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Chris from TX,
This is a very supportive group and like others have said, SOMEONE here will have a solution/great suggestion for you. Just post some pictures. Since you are new here, hop over to the sticky to see how to do it (biggest side can be no larger than 800 pixels) and we'll help you. You have a gold mine in resources here. And, I don't know how old you are, but I'm thinking you are young/ish. My advice in the future...post here instead of showing your aunt. :D Seriously. Wait and show your aunt when you all finished. We just need pics. We've done 9 patches--they can be fantastic quilts. Mine are like this: [ATTACH=CONFIG]456372[/ATTACH] Or this: [ATTACH=CONFIG]456373[/ATTACH], or this: [ATTACH=CONFIG]456374[/ATTACH] If your 9 patches aren't perfect, you can make them wonky (look it up, or just ask here) and they turn out really cute! There are quite a few options you have. Don't give up and in the future, just ask here. The nicest, kindest ladies/men are here and there are thousands and thousands of collective years of quilt experience to build upon. |
So sorry that happened.
There have been several good suggestions here that I totally agree with. Sew them all back together, and then find a good way to display them in your quilt. Sashing sounds great. Use white or black or some neutral color. This would separate the colors. Another way is to make solid blocks the same size as the 9-patch blocks and alternate them. The solid blocks could be many different colors or all one neutral color. I think this would be lovely. Don't be floored by this. You can do it. Good luck! |
Justflyingin-these are beautiful quilts. Love the design, love the colors. This board is so inspiring and full of creative artists.
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I do agree with zozee. good advice Its your quilt, your design, your work, so take a deep breath and move on. It woudl be a cold day in hell before i let anyone dismantle anything on my quilts, whether it is done right or wrong.
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I am sorry that your quilt got all messed up.. but its not the end of the world. I agree with those who suggested posting pictures.. it is so hard to offer suggestions without seeing what you have. By the way, that is why I don't show too many people my projects until they are completed... I learned that the hard way too. Its funny how people want to "help" and can cause such grief. This board is good for asking questions.. and we can't touch your project ha ha
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I feel that most of us have been where you are now at one time. There is always a pattern that is not clear or printed wrong that drives us crazy. I am sorry it was on your first quilt and you got such bad advice. My first thought was make a square's of your choice and sashing them. As I read on I see others had the same advice. Good luck with it and don't let it get you discouraged. As others have said if you are to upset put it away and work on something new. That is why a lot of us have a bunch of UFO's.
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What I would do is just sew them all together. It would end up being a controlled scrappy of 2 1/2" blocks. Don't put them in any order, just random. If you have 4 patch, just add to it, 9 patch, just keep adding. I just finished a quilt that is all the same color scheme, but boy you can't see a pattern in it and I love it. Your blocks don't all have to be the same size. You just need to end up with a square or rectangle top. And if it's the same color line, I bet it would be pretty. Good luck, and post pictures.
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Remember the old saying, Advice is worth just what you paid for it? Next time anyone (especially a relative) tries to help, say BUTT OUT!
Another old ad said, Please Mother (Aunt), I'd rather do it myself!! No quilt is worth tears. |
OMG. I feel so bad for you. She certainly messed things up even though her intentions might have been good. I see you have received lots of good advice already but I will add one more thing: From now on, the aunt has no say in what you do or sew! Don't be afraid to make your own mistakes, not someone else's. You learned a great lesson and I hope you will not give up on quilting because of all this.
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Oh my, I think I would like to cry as well. Without seeing what was left of your quilt, I cannot give a recommendation, except that when your aunt offers suggestions in the future, DO NOT let her get near the seam ripper ever again. If I were you, I might put the pieces into a bag or box, hand it to your aunt and tell her that since she is an experienced quilter that maybe she should put the pieces together so that you can "SEE" what she intended, as you're not quite sure, as the two of you were definitely not on the same page. I have to admit this is a unique story, as most of my experiences with quilters who insist on giving advice, is to listen, nod your head and when they leave, do it your way. If you can post pictures, perhaps the QB members can give you some pointers on whether to proceed with the quilt or put it in the circular scrap bin.
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Sorry you had this experience. Someone gave me a stack of 9 patch blocks (in varying shades of purple). Some had good contrast, others not so good. I ended up measuring the size of the block and cut white blocks the same size and alternated the blocks. Then for the border I cut a light purple border (I also added a few of my own blocks to incorporate the border color). I also like the sashing idea. You could also used black blocks for a more dramatic look. I didn't know how it would turn out, but when my sister saw it she loved it...guess what she's getting for Christmas! I didn't tell her how it started.
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I am sorry! Take a deep breath, walk away for a while and know that it will some how be all ok in the end, frustrating as it may be, it will be ok.
