Turn panels into one-of-a-kind quilts

Fabric panels are colorful, detailed, printed designs on fabric for making quilts, wall hangings, or other craft projects. The panels come in a variety of sizes and are ready to be made into anything that inspires you. While panels offer so many creative options for your quilting game, the difficult part can be getting started and creating clever designs, combining panels and fabrics, and other nitty gritty details.

One thing we can’t deny is that quilters of all skill levels can have fun with panels.

Fun with Panels by Cindy McChesney has an easy-to-follow introduction to panel quilts along with various techniques. With a panel quilt, much of the work is done for you, so your quilt comes together quickly.

I especially like her brainstorming list. Cindy says, “I tack a sheet of scrap paper on my design wall and jot notes and ideas for several days before I begin designing, graphing, cutting, and sewing. Make notes about what you really love about this panel or who the finished project is for, and what you want this quilt to say.” I found this advice to be helpful when designing my quilt.

I bought this panel several years ago and just didn’t know what to do with it, it was cream, black, and white, and I was stumped. After looking through Cindy's book, I hung it on the wall and then realized it would make a great Halloween quilt. My sister Annie is a huge Halloween fan. It is her favorite holiday, and she loves decorating her house with spooky stuff. So now I knew who it was for, and I also knew where she could hang it, so that helped determine the size.

Next, I found some fun, retro Halloween fabrics and got to work. I liked using the Half Square Triangles because they create movement and allow the colors to pop.

From start to finish, this was done in 8 hours. Granted, I am pretty fast when I get into my get-it-done mode. But still less than a day! 

I made the HSTs, added the sashing, and pieced it together. My plan all along was to quilt spooky words, and I did. I am not a great quilter by any stretch of the imagination, but once I started, I was able to free-motion quilt, Boo, Witches, Happy Halloween, Trick or Treat, Monsters, and more. It was enjoyable and fast. I also did the spider web in the right-hand corner because why not. If I had not seen Cindy’s book, this panel would have stayed in my stash for years. And you know what? I have a Frida Kahlo panel, and I am going to make that for my sister Jennie’s birthday!

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This blog post is written by C&T Publisher Amy Barret-Daffin 

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