What would you do?
 

My DH and I are friends with a couple we have know since the guys served together in the Navy 40 years ago. We have met over the years in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Texas, and later this year will meet in Fla. (They live in San Diego, we are in upstate NY). We have kept in touch but never been to each others homes. I want to make a quilt to give her when we meet next. Last time we were together I tried to ask some questions without sounding too obvious. All I know is her family room has a brownish couch and a rug with different shades of off white. Her style is a mixture of traditional and modern.
Any ideas about what I could make? For me, neutrals are difficult. Seems like I always want to add some color.
Thanks for any advice you can give me.

How about making a couple of mug rugs to start. There is always Naval fabric out there. Just a thought.

This one I made recently using a Hoffman Bali Batik jelly roll called "Coconut". Can go with modern or traditional. Colors are correct for her scheme. I did add a few of my own batiks to make it larger - but the fabrics I added closely matched the scheme of the jelly roll.

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Navy is a neutral ;) I have a coworker who is getting married and our team is putting together for me to make them a quilt. we chose a connecting threads quilt kit that is done in their "Neutrals Love II" collection. It is a collection of grey, cream, tan, black (or navy cant tell)
http://www.connectingthreads.com/kit...it__D6546.html

It is a nice neutral quilt, with enough pretties to enjoy ;)

She sounds like my friend who's a beige/brown person. I'm thinking of making her a traditional quilt pattern using varied neutrals, such as beige, cream, tan, maybe a few lighter grayish neutrals. Not solids, but tone on tones or mottled fabrics, possibly small prints. It sounds boring to me as I'm a colorful person, but I know that's what she'd like. Alex Anderson has a book with quilts using neutral fabrics. They're quilts that, I think, would "go" in anyone's home.

Google neutral log cabin quilts. Other patterns will come up too but the neutral log cabins are really gorgeous and would fit her color scheme.

My daughter is a "neutral" person and when I made her a quilt several years ago I used peach, cream, cocoa and moss green. It turned out nice and she likes it. You can add color to a neutral quilt by using pastels so the color doesn't dominate the quilt.

Take a look at the thread here on the board, "Take six or just six." It is an outstanding use of neutrals.

I lived in San Diego for many years... We all love the beach! I'm sure a beach-themed quilt would be a big hit! :-)

How about a floral in autumn colors....that would give you neutrals/browns with pops of orange, yellow and red to work with.

Thank you all for your ideas. Still deciding what to do. DogHouseMom your quilt is beautiful.

I just made a Bargello quilt in brown and neutral colors. I am going to add a picture here, in case it give you some creative ideas of colors that might work for you...

Dina

Just a thought, what colour clothes etc does she wear ? she will wear colours that she loves.

I vote this one too

Why not make a scrappy quilt they go with everything and there will be something in it for color that she will like.

If it were me I would go to my favorite old standby pattern that I can piece in a weekend and quilt in a day. I love the
Trip Around the World pattern for give away gifts. They are easy and with the right fabrics can look whimsical to rich.

Pick neutral shades with a few tones of one other color( my pattern takes 8 different ones) light to dark.

Batiks are great in this pattern.

Here is a sample of one of mine. A wedding gift for a girl who is afraid of color!

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Whatever you choose to do for a friendship gift will be wonderful.
peace

The examples of neutral quilts are all beautiful, but have you thought of something different.... maybe a Christmas quilt or other seasonal quilt? That way you don't have to match her decor.

Last winter we went to visit friends in San Diego. I had no idea about colors or style so I took a mesh tote bag and wine as a hostess gift and chose a quilt and mailed it after we got home.