My niece thinks she may want me to make a quilt for her done all in neutrals - cream, ivory, vanilla, tan, beige...

She wants a well-made classic she can use in any setting, and hand down to her daughter some day.

With all the combined talent on this board, I just know a bunch of you can give me advice on what pattern to use. Please?!?

I did one using the courthouse steps (a log cabin variation).
It was one of my first quilt but I love it.

I like sampler quilts, wondering about making one, using neutral colors, maybe 6 or 8 total different colors...like 1 each of a tan, cream, beige, black, brown, gray, and maybe 1 fabric that incorporates all of the other neutrals you use...I think any quilt pattern could be adapted to neutrals...I bet it would be really pretty...uh-oh, you have almost talked me into it..if only didn't have so many ufo's as it is...lol...

I have seen a few quilts done in neutrals that were really beautiful. I just googled neutral quilts - here are few I came up with.

http://sewsisters.blogspot.com/2009/...-of-month.html
http://floribunda.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html
http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/sto...3&Item_ID=1013

Why not Double Wedding Ring? And don't be afraid to incorporate some darks, like chocolate brown.

All have beautiful patterns. Log the log cabin.

I saw a pretty pattern on Sue Hausman's America Quilts Creatively.
Here is the link:
http://usaapp.husqvarnaviking.com/education/pdf/911.pdf

When I saw this episode, I wanted to make this quilt for my bedroom.
Guess what--still haven't gotten it made!!

Hope this helps.

Chris

I made this one using the Alex Anderson book for neutrals. I am surprised at how much I love it. I was all made from my BIG stash.

All neutrals can be very understatedly gorgeously elegant. Does she just want the pale neutrals or will she let you also use the darker shades as well? Either way I'm sure you will find the perfect setting.

I think a log cabin with very light neutrals/creams on one side and medium tones on the other would make a beautiful quilt. I would also consider doing a curved version like the one in this link:
http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item--i-BU-CRLC

If you want, there are lots of different arrangement for long cabins. Here is a link with some possibilities:
http://www.straw.com/equilters/libra...bin_part4.html

Whatever you choose, it will be beautiful! Please post a pic when you finish.

Oh wow, I LOOOOOVE this one! That would be a great way to participate in the block-of-the-month challenges, and end up with something that's beautiful, cohesive, and fun to look at.

Thanks for all the great links everyone is posting... I'm enjoying all the ideas! I have some neutral star blocks from an abandoned wedding present I started making years ago, and they just bore me. No contrast. I have been trying to figure out what to do with them.

Pat Wys just published a book - Spotlight on Neutrals. There's more info on her blog - Silver Thimble Talk

I agree a neutrals quilt can be very elegant especially with Many pieces and shades. A pineapple pattern could add some pizzazz to the log cabin idea, but whatever you choose I think a multipiece pattern is the key to the timelessness and elegance that will make it heirloom quality.

How fun to get up this morning and see the beautiful things you ladies have found for me. I guess I am right on target, because the patterns I have considered so far are some type of log cabin, something with stars, drunkard's path arranged in a wedding ring-ish style, or a sampler!

Your messages have helped me to see that any of those would be beautiful!

Heck, if my niece decides she wants something else, I just may have to make a neutral quilt for myself someday when I have the time and money!

Thanks for all the ideas.

I love neutral quilts. It surprises me because I also love lots of color but the soothing nature of more neutral quilts appeals to me in a different way.

The beauty of a neutrals quilt is that it goes with everything... well duh, it is neutral! Now you've got me thinking about making my avatar quilt in neutrals. I've probably got enough in my stash...I think this could work!

This is something my DD would love, BUT it is not me. Don't get me wrong, I think they look beautiful, but :?: I have yet to make her a quilt :cry: (each of her three kids have at least 2 quilts from me).

I will keep a eye on this post to see if something will inspire me to make her a quilt.

You might check out Alex Anderson's book "Neutral Essentials", maybe see if your library has it. THAT should give you a lot of inspiration! One thing I definitely learned from that book - you HAVE to have white in a neutral quilt to make it sparkle. Alex shows an example of 2 neutral tops, one with white and one without. It does make a difference. Anyway, I highly recommend you look at her book.

http://www.amazon.com/Neutral-Essent...5149516&sr=8-6

You need to ask if she considers a darker tan or a light brown in her spectrum of neutrals. I would definitely not consider those colors with the information you gave. Light neutrals and darker neutrals are different animals. Both are attractive but are definitely different and you need to know what she is thinking. If she is ok with the contrast that darker neutrals present then that will make one kind of quilt. If she wants a neutral quilt that has very light color variations that are almost shadows of each other, almost like the nap differences in velvet then that is another type of quilt altogether. I think that you need to get more specific information from her. It would be a shame to make a quilt based on what you think she wants instead of what she actually has visualized receiving from you. The more specific information you receive the empowered you become.

That is all great advice. You are so right about an all neutral quilt having many different looks! She lives across the country from me, and so far we have viewed web sites, looked at the same magazines at newsstands, and I have even mailed her a few books to look at.

Once we get closer to the real decision, she is going to the local paint store. I told her to pick out no less than 30 paint chips that she likes so I have a good feel what colors to use. And, yup, I have asked her if her idea of neutrals includes brown, gray, maybe even soft green or blue if she starts to waver on the all neutral idea.

It is going to be an adventure if we can ever get focused on a final choice!

I know and love that book. I showed it to my niece and that is actually what started this whole thing.

Thanks for the tip!

Here is another Alex Anderson pattern you might like. I've had it for several years while still collecting neutrals. I hope to start on it next year.

http://www.jwdpublishing.com/pattern...ch-in-neutrals

http://www.davidtextilesinc.com/Quil...spx?quiltid=13

David textiles has a pretty neutral pdf I have saved.

I saw a Yellow Brick Road pattern done in neutrals once. It was stunning!

HUNTERS STAR :thumbup: