Is it just me or is it hard to get fabric suitable for men's quilts. Most of the fabric here has flowers etc. I make quilts for men from time to time and always have this problem.

It can be. I've made 3 quilts for "me", so I wanted them to be somewhat "Manly". Below are pics of them. I think they're not so much "manly" as they're not "girly", if that makes any sense.

Yes, they are all really nice, but more "gender neutral" than "manly" I made a quilt for my best friend's husband (who was dying of cancer) I used flannel that I got from flannelworld.com. They had quite a lot of more "manly" fabrics.

Batiks, marbles, novelty fabrics are suitable. I'm working on one for my son that has cars and motorcycles, along with marbles and tone on tone prints.

I have 5 sons and they all like the homespuns.

I have been thinking the same thing. I have a DH, DD and 3DS's and NONE of them like flowers. Also have 5 DGS's. Nope no flowers there either. It is very hard to find just the rite fabric for their quilts. I do make a few with flowers for myself, as gifts or to raffle but I always have my eyes open for more manly or gender nuetral fabrics and when I find something I really like or that fits one of them, I grab it quick.

I made a quilt for my husband when I found flannel that had tents, campfires, streams, deer, etc. on it. I also made my brother a quilt with deer fabric,so it is out there. I made my younger brother a quilt with plaids in navy, brown and dark red and it was really nice. My girlfriend is always making quilts for guys and she does a lot of sports quilts, especially in their team's colors.

I'm a lucky girl. My hubby has no complaints about fabric choices as long as I make all the couch quilts long enough to cover all of his 6'3". You can generally find him snuggled under a bright polka dotted pinwheel quilt with a smiley face backing!

I never would guess that those fabrics are hard to find. I've made quilts for men and I do use some fabrics with flowers.

They have been loved and I don't get any complaints.

Thank you all. You have been a great help. I have got some more ideas. We do not have flannel here in Ireland. Your quilts are beautiful. Thanks again.

My DH loves the flannel throw quilt I made him for "watching the race with his eyes shut" on Sundays. It is the most fought over quilt in the house.

This is a reproduction of a quilt that my MIL made before she passed. It is utilitarian as they come but I did change the fabrics to match my personality (treadles :mrgreen: ) and I SITD before hand tying it.

But this is my quilt I made me "Proud Mary"

Billy

I love your quilts....especially the star one.

As I have a DH, 5 DS, 2 DGS, only 1 DD and 1 DGD (not a girly girl), most of the quilts I plan are either gender neutral or masculine.

The guys in my life like stripes, plaids, checks, vine/leaf prints, paisley is ok, bandana prints, flames, dragons, cars, sports, camo, and a few flowers that aren't pink can be tolerated.

They especially like greens, tans, reds, black/gray, dark blue, burgandy, any of the more intense darker colors.

I like pink! :lol: :lol: :lol:

But then I am a guy that quilts........ and likes this guy..........:roll:


Billy

I just did up a quilt for my DH's step-grandfather. He's going thru chemo for lung cancer and is always freezing. I was amazed at how few fabrics I have in my stash that would qualify as a "men's fabric." Thankfully some of my friends had just finished making quilts for guys and they gave me enough scraps to make the quilt. It's something I'm definitely more aware of when I go to a fabric store.

my friend goes to the thrift store and buys men cotton shirts and flannel shirts. She buys them cheap takes them home washes them and cuts them up and makes her quilts.

Bonnie hunter at www.quiltville.com
has a pattern and a book called shirt tails ..all made out of used mens cotton shirts..with stripes and such.
i have used some with flowers, but they "read" a solid color.

here are some links

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc...47108338222.14

http://equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi...48110493223.b0

http://www.hotdiggitydog.com/

I love these quilts! they are beautiful and any one of my guys would love one of these. Thanks for showing them to us.

I also looked around before starting my son's quilt. I picked Civil War era fabrics (jelly rolls actually). Then I added muted grey and green border (will post a picture when it's done!.

Flannels make great mens quilts. They are usually darker colors. With woodsy or outdoor/wildlife prints. Be sure to buy good quality or the flannel will ravel and loose its shape easily.
A simple "mans" pattern works well with the flannel as well.

Flannels and batiks make good quilts for men.

Love the stars quilt. You do wonderful work!

To quote my DF and my BF, who is also male, why do women think you can't put flowers on a man's quilt? My DM and I make quilts for our church and my dad is her best critic for what fabrics go together. All of the other women just can't give a quilt to a man unless it is blue with no flowers or brown's and green's. We are on a mission to open their minds to other possibilities!

These are beautiful!

I do the same thing. Can't beat the price. Check out quiltville.com Bonnie Hunter uses men's shirts also.

It can be. I've made 3 quilts for "me", so I wanted them to be somewhat "Manly". Below are pics of them. I think they're not so much "manly" as they're not "girly", if that makes any sense.[/quote]

Eddie, Your first quilt looks like it may have been made with recycled men's shirts. Was it?

I'm making my son one with Dallas Cowboy fabric. He thinks it's manly enough. ( Only problem is DD wants it too. Sigh )

You are a hoot!!!!!!

No, it's from a collection of wovens (can't remember the maker), but it was made from charm squares that they have. Since then, I've been looking at the shirts in my closet in a whole new way, though. :D

I love the pattern of the last quilt. Is there a name to the pattern and is there somewhere I can get the pattern?
Sharon

I have to say there are some men who would be appalled to have flowers on their quilt. When I was making a lap quilt for my hubby's grandfather a couple months ago, I was told by ALL the family members that if it had anything feminine on it, his wife would not let him use it. It seems to depends on the person, what generation they are, and how they were raised. I think it's like the color pink. Years and years ago, if a man wore pink it was because someone messed up the laundry. Now men wear pink and purple all the time.

Another thought, (tho' I'm not sure about resale shops in the UK). I find lots of lovely, barely worn men's shirts at the resale shops, sometimes for as little as $.50. I always check fiber content, seeking out 100% cotton, and check for stains, etc. There is usually at least a generous yard of fabric in a larger size long sleeve shirt. Look at the XL rack first. If you have Salvation Army store ("Sallie's"), ours has a Saturday night special each week, with down and dirty prices. I use the shirts to make aprons too. They are cute with vintage trims. Nice checks, stripes, plaids, great resource for piecing.

I think they are all beautiful and "girlie" so you'd better send them to me!! LOL.

Eddie, your quilts rock!

I work at a fabric store, and we have a great man fabric line called "Be a Man". You can see it here:

http://www.creativequiltkits.com/cat...s+day+be+a+man

I've also made this quilt for my son:

http://www.creativequiltkits.com/cat...lt/?q=tilework

Hope these suggestions help

I know, I'm trying to make quilts for my grandsons ages 10 and 12 and am having a hard time picking a patterrn and fabrics.

I made these for my guys. The fish for my son and the other for my hubby. They love them. Also this drunkards path for my BIL & SIL.

I've used fabrics that would look good as a tie to make a quilt for one of my brothers. It looked "manly" when I got done.

Those are fantastic quilts!!