think I am ready to throw this quilt out the window!
 

I agree some quilts are like a rude coworker from beginning to end. These I let go into the UFO pile.

For me, life is too short........:hunf:

Jan in VA

First....LOVE your signature.

Second...remember the saying ....."that which does not kill us makes us stronger"......
and i second Tartan....can you just dampen the wrinkled section (and a pathway to it from the edge) and let that dry and re-glue??

GOOD LUCK !!! Don't let that dang quilt beatcha !!!!

So sorry for your frustrations on this one! Would it help to set it aside awhile and work on something else? Or if by now you have decided you don't like this pattern that much after all, cut it up for other scrappy quilts.

I am sorry that making the pattern for yourself did not go well. Why does frustration have to be linked to quilting??

Just look at all the things you learned though. Not all quilt projects are that giving. I wonder if there is a different way to get the layers resorted than washing. That might bring in a whole new layer of headache.

i find there is a lesson to be learned in all we do....it's gonna be alright....it'll work out...

Don't let one bad experience discourage you. Probably you see by now that using a pattern as it is presented by the designer is one thing and changing it is quite another. As for getting the layers apart after using Elmer's school glue I would soak those areas in a shallow pan of water and gently loosen them and re-glue them. I would be afraid that putting it in a commercial size washer would destroy the integrity of all the layers-especially the batting. Relegating it to the UFO pile only postpones doing what needs to be done.

Quilts and computers can be the most frustrating things in the world and yet, what would we do without them?

I agree with purpledog. I think putting it in a washing machine will cause you untold amounts of grief. It could turn your top into a mangled mess and render your batting un-usable. If soaking the wrinkled bits in a shallow pan doesn't work, soak it in the tub. If you don't have a tub, lay it out as much as you can in the shower stall and turn the shower on it. Once completely wet, let it drain then gently pull the layers apart and find someplace flat you can let them dry. Good luck!

Everyone has had one of those! If you want to persevere I would NOT take the sandwich to a commercial laundry. the washers (well any washer) is WAY too rough on an unquilted sandwich. Soak it in the tub and carefully separate the layers. You can tumble dry the layers individually if you have a gentle cycle. Hopefully you used a batting that's OK to prewash.

I have also had fighting quilts..I think we all have...it is just like your brain goes on vacation...and no matter what u do .it is wrong..i have to admit..I did throw one out...it was huge...I tore the quilting out ..2 times...spents many. Many ..hours doing that...no matter what I did it bunch some in the back..I was doing it on my home machine..I re-basted..fought with it in every way...on the 3rd quilting..same thing..I know it was just me...But I who won't tore any material..did throw it away...have to admit . It sort of haunts that I did...after taking the stitches out so many times ..the fabric gets stress..I have none many for that one and after..NEVER had that kind of trouble...

It might have stretched now after sewing and ripping. Why don't you put it on the cutting mat and trim of the seam line with all the glued part and toss that, then measure your quilt side and see exactly how long it is. Also make sure the corners are square with the other borders. You might want to check the other border and see if they measure what they should.
Whenever I rip something, I usually hold the steam iron over the place and give it a burst of steam and pat it down to the ironing board, to take out any fullness . Once it is flat you and then iron it and proceed to the next area.

Someone told me that you could use a steam iron or steamer to shrink the fullness out of a quilt while its on the frame. Have tried this out and it works like a charm. I use Elmer's Glue for basting my binding onto the quilt but never to baste the entire quilt. I can only feel for you with your dilemna.

Sometimes I take little breaks and do something small like a potholder or zippered pouch or pillow.

This either refreshes me so I can attack the problem or makes me not notice minor things I obsessed about before

Don't give up!

If it is not something I am enjoying, I pass it on to another quilter who will enjoy the process.

Hang in there! But agree, use some water to unbaste (glue) your layers. Then do what you think is best.

You poor thing, I'm sorry you having so much trouble with this quilt. Maybe you can get the glue loose enough you can fix the wrinkles.

Don't give up on the Elmers glue---I basted one and it sat for 3 years before I quilted it (glue lumps and all) and it came out beautiful everything washed out---just broke a few needles on the hard lumps

If I understand you correctly and you mean to put it in a washing machine you will have a bigger mess on your hands when it frays since it is not quilted. Please try to dampen with a cloth or maybe a spray bottle to loosen the glue. Straighten out the wrinkles then let it dry before you proceed to quilt. Good luck to you.

