Need help creating a pattern
 

This is a photo of a stained glass panel in our sanctuary. As you can see, the glass pieces are not symmetrical. I'm trying to figure out how to create a quilting pattern for this keeping it as close as possible to the panel but I'm not sure that's possible. The grout between the glass pieces isn't always aligned straight across. I may have to just figure out a way to do this in blocks with the grout being straight. However, there are so many "creative" minds on this Board that I wanted to ask your advice first. Thank you for any suggestions. (I tried to resize the pic, but I think it's going to come on huge on this post.)

I think you might be able to get a fairly close replica if you do it in columns.

Maybe applique the colored glass shapes onto a black background?

It looks like appliqué might work best for this one. Love to see what you do with it

Maybe you could appliqué the colors on and then cut the black out of the backside so the white batting will show through better.

If you could download this then print on graph/grid paper that might help.

I would break it down on the gray lines... it could be pieced or paper pieced.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]534030[/ATTACH]

You can improvise piece it. Break it down into various size rectangles, squares and angled sections to sew together after each is completed. I would draw it out on graph paper first, then just dig in. That is the fun of improvisional piecing---you focus on your design and cut any size pieces to sew together and don't have to match any seams.

I would applique it personally, because none of the shapes are perfectly straight - lots of round edges.

Good luck!

I saw a neat technique where you would have your sheet of black fabric backed with fusible. The window shapes traced onto the fusible in reverse. Cut out the shapes leaving holes in your black fabric. Then lay the different colours of fabrics needed in behind the holes and fuse them to the back of the black piece. Once everything is fused together finish the edges of the holes on the black fabric with satin stitching or zig zag. This example is if you just use one solid piece of backing fabric but gives you a good idea of what I'm talking about. http://thesewingloftblog.com/how-to-reverse-applique/

Turned applique would be stunning. That way it would be easy to form the various shapes, and the quilt would have a refined finish. Reverse hand turned would even more exquisite!

How accessible is the panel? And how large?

Would it be possible to tape some freezer paper over the whole window, and then draw round the colour shapes? You could then cut out the colours using a craft knife, leaving the background intact. Iron the background paper to your background fabric. The holes in the template would let you place the colours exactly, and then aplique using your favoured technique.

This would give a finished product the same size as your window, if that's what you want.....

I would applique it too. Seems the easiest route if you want an exact replica. There would be a million seams if you paper pieced it, especially due to the rounded corners on those squares.

Wow ... this is exactly why I asked for your help. All great suggestions and various options to try. Can't thank you enough. I'm thinking I may take some of my scraps and play around with several methods to see what works best for my skill level before starting on the actual quilt. Thank you all!!! I had just looked at this picture so much, I couldn't figure out where to begin with creating a pattern.

Make yourself a pattern on a light box or draw up your own design, use adhesive backing and just put the pieces of glass design onto a black rectangle of fabric then do some straight sewing around each piece of glass.

Personally, I would probably try to make a straighter version of the stained glass. It looks like an old window & often with stained glass repair, the welding repair results in the metal frames becoming slightly larger. Over the years, it builds up creating an irregular shape.

I love all the ideas everyone here has suggested. One other option would be to do it reverse applique. I think a piece of black felted wool on the top with bright breezy batiks peeking through could well represent the stained glass & account for the irregular shapes. I agree with Lizzy that making a paper pattern & transferring that to your black fabric would help regardless of which method you use.

Or if she wanted a smaller or larger size - start with the traced pattern - and then it could be copied on a copier that has reduction or enlarging capabilities.

Are there any places that can copy really large things? I know some drafting/engineering/architectural types of places have copiers with fairly large capabilities.

It could still be dealt with in strips - see QuiltnNan's drawing - I think the reverse applique would give the most realistic effect.

What an exciting inspiration piece to try to replicate in fabric! Can't wait to see what you do with it, nor have any different suggestions to offer.

I agree with others here that suggest applique. I would do a black background then use steam a seam 2 then raw edge applique.

Applique would work, that way you could make the rows wider in places and narrower in others. In the areas you have to put white, you might look at silver. That way you get the shine and the light color, without the black showing under the white. Good luck and don't forget to post pictures.

Can you take a picture from the outside. So the sun is not shining thru? It might be easier to figure out without the glow??

I agree with QuiltinNan. Break it down into doable sections and connect them

I like Thimblebugs technique! And remember-it's ART. You don't have to match the window exactly.

If there is any way to get a "straight on" photo of the window, you could have it printed onto fabric at http://www.spoonflower.com and use it for reverse applique.

You could do a reverse applique with hand stitching. This a technique used in the "Molas" made in Central America. As for enlarging the pattern, I don't know unless you have a printer that you could cut the picture in smaller pieces and then print them enlarged on your printer. Or get an artist friend to grid the picture and draw it on a larger grid to get the larger size. Batik or hand dye fabric would give you the effect of light shining through.