I’ve spent so much time trying to make this mini log cabin quilt just perfect, and I still don’t like it. I started by making mini log cabin blocks using my free tutorial here.
I made a lot… 120 little blocks.
And I used graph paper to sketch out a layout that I thought I liked. But when I sewed them together I wasn’t so sure.
And now the more that I look at it the more I just don’t like it. I want to pick it apart down to the blocks again and figure out a new layout. Sigh. Has that ever happened to you?
Okay enough about me and my quilt frustration. I hope you’ve had a much more productive week.
UPDATE: I found a layout for this quilt that made me happy and posted a picture in the tutorial.
Sew an organizer covered with pockets that you can hang in your closet! This easy sewing project is great for organizing sewing and craft supplies, fashion accessories, bathroom necessities, gift wrappings, and more. There are pockets on both sides plus a big interior pocket so every bit of space is used. I’ll show you easy step by step instructions for sewing this organizer and putting it to use in your home. Get sew organized today.
Are you sewing a Closet Organizer with me? I hope so! This is Part 2 of our free sewing tutorial for an amazing organizer with a coat hanger inside so you can hang it anywhere.
If you are getting started, make sure you start at Part 1 of the free pattern.
Be a basketmaker! Sure, you can sew, but did you know that you can make amazing baskets too using your sewing machine, some fabric and the same materials that you use for your other projects?
Have you fallen in love with Quilt as You Go yet? It’s a fun technique for quilts, of course, but I’m having lots of fun using it for pouches and tote bags too.
I’m so excited to share with you the pattern for our first mini quilt of 2018… Flora! This beautiful little quilt was designed by the very talented Lauren of Molly & Mama…
At my daughter Chloe’s high school (can you believe my baby started high school???), the lunch lines are so long that she has been skipping lunch! She’s always starving by the time she gets home because she doesn’t want to carry a big lunch bag as well as her heavy backpack – poor girl!
Looking for free table runner patterns? I gathered up all my favorites in one place – here are free quilt patterns for table runners for fall, winter, spring and summer!
I am so in love with the beautiful look of simple patchwork quilts with lots of squares. This is the perfect way to use up fabric scraps like I did, or you can make a beautifully coordinated quilt with pre-cut 2 1/2’’ square fabric pieces that come in mini-charm packs.
I’m also in love with the process. If you feel like quilt making is your escape from the world and sitting down to sew for a few hours makes your troubles fade away… this is the quilt for you!
Sew an easy beautiful apron with this free sewing pattern that only uses one yard of fabric! Whether you are sewing for yourself or for a friend, an apron always comes in handy and makes a great gift. This blog post includes a link to a free template that I digitized for you.
Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂
Sew your next craft project bag! This free bag pattern will help you sew the perfect tote for carrying sewing supplies, yarn and crochet or knitting needles, scrapbooking tools, or even diapers and baby items. There are lots of pockets…
Sew a beautiful 2 Zipper Hip Bag (a.k.a. fanny pack, sling bag, waist wallet) using your favorite fabric and the same easy sewing techniques that I used on our free Triple Zip Bag sewing pattern and Designer Zipper Bags Video course.
Get dreamy, designer inspired pillowcases that will look amazing in your bedroom! This DIY sewing tutorial takes just a yard and a half of fabric per pillowcase and works great with cotton, linen, satin, or another light to medium weight fabric.
21 Comments
Well, personally, I love your quilt! I hate for you to rip it all apart, it’s so beautiful! Maybe you could gift it? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It’s gorgeous! Someone will love it:) or maybe it’s just different than you imagined, & you need some time to get used to it. Make a matching pillow?
Although I think your quilt top is really very stunning, I have been exactly where you are! Other people love the top, think it is perfect and I hate it! This has happened to me a couple of times. I left them as they were and gifted them so I wouldn’t have to look at them!! It seemed like a better option than spending my time taking it apart and honestly, I probably wouldn’t have been any happier with another layout.
I think your quilt is gorgeous, but I totally understand what you are saying. I actually lay out my squares on a bed, the floor, wherever I have enough room and frequently will rearrange and rearrange them. It helps me to get the full visual.
I like the quilt top, I think I would leave it alone. I have been where you are. Bought fabric I loved, oh I loved it. Picked a pattern I loved, it was so adorable. By the time I finished the quilt top, I hated it more than anything I’ve ever done. HATED it, hated it; I can’t tell you how much. What a monstrosity. There was no part of it I liked. I even THREW AWAY all the unused fabrics form this line of fabrics, I didn’t want that ugly stuff in my house. The top was supposed to be a Christmas present for my niece, I threw that ugly thing to one side and got busy and made a different, PRETTY quilt for her. Eventually I decided I would quilt the ugly green thing. I did have a lot of time and $ tied up in it: queen sized top and backing; quilt shop name brand fabrics. So, I gritted my teeth, loaded it, and quilted it. That UGLY duckling turned into a swan. Color me amazed. When that ugly thing was quilted, it became a thing of beauty. I gave it to a second niece as a wedding gift, it’s one of her prized possessions now. So don’t give up on your ugly duckling.
