I am finally getting the time to make my nephews quilt. I have ran into a few problems. I am doing a simple 4 patch quilt but it is to busy So I have decided to add some White squares along with some blue ones.

I have not used white in a quilt and I am not sure if there is anything I need to do first. I sure don't want my colors to bleed:-)

Be sure to wash it with a couple of Color Catchers the first time you wash it.

Pre wash everthing before you start!

I love white in quilts, but have used it mostly as a back ground. Hope it works out the way you want it to.

How old is your nephew?

You might also consider using tan, beige, or gray for a background if it's going to be a "used a lot" quilt.

Is that a great idea.

You are so smart to find all this information up front.

i would use a white w/ a few specks of blue in it instead of a solid white a blue w/ a lighter blue would make a stunning quilt
white is a bit stark and not easy to keep clean
as mentioned and off white would also be okay

just my opinion :-D


check out these quilts other members have made for more ideas

http://www.quiltingboard.com/search....+quilts&u=&s=0

I would suggest prewash and then use color catchers the second time.

A 4-patch being too busy? Can we see a picture?

I am working on getting some pictures now. I think that may help everyone understand what i am doing

My computer is acting up and I can not get the pictures to post. I am working on a WV quilt. I have 2 fabrics that have West Virginia on them. The white fabric has WV, helmets & basketball.

The blue WV fabric already has squares on it so cutting it for my large square is going to waste a lot of the fabric.

I did find a solid navy blue that I could add to the quilt. I really hope this finally post:-)

Don't preview your message before you post. You lose any attached pictures.

And it has been taking a bit longer to upload pictures today, so it might not be your computer.

We're patient. ;) ;)

i hope this works. try #56:-)

FINALLY MY PICTURE IS UP:-) the navy blue u see I have not cut yet. I was wanting to see what u guys thought I should do first. I have already made all my 4 blocks.

That navy blue works WAY better than white would, in my opinion. I like what you're doing. It looks great. Your nephew should love it.

I second the motion on the Color Catchers in the wash.

Sue

YAY! Pictures!

I like the navy much better than white.
And I like the blocks made out of the WV block fabric.

The mix of the 3 different blocks is fabulous. You could make some 4 patches with the white print and navy fabric, or some with the navy and yellow.

But it's fine if you just keep the 3 you have already. It's just perfect for a college kid.

Your nephew is going to love it!

I don't have a lot of the navy blue but I did wash,dry & iron it. What about the other blue with the WV in it? Do u think I should cut them the way I have and waste a lot of the fabric doing it?

I don't know how much you have and how big you want the quilt.
But, honestly, I really, really like that WVblock fabric.

If you cut it carefully, you can always use the leftover squares mixed in with whatever leftovers you have and put it on the back.

So what if they're not perfect squares with the pattern. The colors and logos will still bring the theme over to the back.

Will that give you enough fabric to make the size you want?

I have another another ? I changed my 2 1/2 stripped to 3 1/2 so what size does that make my large squares?

You mean for your 4patches?

If you CUT the strips 3.5" wide, then the 4patch blocks will FINISH at 6".

So you need to cut the larger plain squares 6.5".

Make sense?

I think the blue looks really good. I'd go with that, if I were you. By the way, I use white all the time in quilts. I've never had any trouble with it. I like the look, but I know others don't. That is why this is such a great passion.....anything goes. :)

I did cut my strips 3.5 but they came out at 6 1/4. Wouldn't I want my large square the same size as my finished four patch?

I have over 50 4 patch squares done and there is no way I have enough of the blue WV fabric or the navy blue I found. I bought that fabric at a quilt show but I may be able to find some at Parkersburg Quilting here. I do however have that white no one thinks I should use along with a lot more of the gold that I made my 4 patches from.

If you are all done with your 4patches, and they all mostly came out to 6.25", then by all means cut your squares 6.25" and it all should go together well.

But you should know that 4Patch should have come out to 6.5" UNFINISHED. So after you're done with this quilt, you should do some checking to see where something is off - is it in the cutting? in the sewing? in the pressing? It could be one or a little bit of each.

Very smart of you to wait to cut the larger patches. ;-) Otherwise, you would have been struggling throughout the whole construction to get 6.25" blocks to fit next 6.5" blocks. Not fun.
Ok, if that's what you have, that's what you have.

If you want to / can get more of the navy, fabulous.

If you have to use the white, then use it. At least with more of the yellow and both navy fabrics, the white won't be so pronounced.


And it's not that it would be horrible. I just think it's more ....I don't know masculine.
I know that sounds ridiculous, but really, white? - in a college guy's dorm? ;-)

Now that I've grossed myself out....

I'm sure you'll make it work. Post some progress pictures here. ;-)

Wait, let's do some math.

If the blocks are supposed to finish around 6", and you have 50 so far, then you need around the same number of larger squares.

That will get you to around a 60"x60" quilt top (probably a little smaller because your seam allowances are a bit larger).

How big did you want to make the quilt? As a throw? Or a bed quilt?
80x100?

Because that's a lot more fabric you'll need to finish the top.

I got all my cutting done!!! YEAH

I cut my large squares from the blue WV and the solid Navy. I have it all laid out on the floor for sewing in the morning. It looks really really good guys:-)

I am going to sew 4 blocks together to make a big block so I can move everything around easier to see if i want to lay it out a different way than I have it now.


I will see if I can get my phone to work long enough for some pictures. If not I will for sure post some in the AM.

P.S It was some of my seems that had me off so much:=(

As for the size it went from a full size to a queen, But they are going to get what I make! LOL

Lets see if this picture will upload

It looks fabulous!!!!!!!

How many squares did you end up with in total?

Maybe it's because blue and yellow work so well together.

Yes Blue & Yellow work great together...Go Mountaineers:-)
I have 120 squares.

Looks great!

It looks really fine!!!

great quilt

Looking Good! My old high school colors! My oldest DGS goes to Virginia Tech. Their colors are burgandy and orange. Try to quilt with those colors :roll: :x :?

Look at your pattern and decide if you want white to "jump out" at you.

Oy.
Not quite as smooth as blue and yellow. ;) ;)

Love the first picture. Wouldn't change a thing.

Like the quilt as is. I would not add white.

WVU All the way!!!!!!! I used to live next door!! The WVU is the important part.

I worked hard making a 9-patch & snowball quilt for my Mom, used white in the snowballs. Showed it to her, asked her opinion without telling her it was made for her. She said nicely that it had too much white for her taste, would get dirty easily. I had to make another...in darker colors!!
Anyone wanna buy a lovely quilt? :cry:

I use white all the time for my king sized quilts . I wash all the fabrics before they come into my sewing room and I buy only quilt store quality.I used to buy Joanne and saw too much fading and running in some place mats. I am sold on quilt store quality and buy on sale to save.

:thumbup: