Have you ever started a quilt and realized right off that you weren't going to like it? Did you finish it? Did you stick it aside and feel guilty that it wasn't finished? Did you pretend it didn't exist? Did you give it away as a UFO and let someone else finish it?
This is a quilt that I started a couple of years ago and soon realized it had WAY too many HST's, even for a quilter like me who uses HST's in almost every project. It was a stash quilt so I perservered and finished it and it sat for months (like . . maybe 18 months!)
Yesterday as I finished up a customer quilt, I wasn't quite ready to stop so I thought . . I'll dig out that pink and brown top and do the Baptist Fans on it. Loaded it and then I remembered I wanted to try these curvy feathers as an overall design.
Ughhh . . when you start quilting something, you have to keep on! I made one pass across this quilt and realized I did not like doing those. Those thoughts ran through my head . . take it off and throw it all in the trash! But, then I would be wasting backing and batting also, so once again I perservered. I really didn't put a lot of effort into it because I thought it was going to be so ugly. The main problems were (well, the problems I care to discuss here!) that I was using pink 40 weight cotton thread and every little "cross over the spine" or fat feather or skinny feather stands out like a sore thumb on the brown fabric. Had I used a 50 weight thread, it would have been so much better and had I taken my time, it would have been a lot better. I was just aggravated that it wasn't turning out good and I was tired . . should never have started quilting it late.
When I took it off the machine, expecting the back to be *awful*, I was pleasantly surprised. For my first time to try this, I don't think it turned out too bad.
I was outside trying to get the pictures before the storm got here and look who flew right in
front of my camera. I thought it was a falling leaf and kept waiting for it to float on off. I wish I'd realized it was a hummingbird sooner so I could have zoomed in and gotten a better picture of it.
Judy L.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Do You Finish Them All?
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22 comments:
Wow, what a beautiful photo of the hummingbird - looks like he approves of your quilting! And, don't be so hard on yourself - I am sure you see lots and lots of quilting so you "see" thread sizes, etc. - but I really think that 1X through the washer/dryer even you won't notice! AND - I LOVE that quilt - good job for finishing!!!
Cheers!
Evelyn
aka Starfishy
That's a beautiful quilt! Can't believe you put it away for so long. And I LOVE the meandering feathers! Great job -- again!
The hummingbird made me laugh! What a great shot!
((Hugs))
what a nice surprise there---I usually perservere with the piecing, change the plan of how many to make and donate the quilt elsewhere.
Being tired probably did not endear you to the process of one you were not all that nuts about but we cannot hit home runs everytime. Or can we? A learning experience, I guess?
I like it! Not ugly at all. The one quilt that I absolutely hated when it was complete ended up going to my daughter. Had it folded up on the end of the sewing table trying to decide what to do with it. Daughter came home, saw it, loved it and asked to have it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I'll be one of the HS teachers you have on your list would be thrilled to have this quilt. One thing I have found through the years is that those who don't quilt have no clue about what we think are "poor design choices". It will make someone happy even if that someone is not you. You will be happy it is done and off your UFO list and out of your closet.
that is -- I'll bet one. . .
Good job finishing up something that you weren't thrilled about. It is hard to finish up those "what was I thinking" projects. However, the hummingbird seems to think it is very sweet indeed. Great picture!
The all over feathers look great.
I usually finish projects even when I don't want to or when one isn't turning out as good as I'd like. I guess I feel that if I've got a fair amount of time invested I want to finish it and at least get a donation quilt out of my effort.
Mostly I finish 'em, but once in a while I give up, put the fabric back into stash, and toss the blocks into the orphan bag.
Great hummer picture!
Jeannekpgtbec
Your feathers turned out great and I was amazed to see the hummingbird in one of your photos. That's special.
What an amazing photo!
Still have to use anonymous to give a comment :(
Yes, yes, yes and yes. I can answer yes on every question you ask. I have started on several quilts which I was so disapointed with, and they are still laying there, well hidden in my boxes. Some day I may finish them, but not yet. But I could perhaps be surprised if I finish them now. My taste of fabric and colours have changed and I might love them now. Have to have a look at them now.
Hugs from May Britt www.abyquilt.blogspot.com
What an amazing picture. We don't have any hummingbirds in FL,or at least in my part of FL so that was a real treat. Don't be so hard on yourself. That will be the perfect quilt for someone. They will love it and that's why you did it even though you didn't know it at the time.
i think the quilt is lovely. I'm sure there would be someone who would like if you didn't.
What perfect timing..the hummingbird coming along just as you took the photo.
To answer your first question.... I put those "at least I finished it tops" on the backs of more successful tops.... (But you knew that, huh?)
I like that quilting - especially what you can see behind the hummingbird!
What a fun thing to find the hummingbird posing for you. Judy, this is a wonderful quilt. I can't figure out why you didn't like it. I'm so glad you got it done. Even if you don't want it someone else will love it to pieces.
Patti
Such a blessing to get the hummingbird to approve of the quilt. I like the quilt. Isn't it nice to have a finish?
That is so cool, you didn't catch it's wing but you got a perfect picture of it's body!!
The last design I did was like that, I realized too late that it was so labor intensive but had to keep going!!
I like it though.
well, no matter what, you got a neat hummingbird photo out of it! SO glad you went on and finished the quilt!
I love the quilt and the pink quilting! I want to someday make a pink and brown quilt myself. I really like the cute little hummingbird picture. I had one of those little stinkers come right up to my ear a couple of weeks ago, they are too funny.
Beth
http://bethknits.blogspot.com/
What an awesome photo! How many times do you think someone gets such a bonus in one of their quilt photos?
Judy, that had to be a beautiful quilt because a hummingbird doesn't go to a ho-hum quilt. Glad you caught it on film.
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