That's good to know about the fabrics. I received them today but haven't opened the bags yet. They are even more beautiful in person. Just got home from work and relaxing for a few minutes with a cup of coffee. I'll take pics when I open them up.

Pam, Sorry, but I have no suggestions for a quilt from your Asian fabrics. I know whatever you make with them will be inspired and beautiful. What I did want to suggest is that if you have any leftover scraps after you make your quilt, a Chinese Coin quilt would be fun-even if it is a throw or wall hanging size.

I will probably have leftovers since I got 40 FQs and I'll take a look at the Chinese Coin.

The fabrics are so vibrant and they have an almost silky feel, they are so smooth. There are some of them that are really striking to me that I may order more yardage of when I decide how to use them.

The other two. There is also a collection of purple that I like and I should have got. Most all of the ones I got have touches of purple.

luv, luv, luv them - they're beautiful!

You and me both. I just want to play with them, putting different ones together and see how they look.

I need a ruler that can do a very large circle, maybe 36". I'm looking over her website to see what fabric I like in yardage, maybe one that is a panel but not too busy.

I have a beige fabric from the feathered star quilt that I didn't use that has the pattern of wood grain... see where I'm going? :wink:

http://www.cherryblossomgardens.com/product.php?id=214

thats a great idea.

this is the largest circle cutting that i know of - it goes to 30 inches.

http://www.phillipsfiberart.com/stor...d&productId=23

i have this one that goes to 10 inches but i can get a 20 inch circle from it. you're supposed to use folded fabric but instead i just cut it on the whole piece and flip the template over and cut the other side getting 20 inches total.


http://www.ezquilt.com/products/acry...ycirclecut.htm

How about something like this?

[IMG]http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...ts/circles.jpg[/IMG]

Wow, that's nice!! I am partial to the subtle blues and those are so pretty.

What pattern is that?

I know there is a pattern out there somewhere for Kimono blocks but not sure where I saw it. Maybe someone else has seen it. I think it would also be pretty if you could find a pattern that has the oriental building shapes on it. My friendship group is making a Teapot quilt with pots, cups and saucers on it all in oriental fabrics. I have the patters from fat cat patterns and would be happy to e-mail them to you if you like. Just send me pm and I will e-mail them. Since there are all skill levels in the group of ladies, we decided they could fuse them on to black background fabric which was provided so the blacks matched, and then use decorative stitches and gold rayon thread to stitch around all the pieces. We already have 40 blocks turned in. We make a quilt out of 12 of the blocks to be given to one of our members (names are put in a box when they turn in a block) and the rest of the blocks are put into kits of 12 each to be sold in our Quilt Show consignment shop to pay for next years fabric needs.

Pam you make me want to shop!!!!

Are you in PIttsburg CA?

Several years ago I saw a gorgeous queen size quilt hanging in the 2-story entry of a home. The pattern was all Japanese kimonos of many different oriental prints on a solid background. Each was about 8 or 10 inches tall.

I would name it Geisha Girl

I have used the asian fabric in nine patch pizzazz. It works wonderfully.

I am green with envy...you got some wonderful fabrics.

Asian fabrics are my favorite and I stroke and pet them, hating to cut them up. so many of them have very large prints.

Are you planning on a big wall hanging to show off the Asian fabrics or a quilt for a bed?

My quilting friendship group did a row by row quilt for each other and mine was Asian theme. Each row is different. One row has Paper pieced fans, I did the row with circles (large print geisha, flowers,) in squares, then a friend made dragonfly blocks, another made paper pieced cranes, and finally paper pieced lanterns.

Each row consists of 3 or 4 8-9 inch large blocks. The quilt was finished by a friend who made borders of kona black that has discharged ginkgo leaves on it.

Don't know what kind of quilt you are trying to accomplish, but you can't go wrong with Asian fabrics...they are so colorful, rich and many have gilt edging...to die for.

Can't wait to see what you create!

warm quilt hugs, sue

You could also try an aussie quilt from quilt mania. Just type aussie quilt in the internet search and there are a couple of choices.

I've seen this quilt done in Asian fabrics and it's beautiful. Your fabrics are gorgeous!

http://www.virginiaquilter.com/cgi-l...html?E+scstore

I agree the Bento Box makes a fabulous quilt with Asian fabrics.

You can find several free instructions online, you don't have to buy the pattern.

warm quilt hugs, sue

I have tried to send this four times now, it keeps disappearing before I can send it. I had a short trip to Japan and made it to 1 fabric shop, the Japanese fabric I bought is pretty, but not anything like what we buy as oriental or Asian. I have googled for Asian quilt patterns and found several places to find patterns, right now I can't tell you names, but will see if I can find them later and send. I remember one specially, it was fans, but definitely not everyday fans.

