Help with Southwestern quilt for FIL
 

We're from AZ. FIL loves where he is from, old SW part of the country, old cars, etc. I found 2 yds of this Susan Wingett for Joann fabric at the Spring Hill Mill sale and it is so HIM! I've never made him anything as their home is very contemporary and I'm very old fashioned, but his Bday is in the Spring so I'm going to give it a go.

I've searched online for this fabric and cannot find it, I was hoping someone else would have made something with it!

The pattern repeats about every 28 inches horizontally . How would you cut this up? The scenes blend into other scenes I was thinking it would look good with a brown or tan (or both) batik's, but would love any recommendations on HOW to use this fabric in a quilt! Also, how would I quilt such a busy scenic design without taking away from the print on the fabric?

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...114_065316.jpg

I'm too new to give advice but had to comment on material - it's Beautiful, and I'm not usually into 'scene' fabric. I like your idea of batiks to compliment it. Best wishes on your project!

I love this print!! I see your dilema. I think you would have to fussy cut small enough squares that they wouldnt need quilting except maybe stitch in the ditch around it. I agree with using both color batiks as sashings between blocks - do the major quilting there. Cant wait to see what you do!

I think I'd use the Warm Wishes pattern. You could cut large blocks of that as the focus fabric and do the pieced blocks in tan, cream and brown? For a fabric pattern that is hard to quilt, I find an all over meander design works best for me. For some reason even though it goes all over the quilt top, it doesn't distract from the pattern for some reason. Maybe it's just me? Does any one else love the meander for the same reason?

If the repeats are every 28 inches, you might consider 28" blocks. you could 'sash' them with pinwheel blocks?

Thanks everyone for the reccomendations so far!

I was also thinking I could cut the fabric horizontally (44" across) in about half and piece horizontal sections and alternate the focus w/ pieced sections.. I can't find a picture like what I mean, I'm still looking. Warm Wishes is cute and looks easy, but I don't seem to have enough- only about 2 yds.

Nan has the solution I think - Cut a feature block and built around it with any kind of design block you would like.

Yes, I did the feature block idea on a wildlife quilt. It worked great.

What about one of those "window" quilts? Then boarder it to be the size you want?

Mucky, do you have a picture or link to show me what you mean?