Quilt layout ideas
 

Hello.

I've been away from the forum for a couple years. During that time I've been busy becoming a parent and moving back to my hometown to help take care of my grandparents. This includes my grandma who got me into quilting. She hasn't been able to quilt as much lately between mobility issues and some dementia, but she misses it dearly.

So we were talking today and I'd like to help finish some of her unfinished projects. One that she has been looking at a lot in the last year is a series of beautifully embroidered applique blocks in folk wool applique style (but I think they're done in flannel) that are about 8inches with a mottled cream background. Currently they are divided into two groups of 12 which I assume were meant to be two different quilts because one has more pinks and blues and one has more oranges and reds but they could be used together too with four extra blocks. Each one is different and I could see where she used a couple different patterns to collect the different designs but they are cohesive. We also have a stack of cut squares in the same background color, a good sized stash, and I wouldn't mind going to the quilt store if we needed something more -- so basically any fabric option is available. Grandma doesn't remember what exactly she was planning, but has mentioned that if it was put with some other fabric squares of the same size it would make a good sized blanket.

So I'm trying to figure out a nice layout pattern that will be creative enough to be interesting to her, but easy enough for a novice to do it justice. I would put them on point (which is a look we both like), but I'm not sure that I'm skilled enough for triangles and I haven't sewn in a couple years. I think that just stitching them together and adding sashing might be too busy to do them justice. I know the the layout and design is one of her favorite parts so I want her to feel like something fun and interesting is happening and that she's a part of it, even if she isn't up to any actual stitching.

I told her I'd think on it this week and get together next weekend with a plan to make them into a quilt.

I've been trying to look at ideas for a layout online and not coming up with many ideas. If you've seen anything that you think might be good inspiration for me please let me know

Thanks! And it's wonderful to see you all again. You guys were great when I was quilting before and I have thought of you all fondly when I've thought about quilting again but working and raising a baby into a two year old is quite the time-sink :)

Perhaps she meant to alternate the appliqued blocks with the solid ones and then do some fancy quilting in the solids? You can do that on point, too.

Try googling appliqued quilt blocks set on point. You should get a lot of good images that both you and your grandmother could look at. What a wonderful thing you are doing for her!

Could you post some photos? I'm sure that will start many juices for ideas. You are doing such a wonderful thing for your granny! God bless you!

If you could post pictures I am sure someone on this board will come up with wonderful layout designs.

I agree -- we are all visual people.

OK photos . . . warning this is going to be a lot :)

I went over and took photos and checked the dimensions. They're actually 10" squares

Group 1
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]599401[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]599402[/ATTACH] to be continued (apparently there is a 10 pic max)

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Group 2
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And the four unallocated blocks

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Those are beautiful appliqued blocks! Wow. Such variety and careful placement.

I can see what you mean about how it looks like possibly two different projects. One has autumn colors and motifs, the other is more spring-like. But since they all have the green leaves in common, they could certainly play well in the same quilt. Although at 10" each, that's a huge one! I would probably make two smaller ones and sash them with burgundy, forest green, or that sienna. Or if those are too busy for you, try the darker neutral that's in the background fabric. Your grandmother would probably like to audition some colors with you.

Or, if you and she would want to give part of your grandmother's handiwork to family members, perhaps make wall hangings. Depending on how many people you would make a gift for, it could be a single block or 2,3, or 4 patch. (Have her sign some labels ASAP so you'll have them in case anything happens to her.)

If you're a novice, the on-point setting could be a challenge. Not saying avoid a challenge, but since you have a 2 year old, probably you have enough challenges as it is! :)

Oh WOW! Your Grandmother does/did beautiful work! As zozee said, I think the forest green that is in most of the blocks would make a great sashing. You are a very thoughtful granddaughter to be thinking of doing this for her. I wish I could have done something like this with my grandmother.

These are just gorgeous!

The blocks are so beautifully done. I'm so happy they will be used.

Oh my, all of the blocks are gorgeous! I am so glad you are going to finish these and she will get to see them done!
Please post when finished, I would love to see the quilts and any others you find to make!

WOW! What beautiful work! That is a lot of, to me, perfectly done applique work and blanket stitching. Really well done. What a treasure. Kudos to you Cedar for the plans to have them all put together while your grandmother is still here to really enjoy them.

Those blocks look like she may have planned a “Baltimore album quilt”. Check with Google to see many ideas for arrangement of your blocks. I do agree that if you are using sashing that dark green ot tonal to blend with your backgrounds would be very pretty. The colors chosen would look very cheerful in a BAQ.

I agree with Madame Kelly. Those definitely look like they are for a Baltimore Album type of quilt.

The first thing I would do is get them out of those cardboard boxes. Cardboard can leach acid onto the fabric and discolor it if it isn't acid-free.

Such lovely blocks, and yes I think two different quilts. Although I like the dark green as sashing for the fall colors quilt, I think I would go with the pink>red sashing for the strictly floral one. It's so springlike I think dark sashing would not do the florals justice.

Beautiful applique blocks! They will be a pleasure to work into a quilt with your grandmother.

Such a great "save" of handwork! Hope you enjoy the process together.

The one blocks look like Christmas blocks IMOO.

Oh, what a fun project you're taking on. Whatever pattern you choose, be sure to keep us updated. I can't wait to see the finished quilt. Your grandmother made beautiful blocks!

Wow!!!!! What beautiful handwork!!! I'm thinking if it were me, I would make a double sided quilt, use the summer side, then flip it over for fall.

Her work is wonderful! I’m sure the two of you will come up with a beautiful completed project. Please share it with us. There are some great suggestions here. How sweet of you to take the time and effort to do this with your grandmother. You won’t regret it. You will make some wonderful memories together. Good luck!

