This Gorgeous Fabric Has Me Stumped!
 

I saw this holiday fabric two years ago, fell in love with it, and bought 3 yards of each. They all have metallic gold accents that don't show up well in the photo, but they're so luxurious in person. :)

The problem is that, even after two years, I *still* can't decide what to do with it! :o The reason I'm having trouble is because of the large scale of the medallion print (the one on top, in my photo - see the ruler for a reference). It would be a shame to cut it up into small pieces and lose the medallion pattern.

All this time, I've been taking it out of my cabinet occasionally, looking at it and petting it ;), but I always end up putting it back in my stash for fear of "messing it up" by using the "wrong" pattern.

I thought about cutting a large panel of the medallion fabric and using the accent fabrics to make blocks to frame the panel. That's about the only thing I can come up with.

Here's the photo. The blue fabric on the bottom left isn't quite that bright in person. It blends nicely with the others (it's part of the same line - Holiday Flourish by Robert Kaufman).

What would you do?

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I like your idea of using the medallion as a panel and making blocks with the other fabrics. Beautiful fabric!

I would pick some geometrics, batiks and other prints that coordinate with the brown, cream, and green and use the medallion in the center. It is great to have a focal fabric and a couple of direct coordinates. Makes finding others much easier.

It will be gorgeous.

Gorgeous fabric, that falls right into the category...of not wanting to cut it, so lovely.

your idea is a good one.

Wow, beautiful fabric, I'm sure you'll put that to good use and come out with a lovely quilt.

I have the same fabric and have the same problem-also had the same idea of how to use it-will be watching to see if there are any more ideas--it is such beautiful fabric that I don't even want to cut into it.

You could use it to make kaleidoscope blocks. Yes, you would lose the beautiful full medallion but you could make endless kaleidoscope block combinattions.

Or you could fussy cut portions of the medallion and use as block centers.

You could cut a full medalion as the center to you in a medallion style quilt and then use the other as either kaliedoscope blocks or fussy cut centers.

You could cut a full medallion on the back and use the fabric in blocks on the front.

Or make a 'very wide' border using the fabric.

Wow I've got some of that same line but didn't see the large print. Is it too big for borders? If not that's what I would try to use it for or do as you said cut a large part and use as a panel. Would also be pretty to make some of the blocks into kaleidoscope pattern.

That is gorgeous fabric. I think it would be perfect fabric for petting, inhaling the essense of fabric scent, petting, and petting. Did I mention that the fabric is gorgeous?

I had the same problem, I used a pattern from a book called 3-fabric quilts by Leni Levenson Wiener. They show off large pattern fabric great!:thumbup:

Why not use the medallion as the backing?

Beautiful fabrics. You have a good idea. Enjoy !!!!

Your idea sounds perfect!

I have the same print but several years earlier in red/green combo. Put it away and just recently found it - havn't figured out what to do either. I was thinking some table runners but like the medallion idea.

As others have said I would use the medallion as a panel for the center and work around it. It is so beautiful.

I have no idea what I would do with - maybe the kaleidoscope blocks idea - but I do love, love, love ALL of the Robert Kaufman Holliday Flourish fabrics. Each year I can't wait to see what the new fabrics will be.

Here is what I did and I think it would work like this - use the beautiful floral/medallion and then border them with blocks and/or together with sashing. That is unbelievable fabric.

Thanks so much for the suggestions! :) I'm leaning toward a Four Patch Posy so far (but of course, that could change! LOL!). I've never done one, and it sounds like a faster project than an OBW. OBW's are fun and fascinating, but I get so caught up in trying to make the "perfect" layout that it takes me forever. I'm thinking that with a Four Patch Posy, I could use sashing to separate the blocks and get more "mileage" from the medallion fabric, if that makes sense.

I played with my graphics program and randomly cut out some (digital) squares of the fabric. Here are some of the combinations. The individual squares would be about 4", and would be about a 7-1/2" block. What do y'all think? Thanks again for all the suggestions! :)

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Your fabric is beautiful. What would I do? I guess I'd do what you've been doing...just petting the fabric. haha Seriously, what you've done so far looks pretty cool.

Thanks! :) So far I haven't actually cut the fabric. I just took a photo of it and made digital examples of what the blocks would look like if I decide to use that pattern. :)

Ooooh ... I just had the idea that a kaleidoscope dresden plate could be awesome ... but I doubt I have enough horizontal repeats for that.

How about warm wishes. I am planning on using it for a large scale print my DD picked out.

Okay, I finally got up the nerve to cut the fabric. Yikes! :shock: Here are a few of the blocks I've made so far. :) I should've turned off the camera flash. The fabric looks a little "washed out" in this picture, but you can see the patterns. :) (I haven't ironed them yet, so pardon the wrinkles.)

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stunning fabric.

That is going to be a beautiful quilt:thumbup::thumbup:

This is going to be a gorgeous quilt. I can just picture it on a bed. Have fun with it. I love the 4-patch idea you are using. Also, congratulations that you got the courage to cut it.

How about a BQ3? The pictures on the pattern do NOT do it justice but it is cool made up, especially if you have a large print fabric that you want to showcase!

http://gobstock.com/bq3-pattern-from...FVQV7AodEi0AHQ

Kaleidescope comes to mind. Kaye Wood has a tutorial with Bethany (last name escapes me) on the pattern.

Your blocks look gorgeous!!! Perfect!!!:thumbup:

Beautiful fabric. I sure the day will come when you see the perfect pattern for the fabric. At least thats how it works for me.

I would stack and whack the biggest print one if I had enough repeats and make a kalediscope quilt. Then I would sash with the ball one and border with the other one. Whatever you decide you have got some beautiful fabric to work with. You can always make a D9P with it and do it on a larger scale to showcase the beautiful fabrics. Good luck!

Lots of fussy cutting and Jinny Beyer style soft curve piecing would be my solution. I think the material is glorious.

Your fabric is gorgeous.

Your 4 patch posies blocks are really beautiful. You can use the other fabric as the sashing and cornerstoners. I also woud use the medallion fabric as the outer border to show off where the inner blocks came from. Of course show us the finished quilt!!! It will be lovely!!!!

How about a BQ and fussy cut the big blocks.

I also have the same fabric and have been waiting for just the right pattern. Please be sure to post photos when you are done.

That fabric really is just too gorgeous!

Love #1 and #4, both of which have a kind of Arabian Nights look to me.

I'd probably chicken out and just use that medallion as a center panel and create coordinating blocks or borders around it. Gorgeous fabric, though! And whatever you do will be beautiful, I know.

What about a tablecloth and napkins? There is a book out that deals with large pattern prints..the name escapes me.