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Hang in there:)
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Originally Posted by chrisfromtx
(Post 6509099)
I made about 200 6 1/2 inch nine patch blocks. I had trouble right away placing them in what I thought was a pleasing way. I used about 15 different, coordinating fabrics and muslin. Most of the blocks I made were just 2 fabrics and sometimes I would invert the combination. My aunt, who is a quilt maker, wanted to help. She told me that it would be easier to make a pattern with a four patch (thanks alot aunt). She thought I should take them apart. I said No Way! But she's kind of bossy and eventually she said she would take some apart and help me come up with a pattern. I thought she might just take one of the strips off, so I would have a 3 patch and a 6 patch, but she knows what she's doing Right. Well she designed for me a beautiful quilt top, what she calls a Trip Around the World. As she was explaining it to me I noticed that she had strips of 3 patches and single pieces. I asked her how I was going to put this all together, she never had a satisfactory answer, and then it dawned on me that my quilt was a mess. I have 2 1/2 inch pieces, 5 inch pieces, and 6 1/2 inch pieces. I don't know where to start. Am I wrong in thinking that she got me into a jam. I wanted my first quilt to be simple and easy to put together, now I have mess that all I can see it as is a jigsaw puzzle. What can I do? Where do I start?
Thank you for any help you can give me, chrisfromtx If we knew where you are from in Texas, we might be able to get you some hands on help from your area. I'm in N Texas and we've got several guilds with members who will lend you a sympathetic ear and maybe even a helping hand. Ask at a fabric store or department if they know anyone who might help. froggyintexas |
:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:[ sending you lots of Hugs}
You've received lots of advice on here.......JMHO.........put these blocks away, take deeeep cleansing breaths, take a walk.........check out basic simple patterns on the internet for table runners, etc.....Make a few of those even if they are simple 4 patch or 9 patch blocks put together....Get a little more confidence then dig out those blocks/pieces and they won't seem so daunting!!!!! You Rock Girl for even trying.:thumbup:, most beginners start with too big a project and become overwhelmed...scale back and Relax!!!!!!!! Best Wishes, let us know how it all turns out. :D |
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How frustrating! I am so glad I did not have a know it all "helping me" with my first quilt. (By the way, I was advised to do whatever I wanted for my first and chose a 9 patch.)
I presume what you have looks something like the picture. What I would do is thank the aunt politely, wait until she is gone and reassemble what you had. On a large surface, try different layouts until what you have pleases YOU. Stack, label and pin each row. You might want to use sashing strips. when I sash, I always use cornerstones because they look sharp and help me keep things aligned. (experienced quilters use design walls for this purpose, but a floor will generally do.) PS beware of this lady. she is "Quilt Police". If you come here for advice, you will get friendly, HELPFUL people to respond. If you want to use her advice. turn the 3 patch and 2 patch into a second 4 patch and set aside the odd square for a cornerstone. |
Hang in there. One day you will look at this and laugh. It seems like a disaster but it will work out. Even if it is a scrappy. Pictures will help.
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I'm with Bella boo. Put it in a bag, stuff it out of sight, and start over with a kit. Once you have a few quilts under your belt, pull out the bag and it won't be long before you have it figured out. Sometimes we just have to walk away.
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I would neatly press the squares and put them in a scrap drawer for future use (you will find lots of uses for them). Find a pattern you like and dig in to make your "first" quilt "without your aunt". You will look back on this one day and "smile".
My first quilt is a UFO because I realized I needed more experience to finish it (I jumped in with both feet and very little idea of what I was doing). I will finish it one day when I am ready and find it in that forgotten bin. But for now I am still learning with each project. |
Don't give up. I have only been quilting a little over a year. There is nothing you cannot google. If not for that resource and this board I would have given up many times. This is just your first quilt. There are many more to come. You cannot learn unless you make mistakes. Mistakes are the best teachers. I started with small things like table runners and hot pads to work on my skill. Even if I now have a quilt that doesn't turn out like I expected, I will take a break and do something small to get my motivation to keep on back.
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Another Good Spot to Look at are the Books at your Local Library.. I have 2 libraries near where I live that have been Gifted with Quilt books So they have Quite a Selection... Check Your Library or contact a local quilt group - I am sure a couple of the ladies would be glad to help you... My neighbor used to lay out her quilts on the tables in our Church Fellowship Hall...she would lay them out on a Sheet and pin then with small Safety Pins when she got the lay out just the way she wanted... Then would take them off 1 row at a time and sew it then pin the Row back in place on the sheet til she was all done connecting the Squares then sew the Rows together.. Hope this helps...
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I will go with the rest of the ladies here. put it away, or start something with bigger pieces. and get it done. come here. lots of advice. fly-beautiful quilts. good tut for a newbie.
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DON'T LET THIS DISCOURAGE YOU! We have all dealt with some kind of frustration in our quilting journey, don't let this stop you. One of my favorite quilts is just 2 inch squares quilted criss cross on each square creating a lattice. The one thing I would say is whether you decide to continue on the one you started or do a new project, jump right in and get started. If you let this set back delay you it maybe harder to get started again. Welcome to the Board!
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Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
(Post 6509289)
Personally I think I'd probably just put it away and start something else. You can go back to it and fix it your way after you have a bit more experience.
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Is it possible to come up with your own artistic design for this project. You don't have to follow a previous design if you can't find one. Let your creative juices flow and come up with an original design. I agree that you may have to put this project on hold for awhile. Maybe with time you will have a moment of inspiration.
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I think if it were mine I would take all of them apart. If they are all the same size just sew them back together. If they are all different sizes then I would trim them all the same sizes and sew them together in some sort of pattern.
There are lots of instructions on the internet for all kinds of patterns. Welcome to this wonderful board, lots of knowledgeable people here. |
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