Need thoughts for design for large print fabric

I have been hitting the jack pot at my local thrift store in buying tons of great fabric...and I got this beautiful print...2 shades of bright medium/teal blues, purple and white...kind of a swirl but a LARGE swirl pattern. Not at all acceptable for cutting small squares or any shape small...6" is probably the smallest it could be cut to still show the colors and the swirls and get the full impact of the beautiful colors.

Anyone have any suggestions on a design to use this fabric with? I want to do more than just cut squares and sew them together..charm pack style. But at the same time...can't think of any other way. I know I can cut the squres, and sash them with matching solids...but still... I just want a bit more design for this quilt. Any suggestions?

How about a D9P and use the pretty fabric on the outside corners of the nine patch.

I do light and dark value quilts using 8-1/2" squares made into half square triangles in various configurations. There are at least 5 samples of these in my album.

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Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine

I do light and dark value quilts using 8-1/2" squares made into half square triangles in various configurations. There are at least 5 samples of these in my album.

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Jean... *I think this is what I am looking for! Love the patterns. I can make a solid (3 different solids) to a print and make them zig zag..think that will look great as the print is a flowing, wavy kind of pattern. Thanks for the ideas!

I agree with Pat...the D9P would let your prints shine through. Be sure to put them in the outside corners of the 9 patches so they don't get cut. :)

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Originally Posted by Bubby

I agree with Pat...the D9P would let your prints shine through. Be sure to put them in the outside corners of the 9 patches so they don't get cut. :)

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Pat and Bubby....I wish my camera battery hadn't died. I can't include a pic of the fabric. This print is large and wavy and I don't think a D9P would work.. as to many of the squares in the patches would be one color and since I am using the matching solids.. I'd end up with more "solid" areas than the print and the print is what makes the fabric so awesome looking. THat is why I was looking for a large patter...6-8" sqaure at least so the waviness and multiple colors of the design would show through. But...a D9P for each corner block might be a very ingenious finality. Thanks for the idea

How about OBW (one block wonder)? Haven't done it myself but looks like fun!

maybe something designed for a layer cake would work well.

The 10 minute block would work too.

Hmmmm.......I thought I posted this so if it shows up twice I apologize! Here's a blurry picture of a quilt I made from a butterfly fabric I just couldn't cut up. I just bordered it with fabrics that matched the colors in the large print. http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/alb...chmentid=18656

You could do a window pane or something like that, where the lg print is the center and coordinating fabrics around it. I have one like I am talking about in my album, it is made with orange and greens. Just to give you an idea. You could make the center block however big you want and then add 2 1/2" strips around them. Hope this helps.

I made this one today.
It turned out real nice, it is a great pattern, goes fast en perfect for large print.

http://www.cloverandviolet.com/2009/...ong-quilt.html


Let us know what you're favorite is from all the great tips here......hard to make the right choice!

Klasien, that's a really cute design! I love easy but pretty. I have some large prints that would look great with that pattern.

You could still use the DP9; just adjust the size of your blocks...doesn't have to be a specific size...do all 6" or 8" or 10" blocks for the DP9....depends on how large a quilt you want to make

I bought a pattern a couple years ago for a lighthouse quilt I made. It's called "Just can't cut it" from All Washed up Quilts. It was easy and really showed off my print. You can find it on Ebay.

Thank you for posting this and thank you for posting the ideas. I've been fussing with one of the Baby Genius charm packs that I just can't seem to make work AT ALL! I wasn't trying to do anything fancy.....but the combination of several of the blocks just don't speak to me at all. Kept thinking I could add a solid or something to make it work, but so far....NADA.

I think I just need to get rid of some of those blocks and seam up the rest......