Hello there,

Sorry I've been gone, I was on vacation in San Diego and Mexico. But I'm back and on to my next quilting project.

So I'm making a baby quilt for a friend of mine who is having a baby girl. She doesn't like the traditional pink and cute type of thing. So I eneded up going to local quilt shop hoping to get a better selection of fabric. First of all the prices per yard made me want to bolt screaming from the place...but the fabric WAS very nice and I ended up finding some I really liked.

The down side was...they no longer had it on the bolt...it was all precut and put together in kits. So I ended up buying a kit that came with 11 different fabrics cut into 7 inch squares - 6 pieces per fabric, it also came with the binding.

So my question is, anyone have a quilt pattern that might make it more intersting than a regular square quilt? And also...there wasn't any ditinquishing marks on the fabric, but if I posted a pic think someone might know where I could get fabric for the backing?

Sorry for the long post, and as always...thanks for your help!
:D

Ohh I found the group of fabric, I found the info on the edge of the binding. It's a Sandy Gervais collection for Moda Fabrics, called "Object of Desire". So I'm off to google that to find fabric for the backing. :)

If we could see the material, then we could maybe suggest a pattern for you. Lace

Here's the fabric. :)

I think I would at least turn it into half square triangles and then do some thing with them. It'll make the quilt a little smaller but the baby probably won't notice.

Michael, I don't have suggestions for this quilt sorry.

But for next time here are fabric line sites that have complete patterns all free in Pdf format. You might get some ideas even for this quilt, I love the colors.

They are great they have easy patterns to intermediate, none are difficult. I have a great little tic tac toe pattern I used, I was trying to find it online no luck so far. I als0 did a pinwheel with half square triangles that was easy. Most of the fabric sites that carry lines under their fabric, have free patterns.
http://www.andoverfabrics.com/QuiltD...iltDesigns.asp
http://www.wilmingtonprints.com/projects.aspx

I don't have a suggestion, but I do love the colors. They are so bright and cheerful. Good luck.

How about pinwheels?

That particular line of fabric also had a panel that is very cute. I actually bought a kit of that same fabric at the Oklahoma City Quilt Show Last Summer. I just love it mostly because I love shoes! LOL

I just went to eBay and searched 'Moda objects of desire' and quite a few pieces came up including jelly rolls, honey buns, and layer cakes.

Half square triangles or 9 patches with white for sashing would make a pretty quilt.

What about D9P? With a border of half square triangles?

Pinwheels is a good idea. I'm not big into scrappy quilt, even controlled scrappy. So I would pick two or three of my favorite from the group and order more, so I could use it in a lot more ways. I would use the other squares (or some of them anyhow) for accents.

It is a beautiful collection, so whatever you do will be great. Make sure to show us when you finish!

Pinwheels would be bright & cheery with those fabrics

Here is a site for free baby quilt patterns, maybe you can find something on here.
http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/Qu...ltPatterns.htm

Hi Mike,
Try here at the moda bake shop. It has many many patterns that are cute from thier fabrics.

http://www.modabakeshop.com/

This one is really adorable and the newest thing for baby quilts....
http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/09/...and-block.html

Hi,
I love the colors in there! try this for a suggestion on how to make a quilt of the pieces
www.about.com/quilt

They have a database of thousands of free blocks and free quilt patterns - several identified as 'for baby'.

I use this site whenever I need inspiration or a tutorial on how to do something correctly.
casa2manana
(aka Vicky :D )

how about some scrappy hearts or simple heart applique blocks?

Hi Mike,
I love this one - not sure what size you want but perhaps this one would work....You could always add more squares to make it bigger....I love the concept and it seems that it would be a really fast one to make up!
Bill

http://schoolgirlsamplers.com/pdftut...peedyBaby2.pdf

YOu could alternate them as is,or in 9 patches or pnwheels with squares of a backgroud (perhaps white) with applique on them? Lots of cute free appliques on the web

I agree, a nine patch would be nice

I think a disappearing 9-patch would be cute, too. It would give it a fun, scrappy look!

I have made several "just square" quilts BUT....I use different textures of fabric and different amounts of quilting in the boxes so the baby can feel the textures. I also use black and white binding as that is the first thing the baby can see. I also make it a bit smaller than the usual size so that the baby can carry it when they get to be a bit older. My granddaughter loves to fold her own blankie and carry it under her arm! Any baby quilt made with love is a winner! (I also quilt a card that matches the baby quilt for writing welcome wishes to the child. Get the photo cards you slip a photo into but place a matching quilted piece in it instead of a photo. It makes it even more special.)

I would make it a picture quilt of people and places that will soon be a part of the babies life. Using the fabric you purchased to outline the photographes and applique shapes to add charm.

