Moan, groan, why did I ever say I'd do this?
 

My guild asked me to quilt a raffle quilt. I had huge misgivings, didn't really want to do it, but grudgingly said ok.

It's 80 X 96 - biggest quilt I've ever done on my quilting set up.

Things I have learned from this quilt:

1) If your gut says 'don't do it", don't do it.

2) Never use dark thread on a light backing or light thread on a light backing if you make mistakes. I make mistakes.

3) Do NOT try a new pattern on a large quilt. If it has problems, you have problems. It has problems, so I have problems.

4) The first three rows were a nightmare, and had to be ripped out. Did I mention that the quilt is 80 inches wide and the row is 8 inches long? At a rip-out speed of about 4 hours per row, that's 12 hours! See number 3.

I finally figured out that at least part of the problem was the new bobbin case I was using. I had used it before on another quilt with NO problems.

I put the first three rows back in. They looked great from the top, and I was checking the bottom as I went. I thought I was finally rolling on this quilt! However, row two was partially wrecked when the take up pole let loose one ratchet. That made the quilting wonky/off by about .5 inches in one spot. I have tried to line the quilting back up and do over that section with absolutely no luck. See number 2.

I have three choices: Live with it, rip it out or take it to guild to see if they want to either hand quilt that little bit or rip the entire row out themselves. The mistakes really show.

Row three has a similar problem. Same choices.

5) The last row - I've taken it out once already (4 hours!!!), and it should probably be taken out again. The machine appears to be sewing on a downward slant. I consulted with DH about it and he said the quilt had to be slightly 'cocked' because everything else looked good. And it did. Not a lot that I can do about the quilt being 'cocked' at the last row. And why didn't it show up before?

Well, on the last stitches of the second iteration of the last row, I figured out why the quilt LOOKED 'cocked'. The quilt rolled around the take up roller was much puffier (looser) at the start of the row than at the end of the row. So from where I placed the needle, the start of the row was literally higher than the end of the row, thus causing the look of downward quilting.

6) I hate this quilt. I hate the quilting pattern. I hate the thread (top and bottom). I still like the guild, but that could change.

7) I will never do this again. It's too much like work.

Oh wow, I'm so sorry you're going through this ordeal! How I feel your pain, although for a different project. But when things go badly on something you didn't want to do in the first place, it really stinks. I don't have any advice, just (((hugs))). Hope things start to look up. Gina

That really did not go well.

Almost bad enoigh to make a preacher swear.

So sorry for your frustrations! Would a couple of drinks help???

Oh, I feel your pain! I spent the day quilting a Community Quilt. What problems I had! The back is too short the batting is too short, the binding fabric isn't enough. But after a day, I got it done. It only reminds me of an expression I have heard all my life, "No good deed goes unpunished. But do it anyway."

Oh Cathy, I feel your pain. It has never happened to me with a quilt )YET!) but definitely with a cake -- and more than once. Ya know how you an just feel it in your bones when you give the "yes." Then things begin to happen. It's almost like Murphy's Law. I've made wedding cakes for children of friends when l half-way offered and half-way agreed to do it at no-cost labor!! Things never seemed to go right. Many mishaps along the way. Was so afraid to deliver for fear of DROPPING IT. So yes, I feel your pain. I have since learned -- no freebies.

Oh, I am so sorry for you!!! :( (And thanks for the reminder to follow my gut on this type of thing.)

So sorry! The only positive thing is that your guild thinks highly enough of your work to ask you do quilt the raffle quilt. Perhaps it isn't as bad as you think it is?

With the space of a night to get over all my horrible mistakes, the back really didn't look bad except for the two glaring mistakes.

Handed the quilt off to the guild today. They were far less critical of the quilting than I am. One of the ladies, who I know does terrific work, said, "I'd just leave it like it is." I couldn't believe my own ears.

One of the other ladies really saw my distress and said, "We can fix that and it'll look fine." Poor thing didn't understand that she was 'we' and she had volunteered! So I handed her the thread that I brought with me and she started picking the bad stuff out - not entire rows which is what I thought it needed.

So I still like my guild. And hate the quilt.

Thank you all for your sympathy. It helped.

Sorry, but this made me laugh! (Not in a nasty way). I suppose it's a case of 'all's well that ends well'. As I read the posts, I was going to say that probably you're your own worst critic and I'm happy to see this did indeed prove to be the case.

I used to tell students that, if I woke up in the morning and thought I wasn't going to learn something that day, I'd just roll over and face the wall. You've just gone to the top of the class, lol.

Congratulations on finishing it - I bet you feel great!

tried the best u could, next time I would take back to quild at start....sometimes I give is the answer

wow,poor you.hope you can get it done

So glad it is over. Look on the bright side--you don't have to buy a raffle ticket to buy it!!!

sort of cynical...but do many of the guild members send their quilts out to you and pay for your skills?