Jill, I am so sorry you are having trouble. Just think though, a little while ago (Many months) they weren't sure you were going to live let alone be able to quilt. I have seen your quilts and they are beautiful. I think the quilt she is talking about that she made for a friend is called China Doll. The one she gave to a friend was done in purple. Here is a picture of it. Hang in there kiddo. You will be able to get it done.

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I feel your pain. Working on one now that would have gone yoU GO pile if it weren't for someone else. Hang in there do the best you can it happens to all of us.

Thanks for posting that picture Twinkie. That is a beautiful quilt! She did a great job on it.

The more grief I have making one the more stubborn I become. Hang in there!

When I made my son's quilt I threatened many many times to take it out into the woods and burn it. It did turn out nice.
Stress stress stress

I don't understand it but sometimes quilts just fight you the entire time. I mad a disappearing 4 patch last year. Probably the easiest pattern I have made in quite a while. I made blocks wrong, cut them wrong etc. It became almost a nightmare. I did beat it in the end, it is all quilted and bound and ready to donate.

Take a deep breath and just work on one step at a time. It is like the old question, How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

There are many flavors of vodka.

Someone else took my comment, but it is all I can say, "I feel your pain".

Whatever you do, don't throw it out! I never let fabric win!!! Most of the suggestions here say to soak just the trouble areas and loosen then try again. I think I agree. Either way, you have put so much time and energy into it already that it would be a shame to just get rid of it. I do think it's worth it to figure out a way to finish it. Just think of it, this one would probably become one of your most cherished quilts of all time. That's usually how I feel about the ones that have been extra challenging for me! Good luck with it. And be sure and post a pic when it's finished so we can all share in the excitement of your finished work.

I share your pain. I've had more than one quilt which sorely tested my patience, so I put the quilt away until I had calmed down, worked on some other projects, then, when it resurfaces, I'll try again. I once tried to make a diamond border to go with a kelidascope ) (sp) quilt top I was making for my DH for our 25th anniversary. Despite measuring carefully (I thought anyway), one side came out longer than the opposite border. So - I spent 2 days un-sewing the borders, then put it away - I finally finished it for our 35th anniversary. I should add that during that time we were hosting our family reunion and my brother was going to be sleeping in my sewing room, so things got put wherever, then I found it again while cleaning my sewing room. He seemed OK with the wait, especially since we had gone to Keepsake Quilting up North where he picked out the fabric. I should mention that he also picked out the pattern, not going to do that again, as there were too many bias edges to deal with. It was a pretty quilt though, even when I thought I should break out the champagne to celebrate finishing the quilt.

Been there, done that, too. Maybe step away from it for a while and go back.

I just ripped out sixteen seams (8 wide strips with a strip sewn on each side) that I had stitched together for a mystery quilt (that I bought specific fabric for) and found out (thankfully before cutting it down) that my 1/4" seams were not as exact as I needed and this pattern requires a very exact 1/4" seam to get a 3 1/2" width for the sections. So I have now reset my 1/4" and started resewing them together.

Sometimes, I just put those "problem" quilts away to finish some other time.

[QUOTE=twinkie;7160941]Jill, I am so sorry you are having trouble. Just think though, a little while ago (Many months) they weren't sure you were going to live let alone be able to quilt. I have seen your quilts and they are beautiful. I think the quilt she is talking about that she made for a friend is called China Doll. The one she gave to a friend was done in purple. Here is a picture of it. Hang in there kiddo. You will be able to get it done.


Oh Donna! I love you so much. Yes..that is the same quilt I made over. (and over and over)
I did end up taking it to a commercial laundry and it washed up very well. Not any ravels. whew! Right now it is sitting on the back of a chair. One of these days I will back to it. Thanks for the clip art, Donna. Love you, Hon.

OMG!!! Too funny!

If one side really was ten inches longer than the other - did you ever figure out how that happened?

How were you trying to make it larger? by making more blocks for more rows? by making the blocks larger (change from a 8 to 12 inch block, for example)? by adding more borders?

Good luck with dealing with it. I do agree that there is occasionally one that just does not want to cooperate. Things can go wrong that one did not think were even possible to go wrong.

Don't put it in the wash or you can just plan on taking it out of the washing machine and into the nearest dumpster in one swoop. Do as someone else suggested, and just soak that section of the quilt.