denise d

I am new to quilting and long story short is my husband is retiring from the Navy in August.

I am thinking of making a scrappy quilt for him; some patriotic stuff, trains, cars, etc. Anyway, how the heck do you decide what to put where and if all of the ideas go together?

Officially, I am having a hard time getting my brain wrapped around how to execute this and get it out to be quilted before August.

Also, can a fleece panel be used as backing for a quilt?

Thanks everyone. :)

rusty quilter

Put your designs where they make sense to you--or to the timeline of your husbands career. It is sometimes nice to just make the squares, then arrange them on your bed until you like the look. Good luck--it will be fun!

denise d

Thanks!

I am just trying to find a way make it all work together. Instead of doing a time line, I was thinking of doing more of his interests. Lionel trains, cars, college sports, the kids, guns, the military, etc.

ckcowl

choose a common background fabric, like a light blue, or something that (goes)
then frame each of your (topic) blocks with the background- which will pull it all together-
add some contrast (unless the theme blocks are contrast enough)
and yes a fleece panal can be used for a back....check around though if you plan to send it out for quilting- some quilters like working with fleece-some do not.

hopetoquilt

Look at this t-shirt quilt as a pattern idea. http://quilting.about.com/od/picture...hirt-Quilt.htm

It shows how to frame t-shirts (or in your case fabrics). Hope this triggers some ideas about how to take several different fabrics and unite them in one quilt. Maybe use black for the sashing...

ontheriver

I was in Pensacola the other day at LQS The Quilting Station and saw the neatest BlUe Angels fabric. My hubby was Navy to for 22 years.

SYLVIA HACKE

Someone told me that i could not use fleece for batting or backing because it does not shrink like the cottons, has anyone used fleece before with no problems, i would love to use it on the baby quilt that i'm doing.

Painiacs

Did one for hunny. Cut out squares laid them on floor switched them around till I liked it. U can use fleece for backing. Might be harder to quilt. Not sure. I used a sheet!

wolfkitty

I have heard quite a few people have used fleece for backing. You also might even be able to find it in a Navy theme, if you'd like.

denise d

Thanks everyone. I am slowly getting it together. I found the fleece backing I want to use. Hubby is a huge UF fan, and I found a panel that looks like a UF locker room.... He will love it.

My other thing, is I want to surprise him... and my deadline is sort of tight. I have been sketching out my ideas to see if I might like it, but until I get the last of the fabric that I am using, I still have a few unknowns.

Thanks for all the help.... I love this board.:)