Originally Posted by jbsstrawberry
Here's what I've been thinking...one of those hmmm I wonder if things...I've been designing my brother's memorial quilt in my head for a year now...and a wonderful gal here on the board (love ya Nita!) is giving me a motorcycle silhouette for the back, which in essence will make it reversable. The top will be a 9 patch made from brother's blue jeans and flames on black background fabric for the center patches. I'm using the front of his favorite Harley t-shirt for the center panel of the quilt. Which is a flathead engine, with flames of course. So, here's my plan...I'm going to use very light flannel for batting, quilt the top and the back seperately so it will be quilted top-flannel-flannel- quilted back. Then I'll do an invisible "tack" to put the layers together and actually quilt the boarders in a flame like pattern. In my minds eye I see it working...but implementation will tell if I'm right or not. When the quilt is finished it will be going to Dave's almost 3 yr old grandson.
First, I am very sorry to hear you lost your brother. (need flower icon here) I can't imagine how hard that must have been on you and your family and I think it is an amazing thing you are doing by planning a memorial quilt.
Second, definitely buy a sketchbook and begin to doodle or sketch out your thoughts. I'v discovered it is an invaluable tool when designing a quilt!!!! Often we (people in general) will have a lot of great small ideas and if those aren't written down or captured somehow, we forget about them over time. If you feel a bit anxious about drawing, just make a pact that no one will see your sketchbook. I have a friend that swears she cannot draw and she does it this way. Me, I drag my sketchbook around, copying ideas (like floor tiles or patterns on carpets or moldings on buildings) and while it makes me a bit naseous, I will let my friends look through it. When I go back through it, I'm often surprised by the things I have forgotten. I'm so thankful I started a sketchbook I think if you try using one you may discover the same thing.
Hm, rereading through that it sounds a bit pushy and I certainly don't mean it that way and I hope the above doesn't offend you
jb.
I first saw a double sided quilt on
Simply Quilts. It is something I've always meant to try but haven't. My backs are not simply plain fabric though. I always piece together something to add interest to my backs, unless they are small pieces like table runners or pot holders or something along those lines. I find an interesting back allows me the option of turning over the quilt and enjoying a different look without having to make a second quilt. Gotta love that!
~Tiffany