New Quilt...American Patriotic for my son...need dthoughts...ideas....design......

I'm designing a full size quilt for my son..he is very patriotic, a Civil Was and WWII buff, an all-around American and a Deputy Sheriff.

I got the Battle Hymn charm packs (got 2 of them) and I got 2 charm paks of solids that could be matched with the BH sqs. THey are all that "old" antiquated look...brownish aged kind of look.

I did the match on how many charm packs needed for a full size quilt...270! But I was wanting to do more than just sew squeares together. So I bought a tumbler and a half hexi template from MSQC and got them today. I was thinking of the friendship braid as the borders and in the dark red/blue,gree/browns., no prints.And use the tumbler with the prints and sqs for the interior of the quilt.

Questions:
. is the friendship braid AND tumblers to much? I dont like busy looking quilts and this is for a man - 30years old.
2. Can you put sashing between tumbler rows? I was thining of aalternating prints and solids of the tumbller shape and hten (for instance) a dark red 2" sashing, then another row of tumblers with dark blue sashing etc. THen border all that with a dark color and then the friendship braid as the final border. Am I getting to busy?
3. Using these colors...and theme...is there another design I could use....like one square, 2 colors? I want the prints to show so I can't cut them any smaller than possibly half to make a sq out of 2 triangles, but that is cutting it close to being to small.
4. Anyone have any pictures or know of links tha tmight have pics to see any quilts done with the tumbler? I have seen Jennys with the friendship braids..going same way and opposite...but with tumblers?

I'd sure like any suggestions. I have to finished the binding on the last t-shirt quilt and then then layering onthe one I made for myself (first time ever I made for myself BEFORE making for everyone else first!) and then the Strawberry Shortcake one for my GD is coming along...I have it all designed nad now just have ato start cutting squares out. But I think it will go quickly. '

I always start creating a quilt in my head while doing another one as I tend to "over think" as I go if I dont' make my mind think about something other than what I am doing! Plus...lot of sleepless nights going on right now and I figure I can utilize them and have my quilting future all figured out by the time it warms up and I can just quilt late into the night when I finally get sleepy!

Thanks for any suggestions of any kind! I also hope to do stippling on this quilt so if you have any suggestions of what kind works well with this size shape, I'd be glad to know that too!

Hi ok soooo I was flipping through the forums and was looking at the little thumbnails at the top and there was a picture of a tumbler quilt that resembled a flag.. The person used the red, white and blue colors in their fabrics but turned the tumblers sideways so that the tumbler went right to left instead of up and down. Understand? Found it the user name is bellasquilts, maybe you could use this pattern for yours

Bella's quilt is very well done, here is the link to her pic:

http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/alb...achmentid=8837

I've made a patriotic quilt for my son too, and I have a tumbler quilt. You can see them in my albums.
If you make stars, the square in the middle shows the fabric design perfectly.

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Originally Posted by sunnyQLDmum

Bella's quilt is very well done, here is the link to her pic:

http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/alb...achmentid=8837

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Thank you Kelliedi and sunny - I hadn't thought about sideways! That's a good option. That is a fantastic quilt ! I have a grand son and I think I will make that one for him....why? Cause I already crocheted one like that (the full afghan a flag) for my son! But thank you guys for solving my next quilt crises!!!

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Originally Posted by Lenie

I've made a patriotic quilt for my son too, and I have a tumbler quilt. You can see them in my albums.
If you make stars, the square in the middle shows the fabric design perfectly.

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I like the one where you have the star in a square and then "strips" going across and repeated 2 more times. That I think is a perfect design! Thank you, mind if I STO? I was having the trouble that I ordered the charm packs not quite understanding how to use them. I have 2 packs of the Battle Hymn and picked out the flag ones, 8 I think there are so I could use that square and then either use other charms cut in strips or yardage. something like that. Thanks so much, you have solved my problem. BTW your other quilts are amazing. I hope I can do as well! I am not a fan of just "square" quilts...but your's have given me new light on them!

I would be happy to see your version of the quilt! I used only yardage, that's a lot of cutting. But I like the whole process of making a quilt. I made the square-quilts because I don't like to cut up my favorite fabrics in too small pieces. And they are made of flanel, which is not the easiest to cut up in smaller parts. Have fun with the Patriotic quilt, and make sure to post some pictures!

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Originally Posted by Lenie

I would be happy to see your version of the quilt! I used only yardage, that's a lot of cutting. But I like the whole process of making a quilt. I made the square-quilts because I don't like to cut up my favorite fabrics in too small pieces. And they are made of flanel, which is not the easiest to cut up in smaller parts. Have fun with the Patriotic quilt, and make sure to post some pictures!

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I always have and still do buy yardage, but decided to give the "new thing" a try. I had just learned about charm packs and since my squares never come out right when I cut them myself, I thought I'd try them. But I didn't understand how they worked and a charm pack is not what I am looking for in my "version" of quilting but since I have them I need to use them! How do you cut your squares and still keep them square and even? I have learned 100% cotton ONLY, no polyester, but still....I double check measurements and double check before I cut, and still...once cut and I start to assemble..they never match! I usually do applique on blocks and then assemble them..12 inch size. Thanks for any tips! I can't afford the pre-cut very often!

i recently buy a jaipuri quilt(India's famous quilt), it is so good.

Coffeebreak, You might try cutting your blocks a bit larger than 12", apply the applique and then square them up to 12". That should definitely help. If you re-measure after you cut the squares and they're still 12" you're good to go. Also make sure the straight-of-grain on each block is going in the same direction when you sew the blocks together. If your applique is directional, mark the top of each block ( I would use a safety pin) before you sew on the applique so you will be sure to have the straight-of-grain oriented correctly throughout the rows.

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Originally Posted by rebeccas-sewing

Coffeebreak, You might try cutting your blocks a bit larger than 12", apply the applique and then square them up to 12". That should definitely help. If you re-measure after you cut the squares and they're still 12" you're good to go. Also make sure the straight-of-grain on each block is going in the same direction when you sew the blocks together. If your applique is directional, mark the top of each block ( I would use a safety pin) before you sew on the applique so you will be sure to have the straight-of-grain oriented correctly throughout the rows.

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Thanks Rebecca . . I just did another set of squares to sew together to make a checkerboard border and I cut them just slightly over the 4,1/4" that I needed for a 4" sq. I worked just fine! So from now on, I will just cut them slightly over and they will fit or at least, there's enough to cut them down to all match. So your idea does work!