Hi Mary… That is the best quilting story ever! Now I really want to see a picture of your ‘Ugly Duckling’ quilt. I think we all do! Thanks so much for sharing.
If you totally hate it, I think you should go with the other poster’s advice and gift it to someone. I will volunteer if you can’t think of anyone to give it to.
I think it’s beautiful! But I have to say that I am RARELY satisfied with ANYTHING I make. It’s always a huge letdown for me, which is such a cruel thing to have happen after all the time and effort (and money) put into something. I like what the other commenter said about the ugly duckling. Quilting can transform a project, truly. Personally there is no way I would spend the time ripping and re-assembling, but it’s YOUR masterpiece so if you think that will help you love it, it’s worth a shot. Again, though, I think it is gorgeous! Love the colors. When I saw the thumbnail in my email, THAT is what made me click through to your post. I usually only click through for the tutorials. But YOUR quilt caught my eye and made me what to know more about it. I couldn’t believe the title was about THAT QUILT!!
I’ve never assembled an entire quilt and decided that I don’t like it, but then again I’m new at this and have only made 4 quilts so far. It’s funny though that I made my log cabins for the sewalong (only made 6) and I don’t like them at all! I think I’m just going to make those into some small coasters and start over again using fewer fabrics. For the record: I like your quilt!
I think it looks great! I have been quilting for 14 years, so I have certainly put together some quilts that I thought, yuck! I am not a huge fan of my seam ripper, though. I just put the top aside (sometimes without adding borders). This is how I usually end up with unfinished projects! Sometimes I go back years later and add borders and get it quilted. Although it is usually hard to give my quilts away, knowing how much money and time went into them, I’m never sad to see those go!
I think it’s nice! But I understand the feeling! Donate it! That will change it into a force for good AND someone will absolutely love it! Can you share how you quilted it? I have a similar layout, and I’m trying to decide. Thinking diagonal lines in the cream color, but not sure. :/
I like the quilt down to the black zig-zag. It is too heavy for the rest of the colours and throws out the whole proportions. However, having said that, the quilt is lovely and the variegation works well. Personally I would leave as is and donate to a worthy cause or friend.
Hi! I agree, I think it is the black. Perhaps, switch around the rows and put the blocks with the black at the bottom of the quilt, then add a wide black (with the other colors) fabrica border, it will all come together! Maybe a very graphic fabric, large print, zig zag type of print…. Otherwise, I agree, is a beautiful quilt, great colours, vision! Take care, Leslie
Just to echo everyone else – Your quilt is gorgeous! But of course, if you don’t like it that is what matters. I am interested to see what you decide from all of our "advice" 🙂
I love the colors and design you chose! But, I would take out the black and replace it with white. But that’s just my suggestion. And, what do I know? lol
I mostly Love it although you lost me with the black, I would of done maybe a gray or variegated grays. Also it needs a border. I almost always walk away from the ones I hate then come back & rip it out (reverse sew) and feel victorious when I finally get it right.
Thank you everyone for all your sweet words and suggestions! I spent the better part of this afternoon working on this quilt top. While I’m not completely satisfied (I never am), I do like it a lot more so I basted it with the backing and batting and it’s ready to quilt. Expect to see my Log Cabin Quilt 2.0 on the blog soon. Did I just give it a name? LOL
I was surprised to hear you did not like your quilt top. The thumbnail caught my eye. Since the heading of the blog entry is Quilt Frustration, it appeared that the black zigzag was intended to be in the design as a symbol of…what else? Frustration! Does anyone else see that or is it just me? At any rate, if you do not love the quilt top, please send it to me! I love it!!! (Address available upon request :))
Well, personally, I love your quilt! I hate for you to rip it all apart, it’s so beautiful! Maybe you could gift it? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It’s gorgeous! Someone will love it:) or maybe it’s just different than you imagined, & you need some time to get used to it. Make a matching pillow?
Although I think your quilt top is really very stunning, I have been exactly where you are! Other people love the top, think it is perfect and I hate it! This has happened to me a couple of times. I left them as they were and gifted them so I wouldn’t have to look at them!! It seemed like a better option than spending my time taking it apart and honestly, I probably wouldn’t have been any happier with another layout.
I think your quilt is gorgeous, but I totally understand what you are saying. I actually lay out my squares on a bed, the floor, wherever I have enough room and frequently will rearrange and rearrange them. It helps me to get the full visual.
