Are square quilts usually meant to go on the wall?

[susan m.]

I would like to make a queen size bed quilt as a gift. I'd really like to make a Rhapsody quilt, but, since the Rhapsody quilt is square, it seems more suited to being displayed on a wall. Do most people who make the Rhapsody quilt, or any other square quilt, mainly do so for use as a wallhanging?
I am the same person who posted here a while back, trying to find instructions for making the Rhapsody into a rectangle. Though severa kind people took the time to make suggestions, I still am struggling to accomplish this. So I'm back to thinking I should just follow Ricky's original instructions and make a square quilt --- but wonder how useful this would be to the recipients who are more in need of bedding than art. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

[Kathryn S.]

Hi Berni, if it's for a queen size bed, those quilts are often square. As a matter of fact, I'm using my Stars for a New Day BOM 2009 on my bed now. It doesn't bother me that it doesn't go over the foot of the bed. My quilt is about 80 x 80 inches.
Kathy

[Margo C.]

I actually prefer square quilts for my bed! No matter which way I put it on, it's always right side up!! LOl!!

[susan m.]

Wow- I wish I would have asked this question a long time ago! I guess I thought I had to make a rectangle! So- thanks a bunch., Kathy and Margo. The shape of a queen mattress is almost square, so it makes sense that an 80 x 80 would be fine.
But now, I think I will have a new problem. If I remember right, there was some mention in Ricky's book that it would be difficult to make the Rhapsody as large as 80 X 80. I will have to doublecheck.

[Margo C.]

So just make the Rhapsody part whatever size you want, and just add some complementary borders if you need to make it larger!

[Hannelore N.]

It doesn't really matter (in my humble opinion). A nice quilt will always look great on a bed. My bed quilts often seem to take on a life of their own and end up an overall size that I didn't plan. That all adds to the fun, right!

[Jill B.]

I find a square bed quilt is the best for me also, as suggested just add huge borders all around for quilting.

My bed quilts are usualy made this way, that way the quilt will go right up to the bed head and then to the floor on the other three sides. I find it so much easier to sleep under with no fighting over the quilt .....lol lol lol

You could also just adjust the huge borders to fit the bed with the Rhapsody section in the place you want it.

[Jill B.]

I quilt to feed my creativity so I don't go by any real rules. Attributed to Freud: Quilting is better than therapy. As a result I start with an idea and do my own thing or in other words I am a non-conformist. If it makes sense to me I don't worry about what the original designer's intention was. I have no problem of whether the quilt is square or rectangular as to where it should live. A lot of my quilt's final dimensions have been determined by the amount of fabric I have to divide up for the borders. So some that I envisioned to be square ended up rectangular as a result.

[Jill B.]

All of your comments got me thinking that you could actually do several smaller Rhapsady type pieces and put them together with sashings - I think that would be amazing!!

[susan m.]

That is one awesome idea, Chessiesoul! I can see real possibilities with that. It sounds especially appealing since, now that I have drawn my pattern, enlarged it and put it on my design wall, I see how large the pieces are and I'm a little daunted by the size. I know that part of the impact of the Rhapsody quilt is that it's one large radiating design, but this idea could be really spectacular in its own right. I tried the practice square from Ricky's book -- about 16 inches -- and did all the applique. It's beautiful -- and I could picture putting many of these together. I guess it'd be like a Baltimore album. Thanks for something new to think about!

[Jill B.]

Totaly agree Chessiesoul what a great idea