using a panel and titanium needles
 

I just bought a panel and do not know what to add with it. If someone has made a quilt using a panel will you please post it. Also have any one used titanium needles and do you like them, why?

Titanium needles are all I use. I use Superior topstitch made by Organ. Panels are fun. It depends on the panel what I do with it. Is is all one picture or print or does it have squares?

If you know the name of the manufacturer of your panel, search their site. Many panels have suggested quilt patterns.

I just received a panel to use for a charity quilt and I googled images. Click on this link for ideas!
http://search.aol.com/aol/image?q=qu...mail-searchbox

I made this panel [ATTACH=CONFIG]551064[/ATTACH]

Into this quilt. I cut the squares apart and added background colored squares with some sashing to make the new quilt a large lap quilt. [ATTACH=CONFIG]551065[/ATTACH]

The top only took me a couple of hours. It was for a raffle for a local high school musical production of Music Man. I had the panel for years and found it about a month before the show. The notes behind the central panel of marchers is 76 Trombones. The winner was the mother of one of the main characters.

equilter.com does a lot of free patterns with panels. Here is a link to their free pattern site:
http://www.equilter.com/pattern/cate...ttern-designer

Not sure if this is an answer to your question but......

I practice hand quilting. With a panel you can do as much or as little as you want.

I love the search for embellishments to put on a panel, again as much or as little.

I seem to get so much more bang for the buck with a panel without investing the time in making a pieced quilt.

Panels are easy fun!

Panels are tough to use for me and I debate over and over what to do with them. My advice is to move slow and develop a plan as you go. I first decide if it needs a border, put it on, then what kind of block does it need, make them, and so forth. To me, it seems the best panel quilts have blocks that "float" around them. As long as you don't try to sew block to block in a set size, the quilt dimensions are not set on the dimensions of the panel

Some of my panels are cut apart and sashed, some are together with added borders, some are as is, just depends on what I want in size. This one was machine quilted, no special needles used. Cut panel[ATTACH=CONFIG]551185[/ATTACH]
Hand quilted, no special needles used, I am a hoopless, lap quilter [ATTACH=CONFIG]551186[/ATTACH]
I used Elmer's Glue to baste. Hand quilted[ATTACH=CONFIG]551187[/ATTACH]
Hand quilted, no special needles used[ATTACH=CONFIG]551188[/ATTACH]

There is just one problem with some panels, they are longer than wider, so if you add borders the same size to the width and length your quilt will not be square. Usually a quilt is longer than wider but not overly long. I find myself adding more width to a panel than length to even out the dimensions of the quilt.

I do numerous panels for charity quilts, but it depends on how the panel is laid out, and the shape. Here are a couple to give you ideas.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]551189[/ATTACH]
On this one I added black sashing, then cut the blocks "wonky" so that you wouldn't notice that the panel squares weren't square or the same size.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]551190[/ATTACH]
On this one I sashed in a narrow black and used the blocks as part of an overall design, devised by a friend.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]551191[/ATTACH]
This one was sashed in brown...............See a pattern here? Not all panels are printed square or straight and sashing "hides" a multitude of sins.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]551193[/ATTACH]This one was used as a whole panel and I added two borders.
Your panels may be different, so see if the manufacturer has a free pattern on their website for more ideas.

great ideas here.

If you go to Superior Threads website and read about needles you will likely be amazed. Unless you know a lot about needles that is but it sounds like you would be interested in learning a little more about needled. Bob, owner of Superior and needle expert, lectures all over the country about thread and needles. According to the expert, the only needles he uses are the titanium coated top-stitch. According to Bob all we need is 4 needles: Titanium coated 70/10, 80/12, 90/14 and 100/16. Watch their short video to determine which needle to use for which application. Good luck and happy quilting.

When I use a panel, I like to frame it with 4 or 5 borders of complementary fabrics. With the right fabrics, it seems to come out right.

I use the Superior titanium top stitch needles for quilting. The eye of the needle is longer/bigger and the needle stays sharp longer. These panels were sewn using a Bernina 930. I FMQ them with outlining the figures and meandering/stippling. I was having so much fun quilting them, its a good way to practice FMQ.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/391684...posted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/391684...posted-public/
Sharon in TX

Describe "panel". It could be blocks of images or one large print. I tend to think of a "large print" when describing a panel. All great suggesetions so far. Always head to the manufacturer website for ideas. Depending on the image...I love to make attic windows with panels. Panels are typically anywhere from 24" wide up to 36" wide. Some can be huge! Selvedge to selvedge is 42". (Approx) I love to work with panels! Fun and done!

Pls Post a picture of your panel.
sandy