What gorgeous blocks!!!!!!

The workmanship on those blocks are beyond beautiful and you're a very special person to be doing this with your grandma. Good luck, please post the results. Wishing good health to your grandma.

I agree that the blocks look like a Baltimore Album type quilt, although those are not usually done in flannel. I would not use dark sashing. It will draw the eye and take it away from the motifs. If any color I'd go with red, as that's more traditional, but a lot of BAQ don't have sashing. If you have matching fabric cut into alternate blocks, you could cut that into sashing to separate the blocks if you feel they are too busy when set directly together. I'd set them straight, as you don't see a lot of BAQ quilts set diagonally. There's nothing that says you need to go with what's traditionally done though!

You thought they seemed like the wool applique method. Are they raw edge applique? Or are the edges turned under? From the pictures, it looks like the edges are turned under-- but if they are raw, then I'd divide the blocks and use them to make smaller wall hangings. If turned under and the stitching looks sturdy, then I'd make them into a bed quilt or two. Think about washing, and repeated washing. Sometimes items that are embroidered are nicer to put on the wall where the embroidery doesn't wear out so quickly.

Please remember to check the pins, and make sure they are not rusting in the fabric.

Lovely work! Your grandma is a talented lady. I wish my UFOs will be half that nice!

Wow, what a treasure. And you are wonderful/awesome for doing this and helping with your grandmother. I have 8 grandchildren and they hardly even bother with a phone call. One, I am going to help her make 2 quilts for her mother in law that has gone through breast cancer and another Mimi that actually raised her. Those blocks are so very pretty and her embroidery skills are wonderful.

Absolutely lovely.

I think everyone wants to adopt YOU!!! It sounds like you already have a very busy live - but, you will NEVER regret this special time with Grama.

Grandma does really good work. She used to always have hand work going whenever she was still and her stitching is amazingly even. I'm not sure she had a full quilt planned when she started. She could have just been doing blocks she liked and planned to figure the rest out later, but there is clearly marked stacks of 3 sets of four. This is flannel fused with an iron with buttonhole stitched edges and some french knot details (there might be more, but mostly french knots).

I also apparently need to start making quilts fast. These cardboard boxes she covered with contact paper are her main organizational system and this isn't the only "quilt in a box" she has.

I've been looking at different sashing styles and layouts. She has implied that she finds "traditional sampler" styles a bit boring. We also agreed that while we loved the blocks on point on the cover of one of her books that I might not be ready for that. The other thing that she mentioned is that there is a bright orange/pink/coral in the autumn set that she hasn't worked with much before and is really enjoying. So I'd love to bring some sunset colors into that set of blocks and really accent that.

So while I've been searching around for the perfect sashing combination that isn't too boring or too loud I have this other idea in the back of my head of an Irish Chain style giving the illusion of blocks on point. I've thought that it was too complicated with a 10 inch block and kept coming back to it a few times, so tell me what you think and feel free too be blunt :)

So I saw these

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And I remembered I could get the look of on point without triangles. I also thought of this quilt

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And thought it could be the perfect combination of air space and color that could bring out those bright coral colors. Basically I would do chain squares with cream/off white tonal background that doesn't necessarily match the background of the embroidery but blends. I was originally thinking each stripe one color, but the scrappy general brightness of this I think might be better at letting the blocks be the star.

This is the closest I could find to what I'm envisioning.

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So let me know your thoughts. Do you think that not having the background material match will spoil the look? How difficult is this going to be with 10" squares (if they were 9 this would be a no brainer) Anything else that I'm possibly not thinking of?

I noticed that many of the appliques are stitched with an on point orientation, so I think it would be best to set the blocks on point. I don't think it will be as difficult as you are anticipating. Maybe some others here can give you suggestions where to look for instructions on sewing blocks on point; I haven't done it myself. The Irish Chain is one of my favorite designs and it should also look awesome with blocks set on point. It's a wonderful thing you are doing with your grandma and I wish you tons of fun sharing this project.

I just had another thought. Why couldn't you set the applique blocks on point and snowball background fabric on each side to make them square before proceeding to set the blocks together. Of course, the blocks will be pretty large.

2 Books I would recommend, both by Sharyn Craig, are "Setting Solutions, and "Great Sets". If you don't want to purchase them maybe your local library has a copy.
Your grandmas blocks are fantastic. Before sewing anything together, I would trim them to all the same size as I noticed the fraying around most of them.
I think they are screaming 'on point', however you can add triangles to each corner to make they look as they are straight set. Make your triangles a little larger then trim them all to the size you want. It's really easy to do.
You have an eye for design by the look of the items you posted above. I do not think the Irish Chain is above your skill level. Take it slow and square up as you go. You shouldn't have any problems. You Can Do This! You are making wonderful memories you can cherish forever.

Here is a helpful video on setting a quilt on point. It is not
as difficult as I thought it would be, and I made one 110” x 112”!

https://youtu.be/0AfBeYeCzRE

Here are nice directions written out to do it with sashing. When you go to the site, scroll down a bit to find it. She starts one without sashing, then does another with sashing. Just take it one step at a time, and make a small quilt to learn it, then you can make grandma a pretty placemat with it. It is not as hard as you think.

https://quiltnotes.com/learning-center/on-point-quilts/

Oh! It sounds like your Grandmother is giving you a lot of input for what she likes. If she likes the blocks on point, or likes the coral color, I'd go with her suggestions. When you set blocks on point, you are simply sewing the rows of the top diagonally with a triangle on the ends of the rows. If you can sew squares together in rows, that's basically what you are doing on point too. Maybe you could practice with some other fabric-- probably you will find out it's not that difficult.