Help creating a pattern
 

Hi all!!

My son, who is in Afghanistan, called me today! It's been rough him being over there, but he sometimes gets to call a couple times a month. I LOVE to hear his voice and talk to him about all things. Today, however, after chatting for a few minutes, said "Oh I thought of the perfect quilt you can make me! It's got the Hylian Shield and on the corners it has the Triforce!! Oh PLEASE tell me you can make me that!!" I was pleasantly surprised because he's shown little interest in my quilting thus far. Of course the first thing I had to do was Google both. http://www.heavenlyswords.com/produc...roductid=16404 and http://www.zeldawiki.org/Triforce. He LOVES (since he was 10 years old) The Legend of Zelda. In fact, before he deployed, he bought the GameBoy and the game so he'd have it to play while over there. lol! Okay so it makes sense to me that his dream quilt would be Zelda inspired.

HOWEVER, I am ONE MILLION PERCENT a follow a pattern girl. I have NO creativity in me whatsoever with regards to being able to create something like this. I have thought of applique, but even that I can't imagine. I've not even DONE applique yet. Can anyone please help me to create a pattern? He is HOPEFULLY going to be home for Christmas if his unit doesn't get extended, and I would LOVE to be able to have this for him.

Thanks all!!!!

Applique is really not that difficult if you do it with one of the many iron on products out there. Find a picture. Size it. Trace it. Cut out the pieces and then use a very tight zig zag stitch around it all.

I think I would keep this very simple. Get the shield blown up really big and use it as a center panel. You could add borders that were either pieced or plain being sure to end up with the triforce in all four corners.

This is totally possible even if you have never done applique.

Can you trace a line drawing of what he wants then take it too Office Max or a print shop and have them enlarge it to the size you want. not sure of the copyright laws but if for yourself (family) and you are not selling or putting in a quilt show I see no problems. You can also check the internet for " line drawing of (what ever)" and several usually show up.
You could do the enlarged pic as a "shadow" in black or a high contrast color to your background color. Good luck. Hope you get some other ideas.

OOPS! Lisa was a faster typer.

So there's not going to be an easy way to do this without applique right? So I'll do it applique, but I still would greatly appreciate design help. I found this http://protowing.deviantart.com/art/...hield-43930076 and will take it to the store to have it blown up. So then do I just go buy fabric to match colors and cut it out accordingly? But what kind of quilt would I put it on? I'm sorry guys, I'm just still so new to quilting and design is NOT my forte.

Pick a background color you think he would like and that looks nice with the colors of the shield. Cut the background fabric whatever size you want it to be. It could be square or a rectangle depending on the size of the quilt you want it to be. Buy fabric in the colors of the shield. You will use the picture to cut the pieces for the shield.

I'm pretty decent at applique and am confident you can do this. Feel free to PM me if you think I can help. I did a "custom" quilt for my son last year, too. I know how important these things are to a mom.

Depending on how large you are going with it...if large for a center focus I think I would iron on steam a seam or similar to fabric of choice.. If diff. colors trace each piece on the paper side of steam a seam or similar. Then iron each piece to the color of choice....VERY VERY carefully cut each section out and place as you would a puzzle..iron down and if a quilt, zig zag or satin stitch around each raw edge.... I am currently doing Snoopy Flying Ace for my son who will be deployed again to Afganisan in Jan or Feb. Snoopy is in the center and each corner has a different "shadow" of fighting men in the air, on the ground or planes and tanks....Everything else is kept as background so not too busy of fabric for that. For quilting I plan on clouds and shadow quilting around designs. Good luck and if you take your time you will be fine.....don't get too discouraged as he will love it no mater what you may think when finished....Bet you will love it to!

Yes, just buy fabric to match colors. Be careful of the brand of fusible you use. I personally would recommend Misty Fuse because it does not change the hand of the fabric.

Basically, decide on the background fabric. Buy fabrics to match the colors for the shield. Fuse Misty to the *wrong* side of the shield fabrics. (Use parchment paper to protect your iron and board.) I would then trace the shield onto freezer paper and iron the freezer paper to the *right* side of the shield fabric. Then I would cut freezer paper pattern and fused fabric out together with a good pair of scissors. Once you have all of the shield pieces cut out, remove the freezer paper, place them on the background fabric, and iron to secure them in place (again using parchment paper for protection).

