I still haven't ruled out the solid black..it would be easy and his birthday is 3 weeks away. However, I'll machine quilt it with a walking foot, so it isn't really much of a time crunch at all. I want the quilt to be something that he can carry with him to outdoor concerts and festivals, so want it tough. I'm doing 3/8" seams instead of 1/4" for a little extra strength too. The wood colored fabric sounds interesting and I'll have to try that option out when I go hunting...I have to get a backing for it anyway, so a shopping trip is in order. Thanks again for the ideas! Keep them coming!