I've bought panels several times and then added pieced blocks and/or borders around the edges. There are some precious fabric sets out there with panels, borders and yardage so you can mix and match. I usually buy one of the companion fabrics for the backing too. I also always make my baby quilts large. They're tiny babies for such a short time, if it's larger, it will last through toddler years for naps as well.

Here's the back of the snowball quilt made with Terrain by Moda fabrics.

My favorite is a quicky pattern....way fast and easy.

I recently made a baby quilt out of Free Spirit soft prints. I made a variation of Jacob's ladder. It was very simple - each block consisting of two four patch and and two half square triangles. I made the different smaller blocks like an assembly line then assembled each block. You can arrange the blocks in any design and there was no sashing required. Good luck.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]354259[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]354260[/ATTACH]

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. They make up very quickly & are so cute.

I agree with the D9P - just did one for a new little one but I also added prairie points to it for something different this time. It turned out really cute and if I ever figure out how to post a picture I'll post one.

I just finished making one for my future grandson due in November. I used Eric Carle's "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" fabric, which is VERY colorful, and it includes a border on both selvages. You just have to add a border on the top and bottom with the coordinating fabric. Very easy to just quilt around each block in the fabric and quilt the border as piano keys. Hopefully you can find it in a local shop, or online. I'd post a pic of it, but haven't got the camera on hand right now. I'm sure if you google the fabric you'll find it online.

I just found a link:
http://www.carlemuseum.org/Shop/Fabr...r_Fabric_Line/

Ditto on this one. I have made some really cute (and very easy) baby quilts, adding borders to panels.

Hmmm.....need to make a quilt for a baby due this fall. Thanks for all the neat ideas. I just may have to try that disappearing nine patch.

One I did to use up scraps I don't have a great picture of. But I used 3 1/2" squares just but with 12 random blocks I put 4 prairie points on them so you can open them like little doors to see the block underneath. If I'm being confusing I can take a pic and post it. Turned out really cute