I have actually done what you did, had a finished quilt I just didn't like the center of, cut it out/ replaced it. The way I did it was..... Created a new center, quilted and trimmed/ squared up to fit perfectly. Then I made ( sashing strips--like binding, 2" wide, folded in half, pressed) for both sides, top & back. I lined up the raw edges, top & bottom, lots of pins, and machine stitched them like a binding to the new center section. Them I fit the center back into the hole flipped the ( binding) over and stitched it to the outer frame of the quilt. I did one side at a time, the back first, making sure the front stayed out of my way, then brought the front strips over & stitched it down, covering the stitching from the back. It turned out great, although quite labor intensive. I was much happier with the ( new) quilt

It really is something that when we quilters feel something is not right all the work we will go thru to "get it right". Good Luck with your project!

Kudos to you, for having the courage to change what you knew in your heart, was not right. If you had not done that, you would never have happy memories of this quilt. Who knows, you might discover that you enjoy hand sewing after all.

Wow! I give you loads of credit for going to this extreme to redo the quilt so you are happy with it. Like Twinkie, I don't think I would have the courage (or the heart) to do what you are doing but I do know it is completely possible. A QAYG method will definitely work for inserting the new center into the quilt. The book Divide and Conquer Quilt it Your way by Nancy Smith and Lynda Milligan definitely have some techniques that you would be able to use for this.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...ripbooks%2C150

Never tried it before...but, "go, go, go!" I hope it all works out for you. Looks like so far, so good.

I love it the way it is, but won't the red show through if you put on a new back? You have more patience than I do! Good luck whichever way you go!

No red left!

Thank you This gives me hope!

I have learned over the years not to "over-think" a quilt. There is always something you can find wrong with it, but in the end the recipients usually love it no matter what.

I, like you, have found myself unhappy with a finished quilt. But I did not tackle the effort you have done. Mine is still waiting for me to decide what to do with it. Thanks for the inspiration to look at it again, sometime, but not right now in the middle of trying to get too many projects done before Christmas.