Quilt Fight!
#11
I have 2 such beast that have been calling me to finish. One I have put away so well I can't find it right now. The other requires a great deal of frog stitching to get back on track. Both have been difficult from the very start with blocks coming up incorrect in measurements. all the way through the bindings. I call the one beast the "quilt from hell" and the other one, "what was I thinking".
#12
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
Maybe it’s time to put it aside. Find a Beginner friendly pattern you like, work on that, rebuild your esteem. Maybe complete a few new projects. Then when you feel better able to continue the ( beast project) get it back out and look at it with more experienced, fresh eyes. Many of us have jumped into something we were not really ready for- mine is still in a box- getting close to twenty years now. I insist I’m going to get it out and finish it ( someday)
#13
Kudos to you for hanging in there and not giving up and going out to buy a set for a set of sheets or something. Your pillow and shams will be loved just as much as a full size quilt. Please take pictures and share them with us.
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 142
My general policy is "if you're not succeeding, change your definition/parameters of success until you are." Maybe you started with the definition of "success" being to make a beautiful, completed quilt with the pattern you chose, but something interfered. That doesn't mean you still can't learn from the mistakes you made with it or use the blocks for something else or use it for experimentation like new piecing techniques or quilting patterns or color schemes. Or maybe, as in your case, it will eventually get done but much later than anticipated- not only will you have succeed with your original goal, but you've doubly succeeded because you persevered for so long to finish it. Bravo!
#15
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 22
You all are great! Thank you for the encouragement. When you're sitting there with the "the beast" , "quilt from hell" , or "what was I thinking!" in your lap, crying with frustration because yet another thing went wrong, it's so wonderful to read other's stories, get refreshed, and dive back in. And tonight, when I was thinking that maybe I'll find another hobby....I listened to the sound of my sewing machine as it stitched, and thought nope, there's definitely another quilt in my future!
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,967
Oh yes, I had a Jacqeline De Jonge that went great till I tried to fit the circle into a square. That one ended up all together, backing included, in a vinyl zippered mattress pad bag under the bed of my sewing room for over a year. One day, I pulled it out and the answer was clear. Applique the circle to the square instead of trying to match up all those connection points with a seam. It was totally worth, putting it up, setting it aside, forgetting about it, rediscovering it and ta da! Done.
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,991
Sometimes when quilts are causing frustration it’s good to have a quilt buddy take a look and offer suggestions. Another viewpoint sometimes is the key. But then there are quilt patterns that were just poorly designed or may even have major errors. Then you have to decide how you can selvage or repurpose your project. These are the projects that build our skills.
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yorkville, IL
Posts: 7,639
I suspect most of us have a story. Lol we learn from them so go make a lap quilt. You will do a wonderful job.❤️ My first quilt was a baby quilt and it is still adorable though it is 17 years old and has been loved by 2 grandchildren. That made me so confident I made a Lemone Star.. it took a long time to finish! I love that you reworked your “beast”.
#20
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 22
So there she is, Got it done this morning...Finally! It was supposed to be a queen size quilt, but this will be just fine, it might work out even better, actually, since if I made the queen, I'd have no fabric left over for accessories. This project was such a life sucker! But I'm happy now, I have my life back! Thank you all for your kind words, and for sharing your stories with me. If anyone is interested, I'd love to see your beastly projects that you fought and won<3
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 01-26-2020 at 02:40 PM. Reason: shouting/all caps