I'm blocked! ;)
 

What do you do when you have the fabric but can't decide on a quilt pattern? I bought several pinks and greens from the Rue 1800 collection (3 Sisters by Moda), an ivory and soft pink dot for a background, and their gorgeous, tone on tone pink floral for the backing. It's for a baby quilt and I want a lot of the background color in the pattern. How do you decide?

You keep the fabric in sight and wait for inspiration.

If you have a specific baby in mind, think of what the parents' tastes are. Also, what patterns do you like to do - fpp, applique, asymmetrical, on-point? You could also check out pinterest to get some ideas. Moda Fabric website has free patterns that might inspire you.

This is a tough one for sure. I have hit this road block on many occasions. I have taken a small piece of the fabrics with me going out to the LQS or JAF. I thumb through so many quilting magazines that I could go blind from looking and I use our site at https://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html for other block inspirations. I love to thumb through the different blocks. Bamm! that is where I usually find just the right block and the rest just seems to flow. When it hits me there is no stopping me. The last such inspiration for me was the Depression block and it made a beautiful baby quilt. It will come to you. When it does you will sew night and day to finish this special baby quilt.

Pinterest? That's funny! I've been scouring Pinterest for months...there are millions of quilt ideas and maybe that's my problem? I've been making quilts for many years (not a lot of them, only for family and friend's babies), and now that I've discovered Pinterest, I'm overwhelmed! You have hit on some of my issues, though...I cannot do random or asymmetrical so a pattern must be balanced to appeal to me and I prefer linear patterns. I have a wallpaper sample from the baby's room so that's where the color inspiration came from and her mom suggested vintage florals/pastels...I may have strayed a bit, colorwise, so that's why I want lots of the ivory background color to keep it soft. Thanks for your suggestions!

I'm in Howell, Michigan! Thanks for posting...when I do figure it out, I will definitely be sewing day and night...she's over a month old already! Covid put the brakes on fabric shopping!

I get online and start looking through images. Something usually inspires me.

~ C

ummm…..I am thinking a simple traditional block quilt would look great. even a simple half square triangle block stitched together in rows where one of your focus fabrics is paired with the background fabric in each block. Would be simple...but cute!

Hiya Marcie, I'm not from Michigan but before he moved out here to Seattle to be with me, Hubby grew up in the Grand Rapids area. It's funny that for the last couple of years one of the on-line shops I go to is the small Michigan chain of Fields Fabrics.

If I'm understanding modern baby care, "they" don't want anything in the crib under age one, wrap the baby in a sleeper and call it good so you do have a little bit of grace time for your project.

I do drape my fabric in my living spaces until it speaks to me... to be stationary in my house means you eventual get covered with fabric just like moss in a rain forest.

I can understand getting overwhelmed, you might try doing a search on "3 yard quilt patterns" (or 5), and see if anything like that speaks to you. We can help you size it for baby if you find something you like.

This is why I normally only buy for projects vs having a 'stash'. I would have zero clue as to how to go from fabric to quilt pattern but I can easily go from pattern to fabric, lol. Plus I have no room to store anything.

I usually go to Pinterest and get some inspiration. Also, MSQC and Jordan's Fabrics have a lot of free tutorials that may give you some ideas. You could decide on an easy pattern and with your beautiful fabrics you could make it very gorgeous. Good luck on your decision.

Funny...the baby, who is my great-granddaughter, lives in Allendale! Her mom, my eldest granddaughter, went to Grand Valley! You're right, until she's older, the quilt is for decor or tummy time!

See if this quilt speaks to you: https://youtu.be/cvPX4M6_j1Q

When you said lots of background and vintage look this is what I thought of. Bonus - it’s really easy!

Start looking at patterns online. There are more than you could ever make in a lifetime!

Marcie Stone, I'm in Plymouth, MI just a bit south of you to the east. Look at Missouri Star Quilt Company videos. I've found patterns there that are free.

You could use those half sq triangles and make pinwheels. I was asked to make a pinwheel quilt when my little grand daughter turned one.... a queen size! -lol-I made the Pinwheels large because the quilt was large. She is using it on her trunnel bed and she is now 7 years old. Mom loves the simplicity of the Pinwheel and reminds grand daughter of the Spinners you blow on, forget just what they are called.https://www.quiltingboard.com/member...107-622252.jpg

That's pretty! Might be a little too much background than I'm looking for...thanks for helping!

That's a good balance of light and dark! I know I'm going to sound a little crazy but, I've already made a pinwheel quilt and I try to make something new each time. Thanks for helping!

Hi neighbor! We lived in and around the Northville/Plymouth area for years! Thanks for helping!

