Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Scary Fabric

Every quilter has a fabric like this in her stash.

Well, maybe not exactly like it. Dinosaurs in boxer shorts with a background of clubs is a mite unusual. (And if you click on it for a closer look, you'll notice that the boxer shorts have a pattern of doggie bones on them. Wooo!)

What I really meant was that every quilter has fabric which engenders the same response in everyone who sees it: "Why did you buy that? What were you thinking?"

I bought this fabric many years ago from a vendor at a quilt show. The reason? It was so appalling that I just had to have some. And it's lain in my stash ever since.

Until now.

I have an eighteen month-old grandson, and it occurred to me that I could make a quilt for him from this fabric. He is the first male grandchild in the family and has three older, and very forceful, sisters. I think he needs a quilt that screams, "I'm a guy!"

I have less than a yard and a half of this stuff, so I can't simply use it as a backing for otherwise conventional little boy's quilt. What pattern could I use that would display these dinos in all their glory. I turned to my quilting sisters on the Quiltville Chat, a Yahoo Group of ladies who love making scrappy quilts from Bonnie Hunter's patterns. I've gotten some cool suggestions, but if you have have one too, please let me know in the comments box. Fabric this awesome only comes along once in a lifetime.

P.S. My son, Fillius, was just reading over my shoulder and said, "Mom, some fish need to be thrown back into the think thank."

10 comments:

Jafael said...

I adore that fabric! I think it is perfect for a boy with three older sisters. I look forward to seeing the quilt you eventually make from it!

The Calico Quilter said...

You could understand a fabric designer having a really weird day and coming up with that - but how to explain the number of managers and money-counters around whom they would have to run interference to actually get it to the mills...? Makes you start wondering if they need mandatory drug testing in the fabric industry.

Bonnie said...

It would look great as either a Happy Block or Twisted Happy Block from Mary Quilts. http://www.maryquilts.com/twisted-happy-block-quilt/
This link will take you to the Twisted Happy block. You could pull two or three colors from the fabric and use them for the twists. Very easy too. Should be very cute and boyish.

Quilter Kathy said...

That is hysterical! I don't have anything that interesting in my stash!
What about a pattern like this at Mary's site:
http://www.maryquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/boxed-squares.pdf
She used 2 1/2" strips but you could make larger blocks so you can see the dinosaurs better. This would let you add in some bright colours since this fabric is a tad bit boring in colour for a youngster!

SandyQuilts said...

I vote for the Warm Wishes pattern
http://sandyquilts.blogspot.com/2008/05/tiger-team.html

Pattern at
http://www.quiltmaker.com/patterns/details.html?idx=5185_

This pattern makes focal fabrics pop.

Catholic Bibliophagist said...

Wow! So many good suggestions. It's going to be hard to choose just one.

Pat L said...

I agree with SandyQuilts, Warm Wishes is a good pattern for fabric like this. Very easy to make too.

Anonymous said...

many years ago I did make a quilt out of that for my son to replace the one he had worn to shreads. I just used a pattern from Ursula Riekes Easy Baby patterns books.

Louise said...

What an unusual fabric, and very much a "guy" fabric. You could still use it as a back, if you find another fabric that looks well with it, and piece the back. ....Or...make a matching pair of father-son boxer shorts for your son and grandson? (just kidding)
Louise

Catholic Bibliophagist said...

Anonymous,

You made a quilt out of this very fabric??? Wow! How amazing is that?