Monday, November 2, 2009

Frustration...brought on by no one but little 'ol me!

HI Y'all!! Above is my finished top of Gail Pan's Christmas embroidery...of course, I had to be a little different...so I added the flying geese border. Acceptable? I am pleased with how it turned out, and of course learned some things along the way. I am hand quilting this one with big stitch techniques.

Our entrance for the kiddos for Halloween.
A little smiling face to greet people in the window...we have had this decoration for a long, long time.



And last but not least is dear husband's pumpkin carving...pretty cool, huh?
And now for the FRUSTRATION!!!! You know what I did? I spent most of today, my only day off this week, trying to machine quilt my nine patch friendship quilt. And made a MAJOR mess of it! Tucks, etc, stretched, it just looks horrible. I would just throw it in the garbage, but my friends precious blocks are in that quilt, and they are important to me. So, I have hours of frog-stitching ahead of me...sigh...I really thought it would be OK, but I got just so far and really could not stand for the workmanship to be that poor...and I am NOT the quilt police by a long shot!! Have you ever done this?
Have a super day!!!
Julie


23 comments:

Nancy said...

Your frustration is exactly why I don't even attempt to quilt my own tops. I don't envy all the frogging you will be doing. :o(

Amelia said...

That is exactly why I hand quilt mine...so sorry about your situation...and yes lots of work in pulling out all those bad stitches...what are you going to do then?

Sue H said...

Oh, yes I have. I did an oversized twin quilt for my niece before I had my longarm. I had done some free-motion quilting before on smaller items. I struggled and struggled with that quilt, and the tension/stitching was horrible. I threw the quilt into the closet. I got a longarm. Said quilt aged in the closet for several years. I showed it to my aunt, who was visiting, saying I was going to throw it out. She talked me into frogging it. Frogged, I did, about 40 hours worth. Re-quilted it on the LA and it turned out lovely.

If you really don't like it, frog it. I would help if I lived closer!

Karen said...

I have some machine quilting on a big quilt waiting to be taken out. I just don't like the way I was doing it. I did not quilt the whole thing but am mad at myself that I didn't stop sooner.
I think the addition of the flying geese to your embroideries sets them off very nicely.

Quilter Kathy said...

Love your Christmas stitching...I hope I get my act together and make that project!
Great Halloween decorations! Especially the friendly looking scarecrow!
About the quilting dilemma...I would definately take it out and maybe do the same thing as with your Christmas stichery...big hand stitches?

Anonymous said...

Oh yes...until I started quilting on the longarm....I could always make small quilts on the DSM but anything larger than a lap was pure frustration for me. Your porch looks so inviting for the treaters!

Anonymous said...

Hello Julie, love the flying geese border on your Christmas Quilt.....Happy Halloween, love the deco's......I have not heard the term frogging......I not sure whether this will help you...once you have unpicked the stitching....little sister is a dressmaker...provided the stitching is not over pressed we sprinkle talcum powder on and then brush off....she says the stitching line will fade in time....Hugs Lyn

Betsy said...

Julie your stitchery quilt is just stunning. You have a great eye for color.

Pat said...

LOVE you Christmas quilt and the flying geese border is terrific!!! I also like your Halloween decorations. I've not yet had to FROG like that because I've not yet been brave enough to try to machine quilt anything bigger than a wall-hanging!!!

Texan said...

Oh girly, we have all done it!

Just work on getting the stitches out a little at a time :O)...

Then go at it again!

It does happen to us all :O)

Your Halloween decor was so cute!

Unknown said...

I love your Gail Pan quilt, just beautiful with the flying geese border. My DD carved the same design in her pumpkin this year. I love it!! Yes, the puckering has happened, probably to everyone. That is one of the reasons I gave my hubby when I got the long arm 9 years ago.

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

I know that you will BE happier once you have done the "froggin" even though it will take time--you are just not happy with it now--but in the end you will be--so---get to it--a little at a time is good--say you will spend 15 minutes a day working on it--have fun--love the halloween decoration.
Hugs, Di
PS I hand quilt--it helps me from getting in the same problem as you are in now!!!!

Patty said...

I tried one time to quilt on my home machine. Swore to myself I would never attempt such a foolish project again. So I feel your pain. My DH suggested I get a mid-arm machine. Boy did I jump quickly on that suggestion :) So much easier and a lot more fun. My machine isn't one of the big ones with all the whistles and bells, but it is more than adequate for my needs.

Deb said...

Julie fabulous finish on your BOM!! love the boarder treatment.. and it looks like the whole family has some talent great job on the pumpkin head!!
AS for machine quilting. I have tried and tried and now only stick with hand quilting...
find a good 4hr movie (Gone with the Wind, Dr Zhivago) and you won't feel the pain of ripit ripit for long..hugs

Lori said...

What a pain in the butt, but you'll be happy you unstitched it. A short time every day and it won't take long.
The embroidered setting is great! I love the flying geese.

Debi said...

I love your little Christmas quilt. I have the patterns, but have not started them yet! Yes, I have done the same thing...with the same results. After all the frogging, changed out the back, and started over...turned out great the second time.

Jeanne said...

I love the way you put your Christmas stitcheries together with the flying geese. Very nice. I've frogged many a project in my time. I learned that if it bothers me now, it will always bother me.

Jan said...

Love your Gail Pan quilt---you did a good job--your flying geese are fantastic!!!! Happy frog stitching!!! Sorry you have to do it!

Teresa said...

WTG on your Christmas Wish quilt - looks great. Oh nooooo on having to "rippit" - the frog stitch. But just think how happy you will be when you have a finished quilt that you are happy with.

Ginger Patches said...

I love your Christmas quilt!!! I have had to do some ripping with my quilting before and so I'm feeling your pain. It will be worth it though, so hang in there and try not to think about it too much :)

Trisha said...

Love that flying geese border! I have definately had my share of UGHs in the quilting department. And I am not a perfectionist either but sometimes you can't live with it.

YankeeQuilter said...

I am definately in the "been there done that" line when it comes to ripping out machine quilting. Took me ages to get the tension right...that should be present tense...takes me ages to get the tension right...

Karen said...

Your Christmas stitchery is excellent! I have collected all the block patterns for this one and hope to make it in the near future.

Puffins and purples!!

I was tempted by Puffins...a squirrelly breed!!  LOL!  This fabric was shared with me, and I have been loved these bright, candy corn colors...