Panels
 

When you sew up a panel do you just sandwich it and quilt or do you add to it first?

ive got a few Christmas panels I want to do, one of them as a gift so I want to do it the most popular way.

I think it's up to the individual what they do with it. I've seen some really nice panels that were just quilted up as is and some really nice ones added to. I think it depends too on what size you might want it to finish to, or if you want to hang it or use as a throw or a spread.

I don't buy panels unless they are for kids quilts that I donate to foster kids in my county. I usually add borders to make them a usable size and finish like all quilts.

I add to my panels. Quite a bit for large lap quilts, a little for wall hangings.

Our guild is doing a panel challenge this year. Each of us got a panel and will embellish it as we wish. I plan to add some applique to mine, but I did consider turning it into a convergence quilt (see rickytims.com)

I make mine into lap quilts by adding to it. But I can see if it's a nice Christmas panel, you could just quilt it up as a wonderful wall hanging. Even add a little sparkle in embellishments.

Depends on the panel, the use, the recipient, everyone is different.
sometimes I cut panels apart and use them in a quilt, sometimes I cut out the motifs and appliqué. Sometimes I add a border or two, sometimes i incorporate into blocks or surround by blocks. Sometimes I want that panel to be the starting Point for a queen or king size quilt. Sometimes it stands on its own and just gets quilted. Each panel is different.

The panel is usually a beginning for me. Depending on the size of quilt I want, I add to it until I get the size I want. You can be as creative as you want or keep it simple. Enjoy the process.

I always add - but so far have not had a panel that was big enough for what I wanted. I don't think there is a "popular" way to do them, and if there is, it will be something different next year.

My favorite is to cut them apart and use them that way, like a paned window, or a diagonal trellis pattern.

Most panels are only 22"x42". That may be fine for a wall hanging, but if it's going to be a quilt I add either more blocks and borders, or just several borders. I do make up panels as lap quilts or children's quilts to donate (small quilts), but they still need some "enlarging" from just the panel itself.

I will be watching this thread as I have a Call of the Wild panel to make for my grandson and I have never used panels before so I will anxiously be reading what everyone suggests. Any help will be considered.

Some of the panels that I have used have been specially bought for a purpose..some Christmas ones have been for gifts as wall hangings and others have been for baby quilts and on those I have added borders to make them at least 45" x 54". I have quilted the Christmas ones by outlining the designs in silver or gold thread and the baby ones edge to edge on the longarm.

My first panel effort
 

I'm not much for posting unfinished items, but this is relevant to the discussion. I simply fell in love with this panel and had to do something with it. After hanging it in my studio since May, I decided to encase it in blocks. I haven't quilted it yet, but will do that very soon. My first experience with a panel was that it takes a while to decide what your particular panel should become and that once that is done, it is a nice way to create something different and interesting.

There is a panel section in our quilt gallery. https://www.quiltingboard.com/member...bums18180.html

Panel made the simplest way!
 

This Halloween Panel was fun and fast. I didn't add borders because I liked the size for a wall hanging. I had fun using decorative stitches and adding embellishments. Have fun making your projects and explore the many ways you can change the look and size of a panel quilt/wall-hanging.

Go to Jordan Fabric and watch her video on her Panel wall hanging I made several and they are really pretty, and pretty easy to make.