I am about to quilt a Turning Twenty (68x80) for my husband. I wonder if I could use a stencil of the U.S. Coast Guard emblem to make a silhouette? Interesting idea.

Concerned as to whether I could put in enough detail for it to be discernible. I know I can do his C130 and helicopter but not sure about the seal.

Any ideas or experience with something like that?

I did some practice log cabin blocks, using some strips I had available. Despite having blue flowers in it, the tan colored strip did not work at all, but after all the time and fabric involved, I did not want to waste the blocks, so added more tan and some 'camouflage'. It's just a top so far.

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This isn't a silhouette but flowers cut out of border fabric and raw edge appliqued on this pieced quilt.
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I did something similar but I did the applique on separate fabric and used it as a medallion sort of. I found photos then enlarged them, cut them out of freezer paper then ironed it to my black fabric for the pattern.

I've used coloring books for silhouettes and they turned out okay.

I made a large patriotic quilt and put a block in the middle of a silhouette of George Washington's head in navy blue. Free clip art on the web. You can copy and paste into Paint or PowerPoint and resize.
Great topic! Gramajo you made an amazing quilt.

For my parent's 50th, I asked them to draw silhouettes on paper and send them to me. I used them (facing each other) in the center of a small wall hanging. They were appliqued in black on top of gold lamee with a purple background and Jenny Beyer soft edge piecing in the corner block. The quilt was octagonal in shape. Sorry, no photo available.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone. I am definitely making it now. Do you think the background should be a simple design, 9 patch, strips, etc?