I have been slaving away on my latest small quilt for about a week now. I had to draft a very detailed pattern, transfer it onto the fabric and then stitch it, using a free motion quilting technique. More than half the FMQ'g has been done. Yesterday I worked too long, and had to force myself to quit. Later, I took a good look at the piece and it just wasn't "right".
This bothered me, even to the point that the problem kept percolating in my brain during the night, keeping me awake into the small hours. Finally I realized that I had used the "wrong" batting. There were three to choose from, and I chose the whitest one, as the stitching was to be done on white Kona Cotton. This was a lovely, soft, bamboo based, commercial batting, but it didn't provide the "loft" that a feather based design requires. The whole thing is very flat and none of the beautifully quilted feathers show, even with stippling between the rows. Amazing how quickly I fell asleep once that came to me! But, at this point I see no reason to carry on.
My reasons for making this quilt were three-fold. Good FMQ'g requires regular practice, and my skill has deteriorated over the past couple of years without it. I have donated such quilts in the past, and the organization has appreciated them, telling me that they would keep them for very special uses, such a for prizes in charitable raffles. This means that I have an excuse to make a fancy quilt, and to make it in a small size, gaining some practice while doing it. But, it also requires my best work. I don't feel I can donate anything that isn't my best work.
So I have a half-finished quilt and no use for it. My FMQ'g skill has been exercised, but, if finished, the quilt won't be donated. I have 5 other quilts ready to donate, and pieces cut for a sixth.
Am I unhappy? Not really. More disappointed But, my brain is already considering how I might be able to re-work this into a very different project, where the very low loft won't be an issue.
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