Our supply pastor who has been with us for 10 months, is finishing up next month, and I'd love to make him a quilt. Most likely I'll do like a couch size.
I would love some ideas of quilt patterns for it, maybe make it a sampler?
Anyone have any ideas, or seen a similar one done?
Thank you!
Diana :-)

I was thinking some sacred blocks, mixed in with regular?
Hobbies? I only think of him talking of his kids & grandkids. :-)
Thanks Loretta!

I've not graduated to doing photos yet.... lol!!!
Can you think of any faith type blocks?

How about Jacobs Ladder pattern look in quilters cashe...there are a few named for bible events
:D

Try these for a start
Jacob’s Ladder
Crown of Thorns
Cross and Crown
Church Windows
God’s Eye
Heavenly Star
Joseph’s Coat
Ruins of Jericho
Star of Bethlehem
Tree of Paradise

There are a great many such blocks. Have fun!

any idea of his/her favorite colors?

what kind of dwelling he/she lives in?

I love couch size quilts (to me, a couch size is about 60 x 85) - big enough for most adults to cover up in - small enough to be able to stitch in the ditch quilt it on my machine

Are you planning this as a surprise?

Some of the religious symbols are beautiful and work up well. You might be able to find them in either the church's literature or at a library.

It would probably be helpful/fun to explain each block's name so that would make the quilt more meaningful. I don't think many non-quilters know or care what the block names are - they are either appealing or not.

Thank you so much Loretta, Ruth, Ghostrider, and Bearisgray!!! I really appreciate the ideas! I'll post some pictures as soon as I get it started!

And yes, Bear, it'll be a surprise. He's a really wonderful man, and I just wanted to do something nice back for him.
:-)

Perfect links, Loretta!! Thank you again! :D

On my visit to a LQS I found pre printed bible verses to fussy cut into a quilt. You might be able to find it online. It would be perfect for this.

or you could embroider or cross-stitch an especially meaningful verse or quotation on a block or on the back

What a great idea, Diana, all of those blocks listed would make a beautiful sampler! Or you could do a signature quilt and have members of the congregation sign them. That way he could take you all with him! Just a thought! There are some easy signature blocks out there :D

I'm really liking the link Loretta posted, has the blocks with Biblical names... Even has several layout options.
But also really like the idea of the Bible verses, or quotes. Put those in the borders? Or would it not look weird to have verses/quotes blocks mixed in with the others?
I love the idea of a signature quilt for him, but there's way too many people = too many blocks! lol!!! If I had thought of this sooner, I could have started much earlier, or asked others to help do them. But what a wonderful reminder it would have been for him!
Thank you all again!!!
:-)

What if you used a light cream colored fabric for the backing and made a template with the center cut out, 2inches square to place on the back as a guide for church members to use to sign their names? You could spray the template with basting spray to keep in place, and easily move it around the quilt?

Would that be done after quilting, do you think? Otherwise wouldn't the quilting stitches go through some names? Am trying to picture what you mean.... Today, as many days, I am in ditz mode. lol!!!!!

I would use a light colored quilting thread on the back/bobbin thread, and if you use a dark pen, it would write right over the thread.

Ok, so have them sign it after quilting. :-)

Diana, there you go, you could have both!

or you could alternate blocks, some bible blocks and some signature blocks, the sig blocks, they could just sign in a row, like when you pass around a card to be signed! that way you could get a lot of sigs. in each block. and have less blocks to piece, since time is short. :wink: If you nake 12in blocks, then the plain ones will be just 12 in also and that holds a lot of sigs. just a thought, hope all the ideas don't have you confused now! :lol: :lol:

Wonderful idea, Ninnie!! If I have them sign with a perm. marker, then hit it with the iron, it will set it? I made a signature quilt a long time ago, and all the names, etc washed out after awhile.

Thank you 2MuchFabric!! I really like the verses material! I could fussy cut those and add to the signature blocks!
:-) :-)

2Muchfabric - Welcome to the board!! As you can see from all the above examples, everyone is soooo wonderful here!! :D :D

I made a quilt (a long time ago- well, 5 or 6 years) for my DH's cousin and his wife. (Wedding gift.) They were in seminary and I had my mom write out Bible verses about missions using a fabric marker and then I made an appliqued block to go with it.

I only have one picture of the quilt, but I posted it on here somewhere. I will go find it. I think they liked it- I used cheater fabric in it, too.

Diana, I use a pigma pen, made to write o material and it won't wash out. you can get them at craft stores or quilt shops, I ordered mine from Keepsake Quilting! I sign all my quilts with them.

Oh put a dog wood blossom in it too. and maybe God's Eye.

Lisa - your quilt is wonderful!! Thanks for posting it! :-)

Thanks Ninnie, I'll look for those! :-)
Native Texan, is there significance in the dog wood blossoms?

Thank you for the links Loretta!! :D

If you are still looking for ideas, go to www.patternsfromhistory.com. and you will find a little section with quilts from the Bible. May give you some new ideas.