OT: Any Quilters out there?

Hello, I have some Asian fabric I would like to use in a quilt. However, I am having a tough time finding an unusual pattern. I need to make a runner that is 7ft. long and 1.5 ft. wide. The colors I am using are black, gold, and ivory. I am a beginner at quilting so I don't want to attempt anything too difficult. Any pattern ideas? Thanks for your input, Bex

Hi Bex, I do love quilting and the asian fabrics do look wonderful if you use them in a fan design, you can then embroider the "fans" and have tassels etc, let your imagination run wild. there are also many many web sites that will give you some good ideas. Have fun
hugs, Helen

Helen, Thanks for your response. I love your idea about the fans! FANtastic! Yes, I've been searching the Web for patterns but I haven't found any I truly like. Now I'll search for a fan pattern! Thanks again! Bex

Hi Bex, I'm an avid quilter.  In fact I'm headed to Rochester, MN this afternoon to attend the Minnesota Quilters annual show this weekend. 

Many quilt stores carry Japanese/Asian fabrics, expecially those that lean toward contemporary quilting rather than country style.  Keepsake Quilting has a wonderful online store and their latest catalog had some pretty Asian fabrics that might go well with your quilt. You can also check our Han****s of Paducah online--both online and their retail stores are terrific.

Asian fabrics are often large scale, and if you use pieces that are too large, you lose their beauty. The good news in that is you can make quilts a lot faster with them because you want to work with large blocks.

Many Asian inspired quilting motifs use large irregular blocks (rectangles and squares of varying sizes), and many use circle and half circle motifs set within squares.  They also work very well in quilts with wavy rather than straight lines (but those are definitely more difficult to put together, but the outcome is fabulous).  I wish I were home right now. I have at least 150 quilting books and perhaps 50 pattern packets. many of which would have some inspiration.

So, look on line and find a theme fabric you love and then start to build on it with the other colors you like. Black, gold and ivory provide a very sophisticated palate but can appear rather nuetral without some pop color (pinky-orange, ruby red, turquoise).

If I get time later today I'll see if I can recall or find some of the patterns and other websites that might help you.

Welcome to the quilting world.  It's great  fun and addicting.

Ann

Ann, WOW! Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate it. Have fun on your trip. Bex

Sounds great!  I agree with adding a pop of color...red, of course, compliments the Asian theme very well.  I have seen some great patterns for "Kimonos".  Made a mini quilt with them myself and it was very pretty.  I looked for the pattern and don't have it anymore, but you can probably find one on line.  Good luck.

Check ouot your local library, too. Mine has many, many books on quilting, complete with patterns.

Bex, I wouldn't call myself a quilter as I haven't finished one yet, but I am attempting to "fix" one of my grandmother's quilts.  She made it for our wedding 30 years ago.  I didn't take very good care of it and one day I washed it and the batting bunched up.  Did I mention it was handquilted?  I was too embarassed to ask her fix it and she is now gone.   After all these years and having lots of time on my hands, I took the quilt apart stitch by stitch and bought new batting and pinned everything together.  It is very hard to get the handquilting stitch down but I am determined to do it. If I had't been young and stupid I would have realized how fragile and precious the quilt was. I love to sew and hope I can handle this project and not screw it up.   Here is a website I found that has a lot of expert quilters on hand to help. http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/sewingclasses/board. pl?f=19