roselady

I am kind of where you are, only I have had mine part way done for at least 20 years. Now I look at the colors and think yuk, what was I thinking. My daughter recently asked me if I had finished that quilt, she said she would love to have it, she remembers helping me arrange the pieces, and pick out the colors. The pattern I used, had you sew the hex's together in rows, rather than in flowers, so the path is done as you go. As far as finishing it goes....I really love the english paper piecing method so that is not the reason I don't want to finish mine...I just don't like the fabrics I used ('80's colors) and since it is done in rows, if I suddenly started with new fabrics there would be an obvious line of old and new. All that to say that I think I have come up with a solution. I am going to finish to a point of having a center of "flowers" then start adding borders, my pattern has a border that looks like a picket fence, I found a large floral that will match to add another border. I won't have wasted all that time just to let it sit unfinished, but I won't have to do too many more flowers to get it to a point of finishing. Knowing my daughter wants it will make it easier to finish. All this rambling probably doesn't help you a bit.

Tartan

Continue to sew enough of your flowers together with the zigzag until it is couch size and quilt it. Use the rest of your flowers to do another quilt. Find a background fabric you like and APPLIQUE them to the fabric. I know it will feel like cheating but sometimes done is better than perfect.

dpparris

I am working on these flowers as well. I have mine in a candy box and carry it whenever I know I will have a wait (doctor, hospital, etc) and work on it. It is such an easy take along project. I love making them. It might take forever to get a top made, but I am having fun making them.

smagruder

Lovely, take a break and go back and finish it. You will be thrilled when it is complete and... give it away, NO WAY!!! I have my grandmother's quilt and you have made it more prescious to me than it was before. After a breather, go back and work on it again. You may have to take several breathers...that is okay. It is lovely so far.

redmadder

I've made many hand pieced items by sentencing myself to twenty minutes a day. This could be your project. Quite possibly they remind you of that time in the hospital which your subconscience would as soon forget.

P.S. I always get excited as the end nears and end up spending hours a day till its finished. Love the jumbled look.

justlooking

Outline them with your favorite color!

Laura3

Agreed!! I like it...

farmer623

I did one last year where I put the flowers jumbled together like yours. The idea was for them to look like a big bunch of flowers. I straightened out the edges, sewed them to a white background, and appliqued flowers all around the edges. It took a long time, but it was worth it, and I gave it to my DD for her graduation present and it's hanging on her wall right now. Keep at it. I got frustrated at times, but it's worth it.

athenagwis

I thinkw e all must have this quilt unfinished somewhere in our house!! Mine is actually over 50 years old!! (Started by my grandmother). I think they look lovely zig zagged together and at least it would be doen and still with you rather than givign all that hard work away to someone else. Maybe you could finish it with the zig zags and give it away to a family member?

Good luck!
Rachel

stitchofclass2

Personally, I like them "jumbled together". I think they are beautiful and when you are finished it will be a gorgeous quilt. Maybe set it aside for a short time and then take it out and rethink it. It sounds like you are pushing yourself into a corner and not liking the corner or the project. It will be beautiful. You can count on it.