Using a center panel for a quilt....
 

I must get cracking on a quilt for DGD. She is into horses so I have a panel that is 36" tall by 44" wide. Now the dilemna I am having is what to do with the remaining area to make it queen size. I have lots of fabric that would go with the panel. I even have fussy cut some with horses. I have fussy cut 4.5" and 5.5" blocks. And these were actually meant for another quilt but they will be appropriate for this one, too. Any help would be so much appreciated. I'm wondering if I should add another border to the sides of the panel to make it square.

Thanks for your ideas.
Sandy

I have done many quilts that center on panels. For me, the idea is to treat it like any other medallion, so, no, I would not square it up. Because that panel is so large, IMHO, the next layer out should also be fairly big, perhaps 10 or 12" blocks with your fussy cuts, using sashings to make it come out even. Of course, there is not rule that all blocks have to be equal in size. One way to do that would be uneven 4 patches using other fabrics for the alternate squares. If you have enough, you could use those clear out to the border. If not, add as many boders as you need to make it work. There are many excellent ways to do this. I like a folded ribbon (like a Carpenter's Star), half Dresden plates, facing in alternate directions. Braids or Chinese Coins work well. Recently, I saw a wonderful half hexagon French braid on Fons and Porter. It went together like a dream. It would make an excellent inner coordinating border. Whatever you do, I am sure your DGD will love it.

Here's some ideas that might be of help ---> http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/techni...jects_ss1.html

http://www.nancysnotions.com/categor...anel+quilts.do

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...ts-t35065.html

http://www.google.com/search?q=quilt...w=1093&bih=426

perhaps something like this http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t199192.html
and then use some other coordinating design element in the other windows... sky, running brook. etc??

Because it's wider than it is high, I would make some borders that were say 5" on the sides & 8" on top & bottom until it was at least square or my preference would be to have it longer than it is wide.

Thanks so much for your great ideas. My head is now spinning with ideas.

There are so many ideas but I wouldn't square it up as a queen bed is not square.

Here are some creative ways to use panels from other board members. http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...ts-t76103.html

I bookmarked it because I liked some of the layouts which incorporated large & small panels.

Jo M the panel that I have is in your link! Thank you for giving me even more ideas. It just seems so overwhelming to think about making my own pattern for this. But I will do it.

One way to use a large panel when you have fussy cut squares or blocks of different sizes that coordinate with the panel would be to finish the quilt with solid colored borders to the size you want the quilt to be, then add the fussy cuts ticker tape style on top of the solid colored borders. This solves the problem of the blocks being different sizes quite nicely and you can center your fussy cuts exactly as you prefer.Usually the borders would be the same color.