sdeaaz

My MIL turns 90 next July. One of her daughters is putting the bug in everyones ear for a party. I offered to do a signature quilt. Everyone likes the idea, so now I better get at some planning. my MIL is an avid quilter.. she hand quilted a quilt and some got two queen size quilts for each child,each grandchild got a tied quilt for graduation. There are 12 children... I thought about a 12 block quilt in 12 different colors, (sampler maybe), then extend the sashing or maybe the border to include the grandkids, each the same color as parents, then there are 48 great grands, so maybe another border for them?? Any thoughts.... or I could just include each family in a block... I will take any help I can get. Thanks.... Merry Christmas to all. I love this board and all my quilting friends... Quilter 1234

Painiacs

I knida like each family to a block - saves in the future figuring out who is in which family maybe appliqué something in each block something special to that particular family ?? Suggestion- please don't use puffy paints! A family member
Made u's one and puffy paint looked cute until they cracked! Also makes the quilt stiff!

Rumbols

I vote one block per family and customize it for that family. Like if they have a farm and work with horses, applique a horse on the block. Just a suggestion. You are very thoughtful to think of doing this. Good luck.

nhweaver

I like the 12 block idea for the 12 children, how about something with all the names from each of one of the twelve be embroidered into each block somehow, or written with a quilt marker pen? There is so much that you can do, 12 blocks with the name and dob of each of the 12 children. There are alot of ideas at there, also google memory quilts.

Holice

I did one for my mothers 90th birthday and instead of writing on the blocks, I had people to sign on muslin for the backing. I just feel that in the future there can be bad memories over what happened to and within families.
Also, it gave plenty of space for writing. If you like the idea, then you might do the same for do individual squares for families and piece the back, but again in a light color fabric for the backing. This would sure save a lot of time and frustration getting the blocks back in time for you to finish the quilt which I am told and read is a really huge problem with these type of quilts. I also believe that writing on the front of the quilt gives it limited use.

deemail

grandma wants the names on the front, or she will just turn it over to study them and use it backwards...regardless...
the best way to get as many names as possible at one time is to do it at the party... then you will only have to deal with the people who couldn't get there. This way, lots of moms and dads will just sign their kids names for them when they couldn't make it... fewer strays this way, and a way to include those loved ones who have passed away... and someone will have to put grandma and her husband in a square...in the middle, maybe?

Next, take squares of muslin marked with a border so they will write INSIDE the square... iron them to freezer paper so people can write on them easily. buy three or four fabric pens in dark brown or navy blue. (you don't want to run out of ink in the middle of this project. both colors read as black when on light fabrics, but will not have the stark look of black. they will be softer and blend better with the colors on your block pieces. Now use the section with the name to cut as the center or side piece in whatever block you like. Even a simple log cabin would work... one side of the logs in your 'family code' color and the other side in a neutral. Everything goes with navy or chocolate. All the other family colors would tie together beautifully with each block having something in common. your family color idea is great...can you find 12 separate colors that aren't just shades? ask everyone for $.50 or a $1 donation (not mandatory) to help cover the cost of batting and backing... i think you need to really consider using one block with all the colors. it could get really busy with 12 different design blocks.... but whatever you decide on will be lovely and she will love it... just set yourself a deadline...like 3 months from the party and then send the picture of the quilt to all family members who give you an email address... this needs to be done at the party, too. good luck and half fun...

TanyaL

Why don't you make a family tree pattern? You make the quilt complete and let everyone sign their name on the space where their name belongs. Future generations have a generational record of the family and the relationship of everyone to everyone else. At the party you could give each person a printed record of the family tree for their own records, maybe even research back a few generations.

sdeaaz

Love the idea of a log cabin, with color on one side and neutral on the other... I am going to think about colors....mmmm 12 might be a stretch.... but light and darks should work...

Thanks everyone... keep the ideas coming.... really appreciate it. Quilter 1234

sdeaaz

I love the family tree idea too. My husband says 90 is pretty old for a quilt. Maybe a wall hanging is better. Quilter 1234

Rose L

I don't think 90 is too old for a quilt. It will be an heirloom quilt by it's very nature that can be passed on to maybe her oldest living child and then to the next oldest and so on as the siblings pass away. That way everyone in the family should get a chance to have the quilt, theoretically. It is possible to do a two sided quilt too. You could have all of her children's names on the front and all of her grands and great-grands names on the back. You could even utilize two different album quilts, one for each side. Sounds like a fun project, how very generous of you to offer to make it for her. Best wishes with the project.