Time for me to make a manly man lap quilt as a get well gift when my brother has his hip replaced. What I have now are 3 twelve inch squares each of three wool menswear small creamy plaids. I was thinking of making 'bow tie' blocks or maybe just using the plaid squares set on point like a mini soduku grid. The pattern repeat is 4.5".
Any better ideas?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rho*,

A customer at my LQS used a tulip purse pattern to make a purse out of menswear plaid like yours. Really looked good.

http://pursepatterns.com/index...info&products_id=674

That purse is so gosh darn cute and the plaid would make it even more so!

I don't have any suggestions but somehow I don't think your brother would appreciate the purse!!

Check out the free patterns from Maryquilts.com and Quiltville.com. Both have nice patterns suited to plaids, esp brick type designs. I'm sure they'd be nice in lightweight wools. I