Picking a quilt pattern to use with fabric from your stash.

[LancasterFan4]

Hi everyone would you all be so kind as to tell me how you choose a quilt pattern that uses fabrics from your stash.

[Suzquilts]

I would start by choosing a pattern you like, seeing what you have in your stash that will fit and then, if you have to (oh twist my arm) buy any additional fabric needed to fill out the required yardage for the pattern. If your stash is anything like mine, you have some fabrics that go together really well and you just need one or two more to get the look you're going for. All of this is only IMHO of course.

Suz

[Kittyquilt9292]

I, too, start with a pattern I like, then go to the stash. I usually look at the number of different colors in the pattern as a guide line. Often times I have a specific color or colors in mind and then begin the "trip through the stash". Usually the fabrics will jump out at you and "ask to be in a certain pattern" <smile>. Or I decide that I want to use a certain type of fabric, such as strips or florals and then look for a pattern that will nicely use that kind of fabric. That often gets complicated, though. IMHO, best process is pattern first, then fabric. carol/kittyquilt

[LancasterFan4]

Thank you so much for your ideals. My stash is almost always only feed when DH takes me to Lancaster PA for a break. I need to take a pattern with me I guess because I always seem to have medium and dark fabrics when I come home. Any ideals for amounts to get if pattern is not chosen.

[zfatcat]

Like the others, I pick my pattern first, then decide on fabric. Lori

[cindyg]

I pick pattern first and then fabric.

[busylady]

When I was reading the August issue of American Patchwork & Quilting I saw a pattern that would use up some of my stash and would appeal to my style of quilting. It was titled Crossroads. Pictured was a contemporary crossroads quilt and a retro crossroads. The retro fit my stash best. It was a very pretty quilt and very simple. Best of luck in your search.

[knitnoid]

Occassionally, I'll pick the fabric first, but generally, I have an idea of what I'm going to make when I go to my stash. I find it much more challenging to have a fabric and then need to find a pattern, but it's not impossible.

Like others, I'll pull what I have from my stash, and then buy what I need -- I try to limit that to borders/sashing and backing -- since I have very few large pieces in my stash.

[fabricgirl]

Lancaster usually I find the pattern before the fabric but when Im in lancaster and thats usually twice a year I have something in mind but I will tell you this these Ladies of this fourum allways have alot of good Ideas.


fabricgirl

[grammiequilts]

I usually pick the pattern then pull from my stash what I have then to the lqs to buy what I dont have