I can understand how you feel about your quilt at this point. It seems that the squares were put together randomly-which can be OK. However, when the squares got put together some of the dark color and some of the light color seem to be 'clumped' together. The randomness got lost and any definition disappeared into confusion. You mentioned that the recipient has used teal and brown in the room where it will be used. I think the brown needs to be addressed. I really like Quilting Nan's approach. It gives organization to the blocks. I think the use of borders would help a lot. I think your blocks have lots of potential but you need to be friends with your ripper. Please show us what you decide to do. Try not to be discouraged as you forge ahead.

I think quilts with solids look kind of blah until you get them quilted. I always like them better after they are quilted. If your friend likes the colors then I wouldn't change it. As a quilter if you miss prints, then find a printed fabric for the border, but otherwise don't stress, just finish it. JMHO

Hi DeneK, I have made one of these before. My blues were bluejeans. If you could make more blocks that have many colors and alternate them , it would add more interest. It would also give you two quilts;)

I am thinking what others are. A little sashing in a neutral color could break that up nicely.

I think what Nan's EQ rendition does well is continuity. In your photo, the blocks are randomly turned. In Nan's quilt they are repeated in a certain order. I think that would help. It seems just too jumbled to me. The sashing will help, too.

I made a Blue quilt a while back, too. I hated it at first. It was a "quartered stripe" pattern. A friend suggested I use white sashing and set it on point. I kept looking at it and did sash it in white. It helped.

I'm sure setting it on point would have made all the difference, but it was more than I wanted to tackle, as I am not very experienced. It's now in my UFO pile. I don't hate it as much as I did. However, I don't like it enough to spend $160.00 to get it quilted, either.

Sometimes, they just don't turn out like we imagined.

bkay

I think that QuiltnNan has it nailed. The brown sashing is perfect for a brown and blue bedroom.

I would start by not looking at the whole quilt (can be overwhelming).Start by selecting blocks to make a cohesive 4 patch (example - put 4 blocks together in such a away as to have the dark bits or the whites meet in the center). You may end up with 18 big blocks or maybe just 12 - doesn't matter. Then use a sashing that will stop the eye - either the dark blue or white, not a medium color. Depending on how many blocks you end up with, border it to make the size you want. If you only use 12 blocks, you can sew the remaining together and then cut them in strips (think a modified piano border) and use them to make it bigger, with a small border between the top and the border. I have found by separating and doing a bit of changing, I have turned a top from something I didn't want to work on into something I really liked. Good luck - I'm sure they will like it.

i chose the brown only because you said those are the colors in the room

It would make a perfect background for a simple appliqué design.

I like bjchad's idea