I need to make a quilt for a 17 yr old who just found out he has leukemia--all I know about him is that he plays in the band.
Any ideas?

A quilt with band instruments, and music notes on it

What about looking for fabric with musical instruments? Do you have any idea if he likes a specific instrument? Or a special group? There is a lot of Beatle fabric - I am sure there are others. Or if he has a favorite sports team (other than Baseball) you can order NFL fabric which is 60 inches wide. Some colleges have fabric available too.

There is a lot of fabric with musical instruments out there.

If you can applique, google instruments coloring pages and pick some simple designs to use as the patterns for applique. (You can also use these as quilt patterns.)

For guys, simpler pieced patterns generally work -- but for someone sick maybe one of the star patterns. You can get some block/quilt ideas here: http://www.quilterscache.com/

I would try to find out a bit more about what else he likes and incorporate that also. Cars, girls, sports, video games? What colors does he like?

I think favorite color would also be good.

What instrument does he play in the band?

How about adding a picture of him playing his instrument and marching, to the quilt also.

I just made my 16 year old nephew a rag quilt using fabric with a music staff and headphones on it. I used that fabric and two solids to create the pattern. I am sure anything you make will be appreciated. I'll say a prayer for him.

If you want a quick, easy, and also masculine pattern, what about a Disappearing 9-patch? You could use a larger musical instrument print in the squares that don't get cut up and a companion, smaller print, in the ones that are cut up. I can see it in black and white prints with dark red in the little squares. (Someone posted a D9P in those colors a while back. Maybe she post the link again here.)

There is a panel call "What Cancer cannot do" and it has things on it like Cancer cannot Cripple Love, Shatter Hope, Destroy Peace, Silence Courge, Kill Friendship, Steal Humor, Stifle Laughter, Erase Memories, Conquer the Spirit, Erode Confidence, Invade the Soul. Then I would use musical fabrics for the quilt part. I bought the panel and fabrics at www.beautifulquiltfabric.com with a free pattern.