If you're going to do the quilt for your DIL (and she's so far away from you), why not go for the Crazy 8 pattern. It's fun and she probably doesn't have any idea what is necessary--she just knows that you quilt :).
Be as creative as you want and I'm sure they will be grateful. Obviously she already has faith in you :lol:
Definitely stabilize though, or life will be horrible for you with all the stretching.
If you want/need to bounce off ideas--do it on this QB there is so much expertise out here :) :) I love the inspiration I get from here.