One quicker way to make a quilt is to work with a printed panel instead of all pieced blocks. There are TONS of darling panels for every use and recipient and often you need to add something extra to expand the size or just to enhance the piece. Today I have several different quilts to illustrate some possibilities. I apologize that I have used some of these previously, but these
are examples of a different topic.
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This baby quilt was made for my youngest grandson (he’s 13). His mother wanted owls in the nursery and fell in love with this bright panel. The panel ended inside the orange border. I got some of the companion fabric and added the orange and the outside border. This particular panel came two across, so I just used the other panel a couple of years ago and pieced more around the edge with the scraps and some from my stash that complemented the original.
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This quilt was made with chicken squares that were also leftover from another quilt. I had all my mom’s stash in my garage briefly and had a blast finding solids that matched each piece. The binding was leftover from another quilt as well. FYI: This is my
favorite example of color in a quilt. Let’s just say that I am not a fan of the present neutral trend...
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The mermaid quilt was a small, square panel that I added a
companion print to the top and bottom to make it a better shape,
then used the coordinates in the group to make a piano key border.
I was excited to find a hot pink polkadot to finish off the
outside border.
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OK, one more baby quilt. This one was for my Mickey Mouse loving grandson. To make it crib sized I divided the size of the panel into blocks that came out about 3 1/2 inches and used funky black and white prints from my LARGE bin of endless scrap, a couple of red and white pieces from my stash, Found a coordinating piece or two and used one in the large square corners and bordered it with black. This might be where the black/white striped binding came from.
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I fell in love with the panel that I used for this quilt. The original piece was yardage with repeating rectangular sections. The whole section is seen right in the center above the halfway point of the quilt. It has two small rectangles vertically with a horizontal floral panel above and a larger rectangle of daffodils bordered by wavy stripes. I decided to make all the blocks to make up the quilt the same size as the whole panel, I mixed and matched little
motifs from the fabric and added some companion fabrics. I made wonky squares from the sunflower yardage, which I added to the back, and added those to some of the blocks. Then bordered it all with a companion gold and a green batik. It makes me feel like spring all year long.
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Dream Big digital Flower Panels by Hoffman Fabrics are very popular, especially with long arm quilters who use intricate patterns to enhance each petal. They come in MANY colors and different designs. I have a dear friend who bought one to make a wedding quilt for her daughter but wasn’t sure how to make it queen size. I used PatternJam to block out the size and shape so I could figure how much I needed to add to get it to a usable
size. I added a dark color that matched the background to the top and bottom of the panel, then it was easy to put borders around it all for a nice queen size.
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Finally, sometimes it’s hard to know what kind of a quilt to make for the men in your life.
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This is a great time to search out a panel to base a quilt around.You can find panels of all sorts of hobbies and interests, from classic cars to old trucks, hunting, fishing and wildlife, or patriotic designs for Quilts of Valor.
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Today’s Tip - Using Printed Panels
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Plan Your Layout:
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Central Focus: Use the printed panel as the central focus of your quilt. Build your design around it, ensuring that it remains the highlight.
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Complementary Blocks: Surround the panel with complementary quilt blocks. Choose patterns and colors that enhance the panel’s design without overshadowing it.
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Balance and Symmetry: Maintain balance and symmetry in your layout. This helps to draw the eye towards the panel and creates a harmonious overall design.
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Color Coordination:
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Color Palette: Select fabrics that coordinate with the colors in the printed panel. This creates a cohesive look and ties the design together.
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Accent Colors: Use accent colors from the panel to add pops of color in the surrounding blocks or borders. This can help to highlight certain aspects of the panel.
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Background Fabric: Choose a background fabric that complements the panel and allows it to stand out. Neutral tones often work well, but you can also use a color from the panel for a bolder look.
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Borders and Sashing:
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Framing the Panel: Add borders and sashing around the printed panel to frame it and give it a polished look. This can help to set it apart from the rest of the quilt.
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Patterned vs. Solid: Use patterned fabrics for a more intricate look or solid fabrics to keep the focus on the panel. Experiment with different widths and styles of borders.
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Multiple Borders: Consider using multiple borders of varying widths to add depth and interest. Mixing different fabric patterns and textures can enhance the overall design.
These tips will help you create a beautiful and balanced quilt that showcases your printed panels effectively.
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