How large a square

[Chrissy1]

Well, here I am, frustrated becasue I want so bad to get something done for my sister to share with her grandsons while our niece goes through her surgeries and treatments afterward. I have a wonderful lady in our area that can machine quilt in a hurry. My idea is taking a lot of these wonderful colorful playful kid fabrics that a friend gave me, cut them into simple squares and put them togther ramdomly. Does this sound reasonable. What size square can I make that will go quickly? thank you in advance for any advise

[harleyquilter]

I did 8" squares for a quick quilt, Went together quickly. Quilted allover and it was pretty spiffy.

[Evie]

How about a 6 1/2" square and alternate with a 6 1/2" nine patch. Use blue for the four corners and center block and a light color for the other four. That way it will look like a single Irish Chain and the blue squares would run diagonally on the quilt.

Here's an example of what I mean:

http://www.quilterscache.com/N/NinePatc ... Page2.html

You could make the plain square a 12 1/2" square and the nine patch would be made up of 4 1/2" squares.

a 9 1/2" plain square would need a nine patch made up of 3 1/2" squares.

a 6 1/2" plain square would need a nine patch made up of 2 1/2" squares.

Those are unfinished sizes.

The plain square would be your kids fabric. The larger the square the faster the quilt would go together.

Also, El's way of making a nine patch is to sew 3 strips of fabric together. One set would be for example, dark blue - white - dark blue. press seams toward the dark strip. Second strip would be white - dark blue - white, press seams toward the dark. Then, after pressing, you take a ruler and cut 2 1/2" segments for the 6 1/2" nine patch, or 3 1/2" segments for the 9 1/2" nine patch or 4 1/2" segments for the 12 1/2" nine patch.

Then sew a dark - light -dark to a white - dark - white,
then sew another dark - light - dark onto it to create a nine patch.

Once you step through it once, it will go real fast. I will try to find an on-line example of what I just said.

[Evie]

Here's some examples of what I meant:

http://quilting.about.com/od/babyquiltp ... nine_2.htm

http://www.ideas-for-quilting.com/strip ... ecing.html

http://www.quiltingassistant.com/9patch ... patch.html

[beccasmom]

I like 6 1/2 inch squares. they are a good size and a quilt comes together quickly.

Brenda

[Kittyquilt9292]

Chrissy, how about a ragg quilt? I know that you said you've made a zillion LOL of them, mostly flannel, but I've seen them made with cotton. Those fun fabrics you've received would make a lovely bright one. hugs, carol/kittyquilt