Wednesday, October 28, 2009

"I-Spy" .....a Failure?

Well, I've gone and done it. I finally picked a sashing fabric for the 450+ I-Spy squares I've been collecting for years. They are 2 1/2" cut, 2 " finished. I sewed together 100 of them with said fabric before I decided...

I HATE IT.


What was I thinking?? The sashing looks horrible!! How did I sew 100 together before realizing this??

It doesn't help that I really dislike how static they are in their perfectly lined-up rows....

Sigh. It's so disappointing. I won't be picking it apart, so I guess I'll be making a smaller quilt for -- somebody.

But, I did learn a couple things for the next attempt. I don't want one consistent fabric/color for the sashing/in-between squares. I definitely don't want them lined up in perfect little rows -- at least not like this. And I don't think I can stomach green again for a little while.
I want it SCRAPPY!

Guess I'll try again sometime after I finish the blasted Halloween costumes....

12 comments:

Jennifer @ The Craft House said...

Well, at least it wasn't a complete lost! You did, as you said, learn some things for the next attempt! Personally, I think that the fabric surrounding the squares should be a lighter, maybe print-less fabric, but that is just my opinion.

Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com said...

It is a little busy, but I bet a little person would just love it. Don't be too hard on yourself!

Mama Jane said...

I think I might take out the rotery cutter and cut this up instead of just forgetting about it. You can leave some of the green so you have just a seam allowance or more if you want. Then intermix these with the others in your scrappy quilt.

Or I would be happy to take this off your hands. :D

Angela Nash said...

Oh no! Well, I agree that it could be a lot better. I'm interested to see what you come up with to set the blocks in non-rows. I think the challenge will be to make it not look too choppy or busy....perhaps grade them by value and color?

Wendy Piersall said...

Awww... Care!! You've been looking forward to this project for *weeks*!! I feel so bad for you!!

:(

ARTwendy ... said...

Oh no!
Yes - I agree a bit tight!
Free those little spies . . .
Thankyou for sharing!
I'm thinking about graduating colour?
Hmmm will just have to see!
Cheers

tessahjake said...

keep your chin up! everyone feels a bit of a failure before their masterpiece! xoxox
Joanna

Anonymous said...

But at least you tried. I still handstitch stuff cause I still don't understand how the sewing machine can somehow mess up the tension. No quilting in my near future. And it's really not that bad.
I find that some people often post things that they would call failures and I immediately think giveaway contest time! I can see any little one pointing and naming all the items on the quilt. Would a mini felt ninja make you feel better?

wdmk said...

If it were me, I would sew all of the "I-Spy" blocks together without anything in between and then as an edge you could cut this "Failure", which it isn't, and use it. I think all the blocks together would be be cute. It really isn't bad looking, don't be so hard on yourself.

Wendy

Jen said...

Ahh Care, I'm so sorry. Sometimes we overthink things and then they don't turn out how our mind pictured them. Put is aside for awhile, start on something you have been wanting to make for awhile, and maybe you'll feel like picking it apart at a later time.

Unknown said...

I have been following your I-spy posts because I have a pattern I would like to do with these blocks... I was interested in seeing what you would do. Can I tell you about my pattern? It starts with the I-spy square turned on point with yellow, green, blue and red half square triangles sewn on the sides to make a larger square block. (like a snow ball block) The blocks are sewn together with no sashing. Very happy and scrappy. --Kathleen

:o) mg said...

A friend who quilts and I were talking about how sometimes you are working on a quilt so "hot and heavy" for so long that you go through a period of hating the fabrics. Then you must put the piece down, walk away for a month or two and then come back to it. You won't hate it quite so badly then. Besides, you could add something to it (applique? buttons?) that will give the quilt that little something extra.
Also, have you ever seen an I spy book.. I mean of course you have, but it makes it harder to find the objects when it is so busy.
So I agree with whomever said don't be too hard on yourself. (((hug)))