I'm not sure what the pattern is called, but I once made a baby quilt by stacking one block of each fabric on top of the other then cutting in half and putting one of the top pieces on the bottom, sewing the blocks back together, then cutting them in half again in a different direction, and putting one of the top pieces on the bottom again, repeating, I think I made four cuts total but you could do more or less if you want. It ended up being absolutely beautiful. Very bright and colorful for the baby. Please let us see what you decide to do.
T

Hanky Panky might be an option

I agree, the disappearing 9 patch would be perfect for those colours. I have made a few and they all look different, and it is so fast and easy to complete!

What's Hanky Panky?

I have made flannel rag quilts for baby shower gifts. The quilt will be approximately 40x36 inches. I recommend washing the flannel before you begin but it's not necessary. You will need one yard of two fabrics and one and one-half yard of a third fabric; cut this piece into a one yard piece; the other half of yard will be used for the binding. Place the backing fabric right side down (use a cute pattern for the backing fabric). Next, layer the middle fabric and top fabric right side up (although the middle fabric can be up or down). Smoothe and straighten the fabric as best you can and pin. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. You will be sewing on that line (using a short stitch length) and 1/2 inch out on each side until you reach the end. I usually sew a few rows on one side, then switch sides and straigten out the fabric as best I can. After the 3 layers of fabric have been sewn together with many diagnonal lines, square up the quilt as best you can. Next, cut the top two layers of the fabric between the stitched rows (if you are using a cute fabric on the back or top - take this into consideration when cutting so that you do not cut that fabric.) There is a chenile rotary cutter which can be used for this (and that is why a short stitch lenghth is important) or you can use sewing shears. After all of the cutting has been done, sew on the binding using your favorite method. You can sew a basting stitch around the edges before binding it. The last step is to wash the quilt which will help to "rag" it. There will be a lot of lint when you wash it.

triangles into pinwheels would be cute...or how about doing something with strips in some squares, and pinwheels? Just a thought..

I just did a baby quilt in disappearing nine patch. Used bright colors, green and orange fabric, focus fabric was a blue background with blocks that had green and orange. I was very happy with the results. Will be using orange minky on the back and binding with a stripe cut on the bias. This might work with your fabrics, would be bright and scrappy.

You could use the squares and frame them with chenille or minkee in bright colors.

Check the Pattern Basket, cute quilts.
http://www.thepatternbasket.com/item...-Drops-NEW.htm

Good Luck, your fabrics are awesome!

Rosa

beautiful colors, make sure you post when your done. Penny

i was going to suggest pinwheels but i see quiltmania beat me to it so i guess i will second that idea

What about try9ing a disappearing 9 patch? They are lots of fun, and it would give a whole different look to that collection.

snowball blocks with 4 patches would be really cute too! they go together nicely.

The colors are so wondefully bright and fun, why don't you make it easy on yourself, and just go with the half square triangles, as suggested. That should break up the plain squares enough. And if you quilt it in a way to divide the triangles up further, it'll have the effect of more piecing as well.
Make sure to post a pic when you're done!

I am in the process of hand quilting baby quilts that I'm making for my twin granddaughters. I did the D9P, and sewed the resulting squares together randomly and then appliqued a squirrel, a bird, a butterfly, a lady bug, a bee,etc. onto the squares, also randomly, and a worm crawling from one square onto the rectangle next to it, and one heart laying partially over another one in a square to signify the fact that they are twins. The applique had to be done after the quilt was put together, as I didn't know which side of the square would be toward the top until I sewed it together. I am quilting those 'doodling flowers' we all do with a pen or pencil while on hold on the phone...in the empty squares, and for want of something else and needing a quick free form pattern, I'm doing a backward S in the rectangles. I plan to do a rambling line with random flowers and leaves in the borders, and one flower in each corner. I really like doing things 'cady wampus' when I hand quilt. That way I don't have to obsess over keeping things even. Oh yes, I did an outline quilting around each insect or animal in their squares. My working title of the quilts is
"Things found in my back yard"
I'm sorry this is soooo long, but it might give someone ideas of what to do. I didn't like the traditional girl's quilts. the ones for boys with cars, trucks, and trains are more fun. I also don't do "Baby quilts," I do "Kids quilts" as the children will grow into the quilt rather than pass it by as they grow older.

Pinwheels or disappearing 9-patch would be cute. Or you could add a solid color sashing between the blocks. That always looks nice.

Here's a great link for fabric searches. Desperate Quilter has some of that line for $5.99/yd.

http://search.myquiltshops.com/cgi-s...&displaymode=2

What about this?

http://www.thepatternbasket.com/item...quares-NEW.htm