I ask this because one of the reasons I don't belong to the nearby guild is they want everything for free. The want to local shops to provide fabrics and batts for their money makers, but when they buy for themselves they go down to fabric depot in Portland or order online.

One year they got their free raffle quilt quilting and had to take every bit of it out. Then they washed it to remove all the holes and the fabric dye ran.

If someone doesn't support your work you owe them nothing.
But I admire you for carrying on and you probably learned a lot of lessons that will help with other big quilts.

Oh man, what a struggle! At least it was for a good cause! And all ended well enough.

So glad it worked out finally! That is why I really don't do anything for others -- I put too much pressure on myself and then end up hating the whole process.

I like the second lady!
Maybe they won't ask again?
Just in case... Repeat after me.... 'No'!!!!!

Glad you got through it. If it makes you feel any better, it happens to all of us. I think it does. At least, it happens to me. It's things like this that have me thinking more and more that I should only quilt for myself. It's hard to say "No", though.

Been there, sister. I have to say that it's hilarious to hear your version! Thanks for the laugh.

I totally agree. I have had that happen before.

I have a project that was supposed to be a Christmas gift last year for my granddaughters but I had so many problems with it that I put it in a box and closed the lid - couldn't stand to look at it anymore! It's still in the closed box and I'm trying to work up the courage to see if I can salvage it for a gift for this Christmas. Ugh....

I don't know a lot about LA use but seems the quilt wasn't loaded right on the frame. Sorry you had to feel so upset about your work. It's hard to overcome that feeling.

Cathy, sorry that you've had such a negative experience quilting this quilt. You've learned a lot from this one project. Thanks for sharing your experiences. It clearly is very important to evenly wind quilts onto the frames.

Next year it will be someone else's experience; making a raffle quilt!

Wow, what a struggle. I understand the experience, seems like I can work on quilts and enjoy the experience, the work flows and all is well. As soon as I am making a quilt for a particular person things start to go wrong. Love to make quilts but I do not volunteer to make for anyone specifically.

Sounds so familiar. My guild asked me to do the program and publicity for the quilt show. I told them no, and told them no, and they kept saying, "Oh, we'll give you lots of help." Of course, the help was minimal, and I was not the person for the job, just as I told them. The project lasted for months, up until the quilt show, with the people in charge acting very put out with me as I repeatedly reported my lack of progress, due to several things, one of which was my daughter having a baby. It ended up with lots of hard feelings, and I never again felt comfortable going to that guild's meetings. I have moved to another town now, but don't really want to join a guild here. I never felt guilty about it, because I had been honest with the people. I just feel sad that it all happened. I, too, should have said no and stuck to my guns.

I do a lot for my guild but know when to say no to guild or anyone. I say I don't want to do that and I don't offer any reason or excuse why. That stops all pleading or urging on. I do not like the guild to ask for free stuff for fundraisers. I voiced my opinion about that too. Since I have said I don't like it many more have spoken up too. Now we fund our own fundraisers and do get some donations but we don't ask for them. If a person can't afford to help fund the guild at times with time or money, then really why be a member and let others do it all.

[QUOTE=cathyvv;6871663]My guild asked me to quilt a raffle quilt. I had huge misgivings, didn't really want to do it, but grudgingly said ok.

I hope it makes your guild lots of money!

I hate it when everything seems to go wrong! Isn't there an Army saying that goes something like, "Don't volunteer?"

Always, Always listen to your gut!
Think NAVY......
Never
Again
Volunteer
Yourself

I would rip it out and pay someone else to do the quilting and NEVER say yes again! ;)

I quit volunteering along time ago. I tell them I have too many things on my plate as it is. I donate what I can when I can.

So Sorry!! and totally agree with follow your gut on this and everything else...Learning to just say no is a lesson in itself. Why is it so hard for us when we know what the outcome will be?

Surely the quilt from hell. Must be your quilting guardian angel is asleep at the job.

Im so sorry to hear that. It would be enough to make me throw in the towel. A some point the only thing you can do is save yourself. I'm with Colleen on this one. Whatever it cost, it would be worth my sanity to hand it off.

So I'm guessing you won't be taking a chance on the raffle??

Thanks for your advice.
Wow, been there and just handed the quilt over!
Praises because the gentleman was never in church again after he received the quilt and passed on 6 months later.

I know exactly how you feel. I enthusiastically volunteered to be on the raffle quilt committee and ended up being a one person committee. Others made some blocks, some were the right size, some were not. Good thing the blocks were planned in a way that they could be trimmed down. When the top was finished, I was very relieved and then when the guild asked for a volunteer to quilt no one volunteered. I have a long arm so guess who got to quilt it too? The pressure to get it right was intense. In the end the quilt was beautiful and everyone loved it and it brought in a lot of $$ for the guild. Still, I don't volunteer for anything anymore.