Muddle for the Month

Each month I have a couple of blocks to make for other quilters. For each of the two groups, my turn comes early in the calendar year, so I've already received my bounty for '09.

Kathy sent an oyster white batik with a magenta center square and asked for a couple of log cabins. I made these tonight and had a wonderful time doing them. So simple, so precise, so crisp, so much fun!

The second swap group has two blocks to be made this month. One participant wants autumn-colored friendship star blocks and sent a nice creamy background. Easy peasy. Will do those tomorrow afternoon.

The other participant, however, has asked for a very intricate block that involves techniques that are totally unfamiliar to me. I don't feel good about the possibility of ruining her fabric while trying to learn this complicated method. I feel a little uncomfortable that she has asked for such a difficult block. I thought about it and consulted with a friend and decided that the right thing to do would be to send her fabrics and pattern back with a note that her request is far beyond my level of skill. And enclose a couple of really pretty FQs as a consolation.

What would you have done?


Comments

Helen said…
I'm with you.

I feel that being up front is the best option. This lady can ask someone else to fill in for you if she likes.

I too like doing blocks for others. Someday I think I'll ask for help from some of my fellow quilt bloggers. It would be nice to have work from the ladies I go to for inspiration.

Please post on how this goes.

Hugs
Anonymous said…
Nancy!!!
These blocks are perfect and will play so nicely with the ones I am making. Thanks so much for making two and for posting a photo so I can see them all that much sooner.
Kathy B
Barb said…
Oh I love the Log Cabin blocks...they are so fresh and sharp! I think I would appreciate that you would be honest and admit the block request from the other person is more then you feel COMFORTABLE with...I think you will be doing the right thing by just telling it like it is...honesty is always best IMHO!

I need to tell you little Miss Independence Day in your previous post is adorable...I love that picture, and at one time my daughter as a little girl had the same toppy curl on her head..just makes the picture more perfect for me to see! Have a great day!
Feedsack Fantasy said…
What pretty blocks ... love to see the finished work. TTFN ~Marydon
LoieJ said…
I think being honest and sending it back is the best move. Certainly better than procrastinating because you don't get around to doing the block. And it is certainly better than doing the block poorly. But if you do the block, you may learn a new technique and like it. Time may be more the issue than skill level. I've done exchange blocks and the time commitment withing a certain time frame was an issue for me, so I've had to pick and chose more carefully for which challenge blocks or quilts I enter.
Gari in AL said…
Sending it back is probably the right thing to do. I might have first tried a trial block to see if I could learn to do it. But I really like the challenge of learning new things.
Anonymous said…
You're a better person than I! I think I would try to fake my death or maybe even claim that I and the quilt blocks (of COURSE I was almost finished with them!) were separated in the spacecraft...

If it's not fun or not fun anymore, I don't do it.
I might have tried one on my own fabric just to see if I could do it...and then sent the fabric back because I would KNOW that I would make a mess of it. I am doing a nine patch swap and I make myself crazy with every block trying to make sure my points are crisp and accurate. You are a better woman than I. Multiple swaps? I would end up sitting in the corner twitching.
Karen said…
Hi Nancy,

I think you did just the right thing. And it was very gracious of you to include some fat quarters as consolation.
*karendianne. said…
...stressed out for days and days. I like the way you handled it. That's a REAL WOMAN to me!
Frankly, I would never have thought of the option of returning it - but it is the best option. Thanks for the idea!

I would probably have tried to make the block out of scraps, or maybe a different technique, and then bumbled along with her fabric. If she doesn't like the finished product, she doesn't have to use it.
Lisa D. said…
I like your log cabin blocks! I think it was awfully presumptious for that person to be so specific about what she wanted and something that was too difficult to boot. I think you handled it the right way.
Liz said…
Returning her fabric with a sincere note and the consolation FQ's was the perfect choice - sometimes being part of a group block swap with few guidelines is tough - especially when faced with a difficult block to piece. You listened to your inner quilter and did the right thing !!

I must also say that those LC blocks are making me re-think swearing off this block after my one and only LC quilt (that nearly did me in, LOL) - crisp and clean color choices are just stunning.

Liz in CT
Hey Nancy...
I just went and looked at the block choice for linda..aye carumba :) I may have to write to her...
Peggy
graceamazes said…
Thanks to our joint conversation the other day, I started to do the same thing, so relieved as I never would have thought to just send it back. But a little delay and contemplation led me to switch gears slightly.

I will cut fabric (of the specified colors) roughly the size she needs to make her block (so she will have the variety if that's the goal) and send along a kind of "kit". I'll probably throw in an extra FQ too.

WV: retio What you call out when you play hide and seek "Retio not, here I come!"
julieQ said…
Yep, I would just tell her what you can and cannot do. I hate the guilty way I feel when I commit to something and just cannot deliver, so try very hard not to promise anything I feel I may not be able to do. I know it will all work out...you have that knack!!
Anonymous said…
I love the blocks!
Moira said…
I might have made a sample block, but if it didn't turn out ok - would then have done the same thing you did.