Novice needs H E L P
 

I am making a quilt for my grandson for Christmas, the quilt is sewn in strips, and the pictures that you see on the material are only pinned on, they will be appliqued. My question is would it look better if I did a rail fence and appliqued the pictures at the intersecting seams. I thought this pattern looked to simple. Now if I can get the picture to download I will be all set, have patience with me.

I like your quilt. The pictures you want to add to the quilt are very nice. I would like to see them used as blocks and then maybe surrounded by rail fence blocks or used as centers in log cabin type blocks. I'm just not sure they should be appliqued to the surface of your quilt. I may be off base.

Personally, I LOVE the randomness (and wilderness-y feel) of your design.

And while you think it looks too simple, I think it looks unique (seriously, how many Rail Fence or Warm Wishes quilts are out there?).

The moose and whatever else you got there (I'm from the city and just learned the difference between a bull and steer yesterday) look they're on the grand, wide-open prairie.

Don't change it.

It looks great.

I like it the way it is, but it's your quilt. Also if you've already sewn all those strips together ... why rip them up?

Your quilt is so pretty. It is just right for a boy.

Beautiful exactly how it is and your grandson will love it because you made it especially for him.

MTS....you made me giggle with your bull/steer comment !!!!!
I really the layout just the way it is - with the random appliques scattered over the top -it would have a very unique look - and i think would compliment the straight lines of the rest of the quilt. Be sure to let us see what you finally do.

How Old is your Gr.Boy? I think Its just fine this way just round off the shapes as best you can and sew them down. :)

I love the way it looks just as it is
Applique them down randomly as you've laid them out. Do not put them into blocks.
It's a great quilt.

it's your quilt, so ultimately your choice. it looks good that way, but my choice would be the rail fence idea.

At the most cut the strips into big blocks with a picture in the middle of each. I applique all the time in a random fashion (using a applique, not-so-wide stitch)and I think the way you have it now, or turning blocks so every other one is at right angles to the ones touching it on a side and putting the pictures in the middle is a great way to go. But the stripes uninterrupted are good, also. I just happen to like a lot of movement in my quilts. Your boy will love it either way, because it is a great boy quilt and it will be HIS!

I'm in the same school with Mrs M. To me the pictures of wildlife appliqued randomly over your beautiful strippy quilt look like they were an afterthought. I love your stippy quilt and I love your wildlife fabric but seeing it the way it is pictured upsets my inner sense of "chi" somehow. I can't pinpoint it exactly. I suppose if it was quilted all over it would probably look great though and the afterthought look that initially struck me would probably completely disappear. I don't mind modern but I am more orderly so random doesn't float my boat.

However, it is your quilt and you know what your grandson's likes and dislikes are, I am sure he will love it no matter what you decide.

I like the quilt. I would put them closer together, maybe even touching at a little point, and then applique them down.

Love your quilt and I hate to tell you but BOYS big or small only care that is covers them, strips or rail fence won't get noticed!!

Reminds me of a chuckle I had many years ago while driving several little girls home from a birthday party. We passed a field of cattle including one bull and one of the little girls said, "I know how to tell the boys from the girls!" I held my breath. "The boys have hairy bellybuttons!"
Laughed until I cried (in relief).

LADIES Thank you very, very much for your honest replies (I especially liked the compliments). The animals are material so I could applique them on. They are not an afterthought, it was a beginning thought. My Grandson is 18 years old, he loves to hunt and fish, a real out doors boy. The original idea was to do the rail pattern with the animals in it, but being a novice quilter I thought this would be easier, because they are of different sizes. The ones with the sharp edges have not been turned under yet. My confidence is grown 100 times because I got compliments from professionals on this board o.k. so its grown a little anyways thank you I so enjoy this board, and have learned a lot from it.
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