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Example. This fall I went on retreat and they had a jelly roll race. I've never made one, but I sorta knew what they were. So I set about to buy the prettiest holiday fabric I could find - my thought being that I'd like a nice lap quilt for the sofa for over the holidays.

Well, I found this gorgeous fabric line called Winter Elegance, bought my jelly roll and made the quilt you see below.

In retrospect, I realize that the only jelly roll quilts I liked were batiks where the colors just kind of ran into each other. And while these fabrics are beautiful - together they just are ugly. This has been hanging on my design wall for months hoping that I would be inspired to make it work. Not happening. So tonight it comes down and I start ripping apart. I actually have an idea that I know will work, but it requires de-construction. So for the next couple of evenings, you know what I'll be doing.

And I'll be doing it carefully since I paid full price for this fabric. No way I'm wasting it. But I guarantee that the next time you see it, it will be beautiful. For I have a plan!!

I seem to like the bottom half better than the top. I think the white background fabrics shout out a little loud compared to the others.
I am not the biggest fan of these line quilts, but I have seen a few that look good (the batik ones come to mind)
Very pretty fabric!

I made my first jelly roll quilt for my mom this past holiday - used moda fabrics, very soft muted florals and it came out pretty nice. I think your fabric is really nice, and agree with joobb that the white makes a very stark statement. Anxious to see what you do with it.
amiko

This message has been edited. Last edited by: amiko,

Katie...I agree with you....I'm not a fan of this type of quilt...Seems a waste of good fabric IMO..I think IndycatCarols was one of the nicest one's I've ever seen

It really does depend on the fabric used - the more it blends into each other, the better I think..... I did my first one just over a week ago. I like it. Took me a looonnngggg time to get it done - but I don't mind it. I did use batiks so.... And it took so long because I did not race and pressed all the seams open!! Will it have a border?? Don't think so. Just get it done and put it on the couch!!

And even thought it will take a bit to unsew, I think your new idea is going to be worth it!!

Have fun katiemedarlin!!

Gee, that's too bad that you feel you have to take all those strips apart. That is the problem, I see, with those Jelly Roll quilts. You have no real control over where colors end up.

Looking at your quilt, the only problem that pops out is that all the lights and all the darks are together. If you're gonna take it all apart, could you maybe just take sections apart and mix the lights and darks for a better balance? Putting the square spacers between some of the strips was a good idea.

If you can balance the colors more, I'm tempted to suggest you follow the advice the board gave City Sandie about her 1600" batik quilt. Make a couple of cuts lengthwise, reverse some of the columns and add a solid color between the cuts.

I just hate the thought of you sitting there playing frog for too many nights after spending the time to sew these great fabrics together.

Maybe this will help.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: paus4quilts,

I did a cut and paste to move the fabrics around, even switching the direction on some of the rows. Then I did another cut and paste adding the strips. I think it turned out rather nicely. 'Course I can't really see how the fabrics match up.

Oh, and I did flip the center section top to bottom.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: paus4quilts,

I like paus idea of cutting it into columns and reassembling it into another look. You might even "audition" a little black sashing between the columns or as a small border.

Free Johns Bates....he's now FREE!

I thought about that but I just do not like the way the fabrics look one on top of the other. I think they are just too busy. Actually I'm getting good at ripping out - I've had a bit of practice lately. Sad but true. It's. Moving quickly - I've got six rows apart. Thanks for the looks at different ideas - pretty much what I thought.

I watched that other thread. I thought there were some great ideas but none of them felt right.

Well, I'm sorry you're gonna have to do all that unsewing. As I said, I can't really see the fabrics, I see the colors and get impressions of the patterns but it don't beat up close and personal.

Maybe you could just add a solid color here and there?????? I'm really trying to help ya. lollll

I know you'll get done something you'll be happy with.

