I'm in tears!
 

I hadn't been quilting in quite awhile, just had no motivation to do it. The other day I looked at all of my fabric (and there is cupboards, drawers and containers full) and told myself that I couldn't give up quilting, I had to much fabric, that I need to get my act together and get to sewing, so I did. I have been sewing strips together, what seems forever and I just got done cutting all my pieces. Finally, time to start piecing. Well I was having a problem getting things to match. Turns out the six strips that I had to sew together to get the 12 strips I had to cut, I cut the wrong size. I knew they were suppose to be 1 1/2 inches, but for some reason I cut them all at 1 1/4 inches. I had already done some other strip sets and I had cut them 1 1/2 inches and cut them the size they were suppose to be. So needless to say, I can't even make the quilt smaller. I have no more of those fabrics and they had matched the flannel I had planned putting on the back. I guess I should have just given up on quilting. I have to through away all that fabric, such a waste. In all of my years of quilting, I have never made such a huge mistake. Why bother?

oh, don't panic, sorry you are frustrated. I am not an expert but maybe someone else can suggest something. It seems a shame to waste all that fabric. What pattern are you doing? Maybe someone here can offer you a suggestion?
Can you take your 1 1/2 strips and redo them as 1 1/4 strips? not sure how much is completed. Hopefully someone can help you salvage all your work. Keep a positive outlook, it will turn out for good.
=)

Give up quilting? Because of a mistake? Holy cow, I never would have started if that were the case! Can you cut your 1 1/2 strips to 1 1/4, and either go smaller or do a little bit bigger border?

Don't give up! Have a glass of wine, take a bath, and be like Scarlet O'Hara - think about it tomorrow.

How about using those strips for something else? Revise your pattern and do two different quilts with different strips. Or you could add sashing to the smaller strips to make those blocks the same size as the other ones.

Most of us have been there; done that. I'm sure someone here will help you salvage this. Maybe it won't be the quilt you intended, but I'll bet it will make a fine quilt any way. After all, following directions is only for the feint of heart. So take a deep breath -- have a large glass of wine and regroup in the morning.

Oh I am so sorry you are having a bad time of it. There has to be a way to use what you have. Maybe find another pattern to use these strips if you cannot adjust what you have already sewn.

First, take a break.
We all make mistakes. I have cut so many things wrong, I can't remember. LOL.
I would just cut all of them 1 1/4 inches & use them.
I hope you will not quit. We are all rooting for you!
Please show us in stages as you make progress & we will cheer you on.
Hugs.

First of all, go take a walk and do some stomping and clear your head. Then--I don't know what pattern you're doing, but get outside the "box" of the pattern and see if you can't work with your skinny pieces, refiguring the design so you can still use those matching fabric strips. Could you turn them into piano keys and work them into the (or a) border? You would have to buy new fabric to replace the mis-cut ones, of course. Give yourself license to mess around--something interesting may emerge.

Don't give up and don't throw away the fabric you cut. You will find a way to use the fabric in a different way. I have done this before and it is aggravating. Take a break and come back later.

I used to think that way about "mistakes". Now I see them as creative opportunities! You are looking at the fabric in only one way. The trick is to start thinking outside the box.

One idea would be cut all the strip sets into strips of varying widths and do a crazy quilt with strips sewn to a muslin foundation. All the colors will still go together, but the pattern will be different.

Or, sew together the blocks that are the same size, then subcut into 5" squares and make a Falling Charms quilt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KkpbFKBaKA . (Note that the sashing strips for this quilt can be a width other than 2.5". In fact, for me, 2.5" gives too much sashing and next time I will use 2" strips.)

Or, sew together the blocks that are the same size, then subcut into any shape that you like -- for example, triangles to make a pinwheel quilt. All the different colors in the triangles would make an interesting pattern.

Along the same lines, you could sew blocks of the same size together, then subcut into dresden plate shapes, alternate them with a plain color, and make circles.

You can go to plan b or plan c for those strips. Set them aside for a while until you get back into it some more.

It is frustrating - but you just said you had lots of other fabric to work with.

Also, if you really don't enjoy working/ playing with fabric any more - it is okay to " divorce" it.

This isn't a mistake - it's a design opportunity! Look at all the wonderful ideas above - you will love this quilt even more when it is finished because it will be your own design, made from what you thought was something you needed to throw away. Hang in there - walk away for a day or so and give it a fresh eye later. We are pulling for you!

Don't despair!! I did something similar to this a year ago. I was cutting out strips for a class I was going to and my husband said, "are you sure those are the right size". He NEVER says that to me. I measured, and they were not right. I had cut them 2.5" instead of the 2.75" they needed to be! I got some similar fabric and recut the 'mistakes' and cut the rest correctly. Now a year later, I have used almost all of the 2.5" strips in other quilts. I didn't throw any of it away and I'm glad of it.

All of my strips are aready cut into pieces. I'll figure something out, I hope.

The Good Lord guided your hand for something else in mind. It was meant to be.

QUILT - don't QUIT! Go find that L!

Don't throw it away!!! Mistakes just give you a creative license to do something else...I never throw away just re-create, sometimes it works out better than what I planned.....Show us pics and maybe we can help....

It is my firm belief that mistakes are the mother of new quilt designs and blocks. As someone else said -it won't be the quilt you planned but you can make a nice quilt with some of it. And the pieces you can't use in this quilt can find their way into another project. Let your creative juices perculate a bit on this one. Good luck with a new adventure.

