While this one has been in time out, essentially, I've been happily working on my hexie rainbow quilt, so it's not like I don't have an EPP project to work on, but the stars have still been on my mind. At first, I tried to convince myself to keep working on it, but I always chose to pick up the hexies instead. That's a sure sign that I'm not enjoying a project, wouldn't you say?
I finally accepted that I'm never going to finish Scattered Stars as it is going right now. That means I have two options...abandon the stars altogether or remove the grey diamonds to free the stars I've already stitched in and use the stars for something else. With over 100 stars made, I'm not fond of the idea of abandoning them, but what else would I use them for?
It's exactly what I've been looking for! It calls to mind the Flowers for Eleni quilts and the more recent Kingfisher SAL, both of which I loved, but with stars rather than hexagon flowers 😊
I love the addition of the curved sections in the corners, too, but I'm not sure if/how I'll be incorporating those. Maybe applique bias tape? Embroidery? Or maybe they'd make the quilt look too busy. I think I'll have to have a few stars stitched onto backgrounds before I can decide.
And lastly, I don't know if I'll stagger the columns of stars as they are in the picture, or if I'll make them line up neatly. Again, I'll be better able to judge that when I have a few stitched up.
Still lots of decisions to be made, but at least now I feel like I have enthusiasm for the project again, which is a big improvement! I want to get a few backgrounds cut so I can start working on stitching the stars while we're on the road, alternating with my hexies 😊 I'll definitely share my progress as I'm going.
So how about you? Have you ever completely changed a quilt partway through construction?
I have definitely lost enthusiasm for projects before. What a great new source of inspiration, and I hope that the change is the creative spark you need to find new zest for the stars!
ReplyDeleteI like the cubes that form in the original quilt, but I would find the unwieldyness hard. But I really think the second quilt will be very nice. Glad you found a pattern to use all those stars because they are too beautiful to be set aside.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of the change and I am thinking that you can grout with black or white or yellow or red or well a single color and that will pop it with your varied background colors. Look forward to seeing it.
ReplyDeleteLooks like your revised idea will go together quicker and then you can call her done. Sometimes you just get to a point where you grit your teeth and get it over the line but the enjoyment comes back only when its finished!
ReplyDeleteJust love where inspiration can come from and how it can reenergize our projects! Love all those bright colours, and with the curves? Pretty cool. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have definitely abandoned a quilt mid-way through the progress if it doesn't want to do what I want it to do... Re-made one? I don't think I've done that.
ReplyDeleteI love your inspiration picture - didn't notice the half-circles until you mentioned them! I like the idea of staggering the stars, but you could probably re-use some of your original B/G pieces if you made it into orderly rows.
What a lovely tender mercy that the photo popped up just when you needed inspiration. That is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of changing it up to keep it fun. Quilting should be fun.
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