, you can dress this up, think of it as a canvas and add some fun- it would be lovely, maybe add another color onto border