Could you make two smaller quilts with the two different sized strips? Maybe mix in some other fabrics to get to the right size. I remember my mother turning a "mistake" quilt into a dog bed. It was so pretty and the dog loved it!

By the way, your avatar quilt is really beautiful. Anyone who could design and make that has a true gift, so I'm sure you can make something wonderful with you strips (even the world's nicest dog bed!)

Google 'catastrophization'. It's something we do to ourselves and something we can learn to stop doing.
Sounds to me like you are upset about something else and this is just a lightening rod. Be gentle with yourself. This truly does not matter, even though it feels bad.

Those were not meant to be in that quilt.. Put them aside for another quilt.. a scrappy perhaps... Just dont fret.. Enjoy the process.. if your NOT having fun and quilting has become a 'chore' then find another outlet.. But make sure its something you really want to give up..

can you show us what you have already? Then we would be more able to help you.

I just wanted to tell you you aren't the only one to totally fowl up today. I'm gonna start my own thread for mine, but I think what I would do with yours is put it all aside and start another for now. All of those you have are cut pieces the right size and color for something else even if they don't end up in the same quilt.

I cannot count the number of times I've messed up in a similar way. The interesting thing (and probably one of the things I love most about quilting) is that they WILL eventually be perfect for something. Some of the best quilts I've ever made came out of a strong desire not to toss something that didn't work out the way I originally planned. It has forced me to create some original patterns and, in the end, I've been more proud of those quilts than any others. I absolutely understand your frustration, but I honestly believe those mistakes were simply made for another quilt. Keep your chin up!

Oh Please don't give up. We all make mistakes. I have been quilting over 40 years and I still make mistakes, some were really dumb too. Just lay it aside for awhile. Do you have a friend that makes quilts? Maybe the 2 of you can come up with idea's or a different pattern to use. Hang in there ok. Hugs from me too.

You sound really down on yourself, be kind. If someone else came to you with this scenario you would tell them the same thing. It takes time to get back in the swing of things when you have been away for awhile, I know I have just been through it myself. Take a deep breath and carry on. I am sure you can figure out how to save this quilt. I live just south of you, maybe it's the weather that is getting you down. (Lots of snow). Everything will be fine, just don't give up. We are here for you!

It's just fabric. It can't think and you can. Go away from it for awhile. That might be a week or a couple of months. Think about how it could be changed and still be useful. Maybe you need to shop for some fabric (oh hurt me!) that you could work in to make it all come out looking fine. Or maybe just donate the pieces and parts to a thrift store and go start over on a different project. Whatever you decide, know that you can do things well, just one boo-boo isn't going to devastate you forever. I mean that in a kind way. Start looking for the positives. They're there. Honest!

i ditto her comment!

Dont give up we have all been there! You've gotten great advice! Have some chocolate, cry take a break n regroup! You can do it!! :-) show us what you make!! :-)

Take a step back from it and give yourself some space
We all have made mistakes
What pattern are you doing ?

Start over.

Throw all that sewing into your scrap pile, or sew and then cut into 6" squares and make a scrap quilt/crazy quilt with those. Change your plans.

You said you have drawers full of fabric, so just pull out something different and go to work on it. Life is really too short to cry over fabric.

Really, it is. And sewing is supposed to be fun. :)

Don't cry and above all don't quit, as lots of replies have suggested either re design using the smaller strip s or use them for something else. You're not the first and I bet you won't be the last to do this. I sat and cut 300 hst's 1/2 inch too small. I managed to get more fabric for my quilt and I'm still using the other ones in small projects lol :thumbup:

Join the stripes into so many at a time. Then cut out squares on the diagonal. If not happy with the matches when put together sash.

Use the strips like they are and make a scrappy quilt. The width of the strips is not important. Try it, it is a good way to create something nice.

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I'm of no help with quilt ideas but whatever you decide don't give up. If I quit every time I made a mistake I'd still be doing nothing. Take a creative break & then come back to it. Relax & breathe slowly & things will work out.

I love, love your quilt. So colourful. I'm not that experienced as a quilter so how do you do one like that?

Mistakes do happen to all of us. An important think I learned is to not jump to far ahead of myself until I have checked out the square before moving forward. It takes a little extra time in the beginning but I don't end up with a large number of 'problem' pieces. As others have suggested set the mishap parts aside and make new ones with substitute fabrics. It might be tedious to re cut the ones that are correct to match those that are incorrect. This would give a smaller end product but maybe you could add more squares or add in some plain ones. I am sure it is usable-just different. Just yesterday someone posted about a project with a major re-do and and how pleased she was for having taken the time to do it.

Not sure what pattern you are doing, but if you have that much fabric, surely you can find something similar in your stash to match what you already have. Then you have started not just one, but two quilts :) The 1 1/4 inch strips could be made into a log cabin, or subcut to other shapes. Even though it may seem overwhelming now, please don't give up when you've just gotten started again. If all else fails, use sashing to complete you blocks to make it the appropriate size, and donate it to charity.

Hang in there and don't give up! I have a strip pieced 6400 square (1" each) top that is refusing to go together correctly right now but one day it will.....so I put it aside for a few weeks or months and will come back to it. I know it's my own fault, I picked a pattern that asks for perfection with seam allowances and that is not my strength. I do fine with bigger blocks but this one has so many seams, so many places to get a tiny bit off and those "tinies" do add up! I will finish mine, and SO WILL YOU!!!!!! Just keep posting here and let us all help you figure it out!!!!

Oh you cannot give up on quilting, so you nade a mistake