Once everything is fused, you want to sew all the edges. You can zigzag around all of the edges, or straight stitch inside the edges (which will allow the edges to eventually fray with washing), or you can blind hem stitch around the edges. You can choose to use an invisible thread (I like YLI nylon monofilament), or you can use regular thread.

Alternatively, you can wait until the quilt is sandwiched and simply stitch around and/or over all of the applique edges as part of the quilting.

Google Misty Fuse and other fusibles to see some step-by-step pictures of how to fuse for quilting. If you don't use Misty Fuse (often only available online; I got mine from Amazon), my second-choice recommendation would be Steam-a-Seam Light (widely available in JoAnn's). Some fusibles cannot be stitched through, and some stiffen the applique fabric a lot; avoid those.

Prism glad you mentioned Misty Fuse.....,.my mind went blank and couldn't think of the name. I also like it better due to the softness it leaves in the fabric, especially for a quilt.
Think you explained it better...

Why not go to a LQS and ask for help there (for a fee) of course. They may be able to do the basic planning for you and show you how to complete it step by step. Sometimes stores have open sewing classes where you can bring any project you want and they will help you along through your project. If tackling this is to much for you it is worth a try.

good luck any way you choose and sending you a big huge hug and a thank you for your son.

peace to all

Okay, so do you think this would work? Only in the middle I'd leave it 'blank' and applique the shield there, and in the corners I'd do a block (or applique) the Triforce thing. Great idea to use the colors in the shield for the other colors. That WOULD be easy! Thank you guys SOOOOOOO much for your help! I am actually thinking I MAY be able to do this!! This pattern, with obviously my own colors..... and actually, maybe I WOULD use it with black... I don't know. http://www.connectingthreads.com/cfT...ations&isKit=1

Which kind of Misty Fuse would I get? There is a LOT!

I think the pattern you are looking at could work just fine. It should be pretty easy. HST are not that hard. I can see it with the shield in the center. Looks like you are off to a good start.

Kim -

I hope your quest is successful. I will be no help in that regard, but I wanted to pop in and ask you to say "Thank You" to your son for Kim and me.

Blessings,

Darren

The white Misty Fuse (pink package) would be fine. It doesn't show in the finished product anyway. The ultraviolet is more for archival quality/heirloom/museum quality stuff.

I think there are just 3 types: white, black, and ultraviolet (resists changes in color due to light exposure-- probably a good idea for wedding gowns so it doesn't yellow over time).

Aww thank you so very much!!!! I certainly will!!!

Okay pink it is!! Im going to get extra so I can practice. I cant believe the first time Im doing applique and its on (to me) a huge project. To be honest Id hoped to avoid it entirely. Lol. I saw on F&P the other night, that McKenna Ryan was on. Her method seemed totally do'able... I wonder if I could do this like that? I think I already deleted the show from my TiVo tbough.

Kim, the triforce would be easy to piece with equiltateral triangles, I think the block pattern would be called pyramid, with the picture of the shield-applique would probably be the easiest. But if you want to piece something Make a grid over a copy of the shield to see where you would want to make your templates for piecing and add 1/4 inch around each piece for your seam. If you have a quilt shop near they may be able to guide you or give your some individual lessons.

May I interject a thought here? A quilt may be a bit bulky for him to take back with him after R&R. If you want to wait til Christmas to give it to him, consider mailing it to his APO while he is still here so he doesn't have so long to wait for it when he returns to base.

Then again, it can get quite cold early in Afghanistan and he might be really happy to have it before Christmas! A wool batting would help to make it both light and comfortable in many seasons. I use my quilt every night even when the temps are 76 in the cottage. Sometimes the guys roll their quilts for a pillow; wool batting would work well for this purpose, too, as it's, again, lighter weight and easier folded/rolled.

Have fun with this, he'll be ecstatic!

Jan in VA

I'm not able to help you with your project, but just want you to say "Thank you" to your son for his service.

Just remember to make the blue background of the shield big enough so your outside decoration will go over it with it underneath

This one looks appliqued on whole cloth. http://www.ign.com/blogs/-vashts/200...my-zelda-quilt

How about using fabric paint to copy the design of the shield on some heavy cotton, then use that square as the center panel of a quilt. The tri force is simple.