Oh! Oh my...and I LOVE ugly fabrics. There must be a serm*n in there somewhere...all beautiful fabrics together not working well. Wow. I never would have thought it. Maybe too many CEO's in the room? I never understand how uglies together make a beautiful quilt. How could pretties together make an ugly quilt? I do like the idea of cutting it up and transposing the blocks...

Can't wait to see how this comes out!

oh my gosh.... back it and quilt it. its so pretty.... will be a huggy quilt for someone... do you want my address?

Beautiful colors, but yes the white just slaps you in the eyes.

I hate ripping out. But I've stared at seemingly small mistakes...at first thinking I could live with it...only to eventually fix it. I get mad at myself for #1 letting it go to start with and #2 deciding I can't live with it. LOL

Paus, you're brilliant! Here's an example of what you said. I love how this one was cut apart and sashing added. All these quilts are so much nicer after a border is added and they're quilted.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: EvelynB,

I agree with you Katie, I'd have to ripit too
I can't wait to see what ya got cookin'!!

Paus I am amazed at your wonderful ideas! I don't always understand when I am reading your words but when I see the pics I go "omahgosh! When I have a problem with a quilt I'll send it to Paus!"

Evelyn I'm not a real fan of strip quilts but I like yours!! love the border it makes it for me!

I managed to rip about half of it apart last night. There are little bits of thread EVEYWHERE! But I am still convinced it was the right thing to do. I do have a good idea that will intersperse a calming fabric between some of the prints. And I'll be cutting it apart even more.

Lesson - I'm pretty much over this type of quilt. I've gotten to the stage in my quilting where I like a bit of fiddling. This went together fairly quickly and I don't care for it at all. My fabric choice was poor for the type of quilt I was making. Yes, it's beautiful fabric, but it surely didn't work for this quilt. But it's okay, I know it will work for the quilt I have in mind. I will still get my holiday lap quilt for my sofa.

Nancy - very philosophical. But you're right - ugly fabrics can make a beautiful quilt. Strange that beautiful fabrics made an ugly quilt. Definitely a serm*n in that somewhere.

You'll be happier with Plan B. Can't wait to see it, even if it takes more than an hour to sew.

My jelly roll race wasn't that bad, but the collection of prints ended up with all the stripes together. I haven't finished it yet. With a large applique, it would be ok.

I have seen that line of fabric and it is a beautiful collection. Sorry you are having to rip out.

Have you seen the Marti Michell templates for cutting shapes from jelly rolls? The set is called "2.5 Stripers". Product #8059. www.frommarti.com is the site.

I don't work for her company. One of the BOMs I participated in, used her sets of templates. I really liked those block. Came out so accurate. Anyway, just a thought.

Wish I had the courage of your conviction. You don't like what you came up with and you are going to fix it!!!!! If you ain't happy with something, there is nothing in this world that will make you happy with it. You are definitely doing the right thing. I'm really looking forward to your new Xmas lap quilt from these fabrics.

Can I send you two ugly UFOs of mine and you can fix them???? lollll

It's funny how our behavior changes, isn't it? Years ago, I would have gotten angry, balled it up and pitched it to the back of the closet. Called it a loss. Not so much anymore. Now, I know that I can fix it, make it beautiful. I'm working on something right now, but as soon as I finish I'll move on to the holiday one. Maybe it will be finished for this coming year.

Perhaps I've grown up. My mother would be so proud.

Send em on Paus, I'll work on them for you. Of course, I may like them, but you won't. Taste is certainly subjective.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: katiemedarlin,

Another thought - Maybe cut the strips into squares and do a stack and slash with maybe solid squares in between some of your strip sets squares to get more solid colors?

Here's a stack n slash I did, I added sashing and cornerstones of slashed scraps.

You could use the rest of your strips for piano key borders.

Guess I am the odd one out here. I like it. But then it is Chris tmas fabric and that is my favorite.

Made my first one last November and what I learned after being so careful making sure no similar patterns/colors were together, that once you cut and resew and cut and resew, if there is a bright color that you interspersed when you first sew them together, they all end up in the same place! Chris