Notably lacking from yesterday’s design wall shot is the freezer-paper Ulu block, which has come down after months of neglect.It was fun to try out a new process, but the bottom line is that this method does not suit my creative temperament very well. Plus,I’ve come to the conclusion that to do it well requires a vastly greater depth and breadth of stash than I’ve managed to accumulate so far. (Maybe I should try again in, say, 10 years? I’m sure to have expanded my stash considerably by then, given the large imbalance in my yardage in vs. yardage out ratio.)
Designing the block was fun, I enjoyed that part. But after that it’s a lot of very slow and fiddly execution and I was not enjoying the process enough to have much enthusiasm for finishing it. I do really, really like discovering a method that makes even the most extreme seaming possible, and I love the results, but the actual doing of it… not so much.
The biggest problem with this one was the growing realization that I loathed the pastel batiks that had originally seemed such a good choice for the background. It’s just too much work to push on with finishing something that does not feel sufficiently “like me.” Don’t know yet what will happen from here.
Have you ever just given up on a quilting project? I don’t mean you’ve lost direction or momentum and it’s in a UFO bin for future re-consideration — I’m talking what in garment sewing we call a “wadder”: an outcome so dismal there’s no other option than to wad it up and toss it in the trash.
Frankly, when I started this post I thought that’s where I was with this one, but already I’m having second thoughts. That red leaf is just too pretty to trash…
What’s your verdict: bin or abandon?
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I certainly wouldn’t pitch it, maybe make a mug rug out of it because it is pretty.
Make a small something with it. You had your heart in the design, and you at least made an attempt to make it. You can’t throw away a tiny piece of yourself.
My verdict is to put that gorgeous red leaf back up your design wall
If you aren’t loving it then quit. What we do is supposed to be fun, not homework.
I make potholders out of abandoned projects. Then I don’t feel so guilty. I have very arty potholders but hey, why not? People like gettinbg them for gifts too
There is no rule you have to finish the project you started. But never throw anything away! I’d take the part you like, the pink and white, and maybe the pretty green circle, and play with it until you have a little something you like.
Or you could follow kathleen’s method and make potholders. For the rest – any rejects can go in the scrap bin or a pieced-bits bin for use in other projects or charity quilts.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
I’m going to play round with how the parts I like might be trimmed down to a useful size without losing their charm. Potholder/mug-rug both have potential; decision will depend on preserving nice shapes and/or editing to an intriguing abstract.
I’ll post whatever happens when it happens…
Whenever I have blocks or part of projects that I don’t love, I put them all in one place and when I have enough, I just make a lap quilt out of them. At first it looks a little bit like a hodgepodge, but when you sew them all together, it is just an eclectic quilt that I always end up loving! I use these for a more “utilitarian” purpose, mostly they go in the car so that when hubby has the AC too high, I can just throw it over my lap!
I love the lap quilt idea! My studio is such a mess right now: a major cleanout/reorg has got to happen soon… maybe I’ll discover enough orphans, extras, and random pieced scraps for a lap quilt.
That is a very cool looking block with the wave motion, but goodness it looks horrific to cut and sew! I can see why you’ve moved on. It is pretty, though. I suspect you’ll find a place for it in a pillow or bag someday.
Yes, the “cool-looking” factor was what kept this up on the design wall for so long. I’ve tossed the too-many little freezer paper bits (the “horrific” aspect), but kept the original drawing just in case I want to play with those lines again using another (easier! faster!) construction method.
I am sorry I missed the start of this one. I would love to see more and read more about the process. It looks quite wonderful, but I understand about trying something only to find that it doesn’t fit your style right now. Perhaps it will another time.
I’m using the freezer-paper template method that Ruth McDowell teaches in her books (probably classes, too). Her quilts are so inspiring and beautiful, I had to try it. The original posts were way back in May… you can find them on “ulu series” under “Art Quilts” (use the category drop-down menu in the sidebar). Ambitious of me to label a “series” when so far what I’ve got is one half-done and abandoned!