Originally Posted by
bkay
I have two tops I've acquired from estate sales still in my ufo pile. One is a Dresden plate pattern. All the plates were done, and about 1/2 were kind of sewed together. I took it apart, bought new sashing and fray checked the edges because the edges were not turned. It's still in the closet.
The one I finished, I took apart and put together sections more than one time. I wanted it wider, but it did not lend itself to widening. It had left over pieces I wanted to add. It was too red in some areas and too blue in others. It wasn't square. I ripped and sewed and ripped again. Then I took this off and added that. I took it apart in the middle and turned it around. Then, I didn't have enough backing fabric after all that, so I bought some more and it didn't match.
All this to say, start out knowing that you can't make it perfect. Also know that fixing and finishing another's quilt is sometimes harder than starting from scratch. You cannot fix all of the mistakes. Although it took me a while, I finally decided to accept it like it is and quit fretting about it. It is now what I call my "picnic" quilt. I'm keeping it for me and l still like it, even if it's it's a long way from perfect. It was also the first quilt I quilted on my dsm with a walking foot. I figured it was going to be a picnic quilt, so I could use it to learn on. I did and am still happy with it.
Oh, on the white part fraying, check out Fray Check.
bkay
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It looks very usable. The kind of quilt that it's "okay" to use for a picnic or let the kids play with or snuggle under on the couch .
I have learned - from experience - that sometimes it is easier to "walk on by" - than to try to rescue/salvage every thing "quilty" that crosses one's path.
Usually a project is abandoned for a reason - it isn't coming out right or the maker decides she/he just does not want to deal with it any more. Or the next generation just does not want to deal with it. Better sold for a pittance than put in the trash.
I don't even like to "rescue" my own projects! Sometimes I've learned a lot from some of them - usually how not to do something - or I can look at my current projects and think "You've come a long way, baby!" and be pleased at the progress I have made.