Not everything always works out. You don't have to use what you received. Save it for another small item like a tote, gift bag, wall hanging. There is an old saying about the dream of something being better than the acquiring of that something. It is usually true. Don't be disapointed, just find the place where it will work.

Just think if the person that received your block had the same problem and on and on and on through out a complete exchange. Ha. Being a quilter, I understand about color, design and size. I would never expect someone to use a block I made if it didn't fit their plan.
peace

Our guild recently made a sampler with specific instructions to use the provided "inspiration" fabric along with a provided "background" fabric and added pieces from their own stash in a specific color. All but 2 blocks arrive as described; however, one arrived with dimensions at least 1 inche larger all around and the other had NO 'inspiration" fabric at all. I resized the first to fit and just lived with the second. Both quilters were gracious enough to play along to meet our goal for a fundraiser, so we just made them work. The finished piece is wonderful. Sometimes you just gotta "make it work". That's what we're all about anyway!!!

I was going to suggest Sharyn Craig's book "Setting Solutions", but I see that PaperPrincess has beat me to it! The book is currently out of print, but you can find copies on eBay and Amazon. I also like her book "Great Sets" that is still in print.

Devil's advocate here. Yes, we are all quilters. I've been in block exchanges in the past with specific colors to be used and received blocks where they weren't which means the block wouldn't fit with the rest. Yes, I appreciate my friends and fellow quilters, but hey? why can't we play the game within the rules/requests?

Some Blocks just become pillows. They may not fit into the color scheme or Just not what I was looking for my quilt but I love pillows and all blocks are worthy.
Now, what I really hate is over-sized blocks. Short ones, you can add a border but over-sized... You have to cut and some times that means cutting corners off of trangles or squares become rectangles.

i was in a boom and rec'd a pm telling me my block didn't play well with the other blocks. the recipient wanted to know if she could re-do my block using colors that played nicely with the others. i said sure, it was now her block, whatever. but i don't know why, when i used her fabric , it didn't work. stuff happens. once it was out in the mail, it wasn't mine.

I have a huge pile of orphan blocks and would add it to them. Sometimes I use orphans on the backs of quilts, and other times I make placemats, potholders, etc. out of them.

I have added a border to make it large enough, trimmed them down to fit, used them in the backing and thrown them away (only one from a block lotto at my LQS). Last year when I made 12 quilts for soldiers using donated blocks from all over, some folk's didn't know what a 12.5" block was, but I used every single donated block in the quilts - sometimes the front and sometimes the back. Those quilts turned out awesome!!! I like having extra blocks and material from the front incorporated into the backing...makes the backing more interesting!

I use it in a scrappy quilt.

The person knows the block stinks and gives it anyway with the Oh well, you can wash it out if it bothers you. No way I'd endorse that behavior by accepting it. The blocks that can be resewn are usually made by beginners and not intended to be ''oh well" blocks but the best they can do.