How far have you gotten? Have you cut the nine-patches into smaller sections yet? Maybe it is just in the layout. Once it is cut into four it might look better.

I have several quilts I've started and never finished. Most of them were discarded because I tried to do things that were beyond my experience. I've kept them, thinking I would go back and finish them when I had the knowledge and experience. However, I find there is always a new pattern or tool I'd like to try and they are still in the UFO box, even 10-20 years later. I think they have found a permanent home!

I have a BOM that I am not satisfied with, and paid a lot a money for it. I squares aren't as large as they are supposed to be, so I put it away and did something else. UGGG makes me mad, but I WILL get it done (someday).

i've done this more than once. however, after putting it away for a while, it didn't seem so bad anymore :)

There is absolutely no reason to finish every quilting project you start, and even less reason to feel guilty about it. You don't have to put it away for later, you don't have to donate it somewhere, you don't have to cut it up and make something else out of it. You are allowed to stop doing things that don't bring you pleasure or make you feel good about what you're doing. You don't have to justify that in any way to anyone. Move on with your life and make a quilt for your son that brings you both joy. You deserve nothing less.

....and that's why people have UFOs. Maybe you just need to put it away for a while and get back to it later.

Yes, I have abandoned projects. I used to feel guilty, but not anymore. I chalk it up to a lesson learned. Sometimes its a color study (like the orange quilt my son requested. HATED making it, LOVE the quilt done! Go figure!) Sometimes I use it as a leaders/enders project just to 'git 'er done' and move on! Once or twice I have even passed it on to someone who LOVED it. Guess those were not mine! I have enough to do that I dream about and cannot WAIT to work on . I know i"m not into it, if I am happy leaving it to go make supper! Pass it on if you are not WILD about it!

Funny this topic comes up. Just this weekend I'm scrapping a scrappy. Had so many fabric going on that it completely obliterated the star pattern. Not enough uniformity in the background fabric. Figured I'm out about 12 hours of my time but nothing in materials. It's all in a zip lock bag and if I don't use it in a year's time, out it goes. First time in 30+ I've completely bailed on a project. Life is too short to hate what you're doing. I do that enough for 40 hours at my job!

If you hate it, stop working on it, and give the fabric to a thrift store, or throw it out. There's no sense continuing with it. Wait till you have some money saved up & buy top quality quilting fabrics from now on - don't use WalMart fabric for quilts - it isn't worth all your time, and the cost of batting, etc. You can get great deals for top quality stuff from stores online. And don't feel badly - you learned a bunch - so, move onto a new project, one that you delight in.