Yes, I'm in Pittsburg, CA (no "h" at the end of the CA one :) )

thanks for all the ideas and links, I have a lot of things to look at and get inspiration.

This is something I drew up real quick. It always changes and evolves but that's what I have so far.

That's pretty!

I dont' know what my quilt is called. I just drafted it up and taught a class in curved piecing. It's a variation of the Drunkard's Path.

OOOOoooohhhhh, Pam, that would be lovely. I've been following this thread with interest, because my eldest son will be moving to Japan in a couple of months to teach English as a foreign language. He's so excited, and I can't wait to make a quilt for him. You guys are just giving me all kinds of ideas.

I love this forum! :thumbup:

it looks great. would you piece the circle or applique?

I have been reading this thread with interest and was surprised to learn that the fabrics in Japan are so different to what we can buy on line.

I have been toying with the idea of making my Japanese friend a quilt in Asian fabrics but was put off as I thought it would be something she would have seen tons off, but now I know this I think I will go ahead and plan a quilt out.

Pittsburgpam, I love the design you have drafted out, it is stunning and will show off the fabrics beautifully.

Elle

http://shop2.genesis-ec.com/search/l...andor=1&page=1
Let me show you the examples of what we can purchase on Japanese online shop. The Oriental ones sold there looks more gorgeous to me. These are cotton prints, but we have more with polyester and rayons because they look similar in material with real silk I think.

Butterflyspain...

You can buy gorgeous Yukata (I think that is how it is spelled) and other real kimono fabrics on ebay. There is one seller who has remarkable stuff.

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/kimono...Q_fromZQQ_mdoZ

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

maybe these would be of interest to you

warm quilt hugs, sue

I just returned from an amazing trip to Asia and in each port I bought Asian silk. I will be making four quilts with the fabric along with fabric I have been collecting here in the states for the last couple of years. I had no reason to collect it except it is SO stunning. I am making the four quilts for my sisters and myself as we traveled together on this trip of a lifetime. I am making my own design using 12 inch squares, 6 inch squares, and bindings made up of all of the fabrics! Just thinking of doing this is calming me. You cannot look at the beautiful patterns without feeling the serenity of the flowers, the beauty of the people, the great wishes of the cranes and the protection of the dragons. I will cut out large squares and small squares and use my livingroom floor to "compose" the quilts. It will take time and patience but isn't that what it's all about? I don't intend to use sashing as I want the fabrics to touch each other with the feeling of harmony and companionship. Since I will start the actual work in June, I am simply auditioning the colors and patterns now. Peace and serenity.

Phyl, what a remarkable and delightful opportunity you had to travel to Asia.

Keep us posted on the progress of your quilts and of course, be sure post photos...love pix!

warm quilt hugs, sue

I am not sure, it depends on what fabric I can find. If I think it would look good as basically all one piece I would just do a circle and applique it. I am thinking that I would applique the wood grain strips on it too, probably a lot easier than piecing them in.

Either a solid circle or a pieced circle I would applique to the background. I already have ideas of quilting cherry blossom branches in brown around the circle and the flowers in colored thread. Really ambitious would be to applique the blossoms, maybe a broderi perse if I have the right flower.

I've been looking at the Asian panels for something that appeals to me for the parasol.

I've been looking at all sorts of Asian fabrics and someday I would like to do a quilt in silk. They are so beautiful.

Y'all are talking about what you have used Asian fabrics for but I haven't seen any pictures!!! I'd love to see them.

my asain row by row friendship quilt

i love it!!

do you have a pattern for that crane? i would love to add that into a quilt.

My friend added sashiko rows She also added fabric fortune cookies and other embellishments and made the geisha bag that my quilt came in. I now use it every day as a 'purse' and a matching geisha is on the back of the quilt as a label

One of my friends made the crane row. She did give me the pattern but since we moved, I have no clue where a lot of my stuff is.

warm quilt hugs, sue

I am doing an asian theme quilt and this is the first time I have seen asian fabric with other fabrics to match. I love your fabric. Luckly you

Featured in The Quiltmaker January/February '06 issue was a quilt called "Being Koi" that showed off Asian fabric very simply by using triangle squares paired light and dark, pieced together to form larger triangles surrounded by a border. A diagram of a koi was used for the quilting. You would have to see the photo to appreciate it!

Beautiful work!
What fabric did you use? Cotton or silk?
Thanks for sharing.
I can't wait to start mine.

That is so beautiful. Because all of the fabrics ARE so beautiful it seems like you can't go wrong with putting them together. It's just wonderful to look at.

I found an origami flower block and I believe I have seen the crane somewhere but I don't find it now.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fabr...i-Quilt-Block/