I don't buy fabric unless I have project in mind...that said, I've been sewing for 60 years so I have a "stash" of leftover bits and pieces that I usually go into to incorporate a piece of old in any new quilt! As far as storage...it's all in tubs in the basement which makes it a challenge to find anything. I love to admire the sewing rooms on Pinterest where all the fabric is neatly stored on shelves and color coordinated...a girl can dream, right?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/338684834483202454/

Trying to post a link...did it work?

Good! Thinking about this one but picture it in pinks, greens, and ivory. What say you?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/338684834482736594/

Loving this one, too...would it work in only pinks, greens, and ivory?

Have you made a Ribbon Box quilt yet? You'd get a nice showing of both background and the pretty pinks and greens you have:

https://cloud9fabrics.com/wp-content...nBoxQuilt1.pdf

I do like this one and no, I've never done one. Trying to figure out how to make it smaller...leave off some rows? I'll study it some more. Thanks for the suggestion!

When my first daughter was born my husband's aunt made a baby quilt with small dresdan plate blocks for the quilt. It was very sweet and when my daughter left home she took it with her. She's married now and still has it either on a guess bed at the foot of the bed or in the living room for a lap quilt.

I'd love to see that fabric in French Roses, but I don't think I'd like the shaggy edges for a baby. Warm Wishes? Simple, but will showcase the fabrics.

The fabric designers have quilts made in their new fabric lines. Viewing the quilts may give you inspiration. I think I googled the fabric line and it takes you to a Look Book that shows off the quilts. good luck

Every kaleidoscope quilt I make looks so different, even though I use the same pattern.
Here is a sample. Also included heart quilt made for daughter.

I will be watching this thread to see what you decide. I have another granddaughter due in late January and I've already purchased a layer cake and some yardage from the Rue 1800 collection to make a quilt for her. It is such soft, classic and beautiful fabric! I haven't decided on a pattern either but was thinking it should be something somewhat "old fashioned" style to go with the fabrics. I love the 2nd Pinterest one you posted above (sawtooth star/puss in corner) and might consider that. I can't wait to see what you decide - and the finished product! - as it might be a while before I get to make mine. Good luck on your search!

I've been under the weather the last few days but feeling better now. Thanks for the helpful suggestions...this is why I love message boards and can't believe it took me so long to find this one!

I didn't purchase the entire range of fabrics in the Rue 1800 because my GD nixed the grays, so I bought fat quarters in 4 of the small pink florals and 4 of the green plus yardage of an ivory with tiny soft pink dots (Essential Dots by Moda) and yardage of the gorgeous tone on tone pink floral for the backing. Additionally, I have a few fabrics leftover from projects that I may use. I tried to figure out how to make that second quilt pattern work with my limited palette (pinks, greens, ivory) and I was having a hard time...mainly because I have a really difficult (if not impossible) time doing random placement! I like symmetry and order! Can I pick your brain? Do you think it would look good if I did all the sawtooth stars in the pinks and all the 9 patch in greens? And if I did that, should the border triangles still be pink? That's what I would prefer but I'm worried the whole quilt would read too much pink. Thanks for helping!

I've always loved dresden plate quilts but they just seem too difficult! I'm not the most experienced (or adventurous) quilter so if it's not straight lines, I usually don't attempt it! Thanks for the suggestion, though!

Both are pretty! Those French Roses are gorgeous and I'd love to make her a quilt with French anything because it's their last name but I agree, probably not a good idea for a baby. I think I might make a little French braid doll quilt for her, though!

Beautiful work!!! You are a very talented quilter!

This one has been on my mind a lot! It really appeals to me but as I only do straight line machine quilting, I don't know how to approach that aspect of the project...would you simply follow the shape of each triangle then carry that line of stitching into the border? I'm considering eliminating the wide border and only doing the "banners" with the narrow border...? I love the idea of also doing an actual banner to hang in her room!

Sorry for the delay in answering. I was working and wanted to take the time to google the specific fabrics to try to picture your vision before answering. I think that would be beautiful (pink stars, green "between" blocks) and I don't think it would be too much pink if you used pink in the edges. I think all the background plus the greens would break it up enough to give contrast, and it would be soft and very pretty. But I see from subsequent posts that you are considering the banner one instead. Either will be gorgeous, and I can't wait to see what you do with it!

I did choose the banner quilt pattern! It will be a challenge because of all the bias edges so I hope I don't regret it! I'm changing it up a bit, though...instead of a dark border, mine will probably be the ivory/pink dots and the narrow borders will cross at the corners forming cornerstones.

UPDATE: I used the ivory/pink dots for the wide border and HATED IT! I was too blah. Additionally, I used some fabric I already had for the narrow borders and hated that, too! I had the top done, then just layed it out and walked away...I kept going back to look at it hoping it would grow on me but, nope, still hate it! Back to the quilt shop for 2 more Rue 1800 fabrics and back to work. Oh, and that fabric I already had...my "cheap" fabric was so not up to par with the Moda fabrics, not even close!