I like the quilt top, I think I would leave it alone. I have been where you are. Bought fabric I loved, oh I loved it. Picked a pattern I loved, it was so adorable. By the time I finished the quilt top, I hated it more than anything I’ve ever done. HATED it, hated it; I can’t tell you how much. What a monstrosity. There was no part of it I liked. I even THREW AWAY all the unused fabrics form this line of fabrics, I didn’t want that ugly stuff in my house. The top was supposed to be a Christmas present for my niece, I threw that ugly thing to one side and got busy and made a different, PRETTY quilt for her. Eventually I decided I would quilt the ugly green thing. I did have a lot of time and $ tied up in it: queen sized top and backing; quilt shop name brand fabrics. So, I gritted my teeth, loaded it, and quilted it. That UGLY duckling turned into a swan. Color me amazed. When that ugly thing was quilted, it became a thing of beauty. I gave it to a second niece as a wedding gift, it’s one of her prized possessions now. So don’t give up on your ugly duckling.
Hi Mary… That is the best quilting story ever! Now I really want to see a picture of your ‘Ugly Duckling’ quilt. I think we all do! Thanks so much for sharing.
If you totally hate it, I think you should go with the other poster’s advice and gift it to someone. I will volunteer if you can’t think of anyone to give it to.
I think it’s beautiful! But I have to say that I am RARELY satisfied with ANYTHING I make. It’s always a huge letdown for me, which is such a cruel thing to have happen after all the time and effort (and money) put into something. I like what the other commenter said about the ugly duckling. Quilting can transform a project, truly. Personally there is no way I would spend the time ripping and re-assembling, but it’s YOUR masterpiece so if you think that will help you love it, it’s worth a shot. Again, though, I think it is gorgeous! Love the colors. When I saw the thumbnail in my email, THAT is what made me click through to your post. I usually only click through for the tutorials. But YOUR quilt caught my eye and made me what to know more about it. I couldn’t believe the title was about THAT QUILT!!
I’ve never assembled an entire quilt and decided that I don’t like it, but then again I’m new at this and have only made 4 quilts so far. It’s funny though that I made my log cabins for the sewalong (only made 6) and I don’t like them at all! I think I’m just going to make those into some small coasters and start over again using fewer fabrics. For the record: I like your quilt!
I think it looks great! I have been quilting for 14 years, so I have certainly put together some quilts that I thought, yuck! I am not a huge fan of my seam ripper, though. I just put the top aside (sometimes without adding borders). This is how I usually end up with unfinished projects! Sometimes I go back years later and add borders and get it quilted. Although it is usually hard to give my quilts away, knowing how much money and time went into them, I’m never sad to see those go!
I think it’s nice! But I understand the feeling! Donate it! That will change it into a force for good AND someone will absolutely love it! Can you share how you quilted it? I have a similar layout, and I’m trying to decide. Thinking diagonal lines in the cream color, but not sure. :/
I haven’t quilted it yet, but I think I’ll try the narrow vertical ‘matchstick’ quilting that I’ve seen around the blog. Here’s an example: https://candyce54.blogspot.com/2013/08/matchstick-quilting.html
Or I might stitch in the ditch. Another tough decision!
I like the quilt down to the black zig-zag. It is too heavy for the rest of the colours and throws out the whole proportions. However, having said that, the quilt is lovely and the variegation works well. Personally I would leave as is and donate to a worthy cause or friend.
Hi! I agree, I think it is the black. Perhaps, switch around the rows and put the blocks with the black at the bottom of the quilt, then add a wide black (with the other colors) fabrica border, it will all come together! Maybe a very graphic fabric, large print, zig zag type of print….
Otherwise, I agree, is a beautiful quilt, great colours, vision!
Take care, Leslie
Just to echo everyone else – Your quilt is gorgeous! But of course, if you don’t like it that is what matters. I am interested to see what you decide from all of our "advice" 🙂
I love the colors and design you chose! But, I would take out the black and replace it with white. But that’s just my suggestion. And, what do I know? lol
I mostly Love it although you lost me with the black, I would of done maybe a gray or variegated grays. Also it needs a border. I almost always walk away from the ones I hate then come back & rip it out (reverse sew) and feel victorious when I finally get it right.
Thank you everyone for all your sweet words and suggestions! I spent the better part of this afternoon working on this quilt top. While I’m not completely satisfied (I never am), I do like it a lot more so I basted it with the backing and batting and it’s ready to quilt. Expect to see my Log Cabin Quilt 2.0 on the blog soon. Did I just give it a name? LOL
I love it!!
I hope it grows on you before you rip it out. I love it!
I was surprised to hear you did not like your quilt top. The thumbnail caught my eye. Since the heading of the blog entry is Quilt Frustration, it appeared that the black zigzag was intended to be in the design as a symbol of…what else? Frustration! Does anyone else see that or is it just me? At any rate, if you do not love the quilt top, please send it to me! I love it!!! (Address available upon request :))
I really like how your quilt top came out