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-   -   Things are just not working out..... (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/things-just-not-working-out-t197907.html)

Dina 08-18-2012 05:57 PM

I would put it aside for now and start a new project. Pull it out later....even a year from now...and by then you will be experienced enough to have some ideas for it. I just pulled out a quilt project I had given up on last year, and I found that it wasn't as bad as I remembered. I have a pretty nifty quilt now.

Of course, I don't mean to tell you what to do, not really. That is just what I would do. Lots of good advice here.

At any rate, go back in your sewing room and make something...maybe a coaster or something, just so you feel better about sewing. :)

DIna

Halo 08-18-2012 06:11 PM

If possible, make wonky blocks out of them & put a sashing around each block. Don't toss it, just revamp it.

Silver Needle 08-18-2012 06:24 PM

I am still learning and absorbing new ways of doing things after making a number of my own quilts. I've spent the majority of my time perfecting long arm quilting with classes and practice instead of piecing. I found the videos on The Quilt Show worth the price of membership. Especially some I've been watching on precision piecing. You sound like me, a "perfectionist". I am learning to be patient and give myself time to learn. Follow the advice given here - set it aside for a time then come back to it with fresh eyes and more experience. You will then be able to appreciate the nice work you did on the blocks and figure a way to recut, sash or some other method of putting them together in a quilt.

QuiltnLady1 08-18-2012 07:32 PM

I agree -- don't trash it. I also agree that it would help going forward if you can figure out what went wrong, but maybe setting it aside and doing something else before going back to it will work better.

I have had this problem (most of us have). I have added sashing between the blocks, I have remeasured and adjusted the seams of the smaller blocks. I frequently make the blocks larger so I can trim them to size (especially HSTs), but I also make more blocks than I need so I can use the best ones. Sometimes a good night sleep helps me see things better, but sometimes I just put the project aside and go back to it later. I find that the more I piece the better I do, but if I have a lot of time between sewing sessions it is like I have to start all over.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do -- but don't let one problem kill the pleasure of making a quilt.

jlong 08-18-2012 08:17 PM

You have been given some wonderful advise. Remember that a quilt made from very pretty fabric doesn't show the mistakes that you see. It still stays pretty and will still keep you warm. One of my favorite quilts has the most flaws but since the fabric is so pretty, no one seems to notice. Just don't give up. I have made 4 practice squares of a new pattern out of scraps before diving into a costly project. Those practice squares became table topper gifts.

Tropical 08-19-2012 12:06 AM

I agree with everyone who suggests that you don't trash your quilt. The first quilt top I made a few years ago is my favorite. It isn't perfect because it was my first and I was so new to quilting that I was petrified about starting - from cutting my beautiful fabrics to squaring the blocks. Well, I finally dove in and I loved working with the fabrics. My DH was a Godsend to me with his eye for design. He helped me along the way by questioning me about what I had done and making suggestions in such a supporting manner that I didn't give up. So please share your pictures and let others here guide and support you. :) :) :)

Jan in FL 08-19-2012 02:31 AM

You are all such special people. Thank you so much for your support. You honestly encouraged me to the point that I went into my sewing room and reevaluated the quilt. I have 80 squares sewn into 10 rows with 8 blocks in each row.

Last night, I ripped and trimmed and sewed the first row over. It may be a little smaller, but the points do all match now. I think I can make all the rows work. We will see what happens when I try to sew the rows together. I might be back with pictures for more help. If not, I will post pictures of the quilt top when completed.

Thank you all so much for your support and advice.

Sandygirl 08-19-2012 03:00 AM

Hey, not everything comes out the way we want it to. Funny, my tablerunners are always worse than my quilts. I think because I get in a hurry due to the small size. I just need to slow down and take the same care with the runners as I do with large quilts. I have a "shadowplay" UFO in my drawer. I need to trash it too. I hate my fabric choices. It happens.

Keep quilting. A year is not a long time to throw the towel in?
sandy

Amythyst02 08-19-2012 03:04 AM

I am so glad everyone here was able to cheer you up, and give you the motivation to go back and reevaluate your quilt. I am a new quilter as well, and I am sure I will be where you are one of these days soon. But, as a long time sewer I can tell you some thing I learned long ago. IF it seems to not make sense, or its not going together right, sometimes it means you need to take a break from it. It always seemed like the next day, I wondered why I had such a problem with the pattern I was looking at. It was perfectly clear the next day, or went together without a hitch. Best of luck and cannot wait to see the pictures !!

katesnanna 08-19-2012 04:03 AM

This has happened to most of us at some time. Don't let it dissuade you. Just remember quilting is meant to be fun. Put this aside for now, maybe you will find a different use for the fabric and it will still be beautiful. Don't give in as that is a rather ambitious quilt pattern for a relatively new quilter. Put it aside and maybe try again after you have made a few straight forward quilts. Happy Quilting and don't forget the quilt will be just as warm and loving even if all your seams don't match.


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