I posted a while ago that DH suggested I make a quilt for his aunt out of this fabric line.
http://www.marcusfabrics.com/cgi-bin...6&View=All&v=1

Waited for them to post a pattern using the fabric. It's just too big. I'd had a lap or at best twin size in mind.
http://www.marcusfabrics.com/makeit/...ide_summer.pdf


I'd like to incorporate all of the fabrics except for the last 4 shown. I'd like to focus on the hydrangeas and the blue shells and use the border fabric in some way. Maybe the lighthouses too. Given the size of these elements, I'd probably have to fussy cut them at 6" square.

Any suggestions as to a pattern style that might work? (Am doing OK picking fabric for a pattern but a total newbie at picking a pattern for the fabric.)

Or would it be possible to make this more rectangular lengthwise by resizing the borders and removing one length of blocks on the right and the left?

TIA

I would make the pattern designed for the line. I like square quilts.

Why exclude that stripe? It's fabulous!

I would resize the blocks, but leave it square. If you want it more rectangle, add a row at the top and bottom. It wouldn't look as nice if you leave off the side rows. You would loose the diamond effect with the yellow triangle points.

I would use the fabrics you like and use that pattern. Possibly just the center section and border it with the fabric of your choice. You never have to follow a pattern exactly as shown. Make it the size you want. then bot you and your DH will be happy. I'm sure your DHs Aunt will love it, too.

Love the fabric and the pattern. As Tropical said just use the center and then small borders.

mltquilt

How about disappearing 9 patch? That highlights pretty fussy cuts nicely and is much easier than it looks.
Nell

I quite like the pattern, but you could tweak it to customise it to your own taste and size requirements I too like the stripe and think it could add a bit of zing. One thing I find a little puzzling....what have hydrangeas got to do with a seaside theme? If it were me, I would probably leave the hydrangeas out...but maybe I am just being peculiar.

Anyway, let us know how you get on...the fabrics are lovely and as you know ....we love pics. Look forward to seeing what you come up with - happy quilting.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will look at modifying the pattern. And also at the disappearing 9 patch. I think that might be a really good choice to highlight what I want to in this quilt. The border stripe will definitely be included since I love that fabric.

Earthwalker - re: the hydrangeas - don't disagree with your thoughts. But DH's aunt lives two blocks from the ocean and her house is surrounded by hydrangeas, which are her favorite flowers. So this was perfect for her.

Seems like this fabric line was put together just for your husband's aunt. It's going to knock her socks off when you give it to her.

I would maybe just do the center of the quilt with one border of the striped fabric and one of the blue. That will make it considerably smaller, and should look just fine. You never have to follow a pattern exactly, and you can always just do what you want to your taste. It should look beautiful any way you do it...I like those fabrics a lot!!

Thanks everybody!!

Another "By the Sea" Quilt Pattern and Question
 

Hi! I hope your quilt worked out well. The link to the exact pattern your doing is no longer working but it sounds very pretty with the hydrangeas. I love this R22 line. I'm a newbie quilter making a gift quilt with it for my sister to use at her lovely beach home and I'm hoping to get some opinions on that outer border fabric (2792-0150 pictured here).
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This fabric has approx. a 7" repeat so I only get to cut once and my pattern calls for a 6 1/2" fussy cut strip. Here is a link to the pattern for a visual: http://www.marcusfabrics.com/cgi-bin...i?patternID=59. I'm thinking of omitting that thin seaweed strip and just centering the beautiful wide shell strip in that 6 1/2" span. I think that will be easier to fussy cut (fussy cutting scares me and is why my project is at a standstill LOL!), but mainly I'm thinking the shell strip will be more of a focus point and that way and there will be less white space because to me it looks somehow off balance. Any thoughts on that? I keep laying it out and trying to determine what to do, wanting to get all the beauty of this theme that I can, but knowing I can only cut once.

Me again, after laying it all out together, I decided to keep the seaweed strip. It actually looks good! (can't go wrong with such a pretty line of fabrics) I'm just going to cut each strip as wide as I can get to make more white space on each side of the wide strip. Hopefully what I'm picturing will work and it will just be slightly bigger than the quilt in the picture. But, however it turns out will be fine, I've just got to take the plunge and cut!