Please don't let me get this one wrong!
 

Im thrilled but terrified that I've been asked to make a traditional Scottish quilt for a lady in Texas. A bit of me is wondering if the world has gone mad. Texans order quilts in Texas not Scotland! The quilt is for an awesome lady as a birthday gift from her daughter-in-law. The lady in question has a strong Christian faith so I'm looking for a block which may resonate with her. Has anyone got any ideas? There will of course be tartan in the quilt. Would cathedral window work with tartan?

Hi.....being from Texas, i can state with some assurance....ya just never know what we'll think of next !! :D If you google "Bible Quilt Blocks Free Patterns" there are web sites with a quite few there - like Jacob's Ladder, Crown of Thorns, Fish.....There are LOTS out there....perhaps the tartan (does their family have one?? I'm a Hunter and a Ferguson myself) could be in the sashing between the blocks....or in a block between the blocks.
Best of good luck with your quilt !!!

We do have some members that live in Scotland. I have Scottish ancestry since my Grandmother was born in Scotland but I would have NO IDEA what you should make. You need to get additional information from your client just so that you can be assured you are making what the birthday lady would enjoy having. As Penni F mentioned, there are many common blocks in quilting that have Biblical connections. Do you have EQ to design an outline of the quilt you will make?? Visual aids always help with people who are not quilters. Someone displayed a quilt here on this site. I made my own version of that quilt with some changes. Not sure what the original name was, something Cross. Here is the basic design with some changes I made. Good Luck.

I'm not sure what a "traditional" Scottish quilt would look like, unless you mean using traditional blocks? A few years back I made one with the church yard, sheep and thistles...here's a link, maybe something on it will give you a few more ideas. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...d-t130020.html

These are two very different but equally lovely quilts. I don't use any programmes when I plan a quilt. Lol it's usually as I'm falling asleep that I get a flash of inspiration. Sometimes I get up and jot something down, other times I don't and kick myself at breakfast because I can't remember what it was I'd though of. I know my Granny, a seamstress, made utility quilts from old clothes etc, as many people did in days gone by, but I really don't think there is such a thing as any particular traditional Scottish quilt per se, I think the lady in question is referring more to fabric than design. Is it okay to 'borrow' elements from either of these quilts? Thank you

Do you know the family crest and tartan?

I'm making a family crest quilt for my husband. He wants to take it hunting, so I'm making it durable and heavy. It's his family crest appliqued on wholecloth, aka a 54" wide piece of denim. The family name will go above the crest once I print the letters big enough. :)

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Originally I was going to sew the tartan around the border, but when he said he wanted to take it hunting, I started rethinking that idea. The tartan wool is expensive and not machine washable, so not a very practical choice.

Why not look at some of Robbie Burns poems. One may give you inspiration.

Hi Sheilz, I would ask specific questions as to what kind of religious items the lady wants, my family live inTexas and their idea of religious is very different now from what it was in Scotland. Don't want to offend anyone, but might be better to ask?

Gaelic (<wbr>Gael-tech / Celtic) culture still survives strongly in Ireland, Wales, Scotland. Any Celtic knot design would be perfect for a "Scottish" quilt.

Also check out "quilts from Scotland" in google images: https://www.google.com/search?site=&.....5362.12355.0

Here are some Celtic cross images: https://www.google.com/search?q=celt...g&ved=0CB0QsAQ

Jan in VA

The ladies husband is a pastor - Evangelical? She is also a talented musician and described as having a bubbly jolly personality. She is in her mid 50s

I agree with Jan. I think a celtic knot pattern would be great. Maybe you can find some musical fabric for the backing and quilt circles of different sizes around the outside border to represent her bubbly personality.

I always wondered if quilt designs would be different around the world. After looking at all the images Jan found, I find for the most part, we all do the same thing, even in the same colors, with the exception of some scenic quilts. Everyone has such good ideas that I know you will find one that the lady will like.

I think you're going to struggle with the 'traditional' Scottish quilt as a concept as there really isn't any that I'm aware of. I found a couple of tartan Cathedral Windows blocks here (you have to search 'plaid', lol).

Alternatively, you could think about making several Saltire blocks, perhaps as part of the border/back.

If you like to appliqué, then a thistle might work too.

There is a block called 'The Scottish Cross' - found here - but I've no idea of it's provenance with regard to actually being Scottish!

Good luck!

Thanks so much for sharing that beautiful cross, ManaicQuilter2, I love it!

I love the purple one with the cross

I've seen a few S. Florida men wearing them also.....

I was born and raised in Scotland, but also lived in Texas for a while, and would say that the religious element is probably quite a strong part (there is a reason why Texas is part of 'the Bible Belt') so you may need clarification as to denomination as well as strength of desire for this to be included (since to me religion wouldn't really be an obvious factor in a 'traditional Scottish' quilt, but your - or your client's - views may vary from mine).

I would also expect a desire for significant use of tartan ("plaid") in fabric prints and/or piecing (I'm thinking of sashing, tho that could be rather complicated).

My first thought re design (taking into account the above) was a centralised cross with a thistle twining up it, then borders incorporating tartan and saltires.

You might also want to consider wildlife (e.g. stags), plants (thistles, pine trees etc.) and scenery (e.g. mountains) for fabric prints, piecing or incorporation into the quilting itself, since that is usually a strong association re Scotland.

Another thought: it is anticipated that the quilt top will be pieced, appliqued, or a mixture?

Edited to add: also (tho personally they make me twitch) don't forget about bagpipes if going with the musical element.

Edited again: is there any way you could get pre-approval of your design from the gift-giver? It's all very well us going with stereotypes and general impressions, but for a bespoke gift that will be best for this particular lady some input from those who actually know her would help no end!

I'm shutting up now :-)

I read your post and chuckled, only an English citizen would call him "Robbie" Burns. Lol! Thank you, grandma always called him that too!

(I noticed that no one has mentioned celtic motifs using bias tapes.....)

I will be very interested to see just what you decide to do!

Thank you ladies you've really given me a lot to think about. One side is definitely tartan which she seemed particularly keen on. While I'm busy with that I can think about the other side. It's a challenge for sure.