Date: 7/1/09 8:18 PM

HI,
I would like to make a quilt for my 17yr old son. He's a senior this year, this will be a gift for him than.
I thought I start looking for a pattern for him.

He likes the colors of Black and White, but thought I add other colors to blend in with these two colors.

I'm a new quilter, so would like something in blocks. or strips that wouldn't take a long time to make.
I thought something to habg on the wall, or to throw over his bed.
Maybe the largest for a twin size quilt??

What are your thoughts and pattern ideas.
I have a few books, but not many.

I'm starting to look on the websites for pattern ideas.
I thought I get a jump on this.

I appreciate your help.

Thank you,
Donna

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I'm now a stay at home mom, I did work in dept stores, for over 30 yrs.
I have two machines the babylock ellegante, bernina 730, evolve serger.

Reply to sarads
Date: 7/1/09 9:00 PM

Have you thought about a t-shirt quilt. My kids had a ton of shirts from camp and sports they where involved with. My daughter who is 24(!)Is still nagging me to construct hers. If she's lucky It'll be ready by Christmas. Anyway it's a thought, it's green and it goes together with simple blocks, you can do sashing with colored or patterned fabric. Be warned you do have to interface the t-shirt blocks so they don't stretch and lose shape. Here are free instructions

Reply to sarads
Date: 7/1/09 10:22 PM

Sarads,

I am a traditional quilter. I like the traditional blocks, and I don't do applique. So, my advice to you is based on my own biases, please take it that way. (Or don't take it, that is ok, too.)

What I have discovered is that some blocks are simply more fun than others. Some complicated ones are no fun to do, and some simple ones never lose their fascination. Why, I cannot tell you, it is part of the mystery of quilting. Why does one fabric look blah until it is cut up, and another, gorgeous as a whole, looks boring once it is in pieces? I can't tell you. Probably smarter people than I could say, but I have never figured it out. Maybe that is why I find it all so much fun.

How about a sampler quilt for him? Get a good book of quilt blocks, and make a number of different 12" blocks, all in black and white with an accent color or two. It would be a good learning experience for you, not difficult, and you would have something useful at the end of it. And this way, if you hate one of the blocks you never have to make it again!

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Barb

Date: 7/2/09 12:47 PM

I once saw a Double Irish Chain quilt done in black and white and gray, and it was stunning! Irish Chain quilts. That's not a hard pattern, but the Single Irish Chain is very easy - perfect for a beginner. You could use white for the background, black for the "chain", and use some colors for the centers of the 9-patch blocks. Don't use solid black and white, though - find a white-on-white print or a mostly white print, and a mostly black print (or several prints - the more the merrier!). It'll be much more interesting that way.

For size, you could make a lap quilt (i.e., a watching TV quilt). They're usually a little larger than a crib quilt but smaller than a twin bed quilt. I like to make them about 40" wide (so I can use 45" fabric for the backing) and about as tall as the person - let's say 5.5 ft to 6ft long for your son. It's a lot less work than a bed quilt, and I'm sure your son will love it!

Reply to Irene Q
Date: 7/2/09 2:12 PM

Irene,

Thank You, I was looking into the T-shirt Quilt but you need so many T-Shirts 15 to 20, that would take them all. Maybe later.
I like your Idea, I checked out the link you sent. I like the design of the quilt, I know I could do. Since I'm a beginner!!
I will check this out more!!

What Binding would work, I'm almost done with the baby quilt the binding is the last to do. I used warm and natural for that quilt. Would this work well for this quilt? Or do I need to think about another kind of batting for the quilt.

Thank you,
Donna

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I'm now a stay at home mom, I did work in dept stores, for over 30 yrs.
I have two machines the babylock ellegante, bernina 730, evolve serger.

Date: 7/2/09 7:51 PM

If he's off to college soon, think about making it extra long. Lots of college dorms have these extra long twin beds and he'll appreciate the length of the quilt then.

Maybe something very geometric would suit? Just rectangles - maybe all the same width but varying lengths running vertically up and down the quilt? Made in black, white, and red it would be masculine and sharp.

JEF

Reply to sarads
Date: 7/3/09 11:25 AM

I use Warm and Natural for all my quilts, so unless you want it puffier, that will work just fine. As for bindings, they're pretty much done the same way for all quilts so again, whatever way you want to do it, that's fine! Or did you mean outside borders?? For something simple, I would try a strip of the white background fabric all the way around, and then use a black binding.