i am a beginner quilter and would like to make each of my son-in-laws a throw quilt with their college colors and mascot fabrics. i want them to cherish it, but at the same time, i need it to be fairly easy so that i can complete 2 by christmas. some of the blocks need to be large enough to show a complete mascot picture from fabric, any pattern suggestions?

The BQ patterns from Maple Island are quick and easy to manage. They lend themselves to the use of larger blocks. IMHO.

thanks--i'll google those and take a look

Or simple snow block....

Welcome from MIchigan by the way!!

Welcome from Central Texas. Nice of you to do something for your SILs.

I've seen a college quilt that used a panel or large piece of print material treated as a panel for the center section of the quilt and then did a couple rows of pieced blocks around it in solids/tot's that matched the colors.

You can always alternate snowball blocks (main fabric be the college print) with a 9-patch. See my post here for ideas: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-156978-1.htm#4338311

Hello and welcome to the QB!!! I think the
Potato Chip pattern would be ideal.

Welcome from South Carolina. Turning Twenty is a fast, easy pattern that uses twenty fat quarters. It has large blocks.

Hello and welcome from northern California!

Welcome from New Hampshire
I did a star with a large center focus fabric and the team colours for the star points.
Mine was just a wall hanging
If I had to make it larger I'd have put a 1" border on it and then make larger blocks of stars.

Welcome to the QB. SO much to read and learn here. Have fun.

Glad you found the help you asked for here.

For simple & easy, I'd just take the panel/college fabric & border it until it was the size you wanted. Use co-ordinating colors/fabrics for the borders. Start with a 2" border, make the next one maybe 3", the next 4", etc. Sash it with black (? depending on college colors) or maybe a stripe with co-ordinating colors. Back it with the college print fabric. Easy, quick.

Welcome to the board from Southern California!

Hello and welcome to QB, from western Nevada!

Hello Allprayedup!
Welcome from Minnesota!
Browse through the pictures of quilts on this board. I'm sure something will pop at you! :)

wow! that's a lot of replies! :shock: i'll look up all your suggestions tomorrow when i don't have my grandson at my feet. i want to make the quilts special, but i don't want to overwhelm myself either so that i never get to the second one by christmas!

another question--what kind of batting should i use? i noticed that the quilts my husband's grandmother made are so soft and supple and cuddly (of course they are about 65 years old), but i'd like them to come out something like that.

Hello, and welcome from Michigan!

Welcome from Kansas...

Welcome from Adrian, MI

Hello and welcome from Victoria,Australia. :thumbup:

Welcome from Houston TX!

Welcome from New York.

Welcome from NE Ohio.

welcome from se TX

I am making quilts like you've described for my grandsons for Christmas. I have one top done, and the other cut out and half the blocks done. I'm using the BQ 2 pattern, and I really like the way they are turning out. Check out some of the pictures on the search feature here. They are fairly quick, and show off the colors & fabrics well.

Welcome from W TX!
Warm wishes would show off your fabric w/mascots. As for batting I like wool expensive but very soft. I try to buy it on sale.

I recently made a University of Michigan Rag Quilt

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-152774-1.htm

Welcome from Winston-Salem, NC

Hi from Ms.

Welcome from Michigan. Have fun making your quilts.

Welcome to the Board from Central California. This is a great place to learn.

Welcome to the Board, from Michigan. My avitar is a College themed quilt I made for my son. Supper easy. Pattern is "Around the world" Used themed print material and then michigan colors for the rest, it is a queen size one and he loves it.

Hello and welcome to the QB from Little Sue. You'll love it here.

Welcome from Minnesota and happy quilting :)

Hello & Welcome to the board from North Carolina :)