quilting with panels?

Hi there!

I noticed that some fabric bundles include a panel. I am kind of stumped at to how you'd use them? Do you use the whole thing without cutting it or do you cut it up and incorporate it in your quilt?

I think it is a matter of personal preference and what the panel is of. Sometimes you can use the panel (if it is a picture or lots of flowers) and fussy cut out things to use as appliques. Sometimes you can use the panel as the centerpiece to your quilt top and put squares or triangles on either side.

I'm with crazy.... the "block style" can be used as books for children,, or centers of squares with a border around... or cut out paperdoll style and used as applique.... I have often used the large "scene" style ie... baby... as the whole quilt with some large border shashing all around... they are wonderful when bought on sale and whipped up for gifts!!!

I just leave it as it is and use it in a quilt. I have a pattern that I use and then you cut big squares and sashing to go with it. It is very simple and very cute when done.

oohh! ok, that makes more sense. So I guess there really aren't any rules. :) Thanks for your input, I have some good ideas now.

This quilt started out with a panel that was just so so and I loved the way it turned out. I just cut the panel which showed 6 deer in a meadow into pieces I liked centering some of the deer and then made a puzzle with pieces cut to fit around the sections of panel.
http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/album.php?albumid=599

Here's one I did with a panel. It was a series of panels called cover strory.

Claire and Cathy those are both beautiful.

I have seen lots of "panel"s in the center quilts done.. dating way back from the 1700's
and up to today.. It's all a matter of Preferrence. What do YOU like?
What does the Panel Say to YOU.. ???

I have a few panels that were listed for pillows..but they are going into a large throw/quilt.

My Mom had a ball with pre-printed panels. She loved to hand quilt and didn't love piecing quilt tops, so panels helped her out alot! Sometimes she would just add borders to the panel and quilt the whole thing. Sometimes she would remove portions of the panel and incorporate it into blocks or borders throughout the quilt. Sadly I don't have any pictures to post of her work. Let your panel inspire you...leave it whole or whack it up and put it back together in a different way!!! :)

I'm actually using a fabric that has too large print to make a panel for my daughters quilt. I plan to put a panel of this fabric and blocks and smashing around it. It wasnt my fist plan but when i got the fabric and saw the size of the design its what i came up with. Like the ladies said you can use it many ways, let it inspire you.

I used some bias tape and sewed it on in a diagonal pattern about 6 inches apart and then put a border around the whole thing and made a wallhanging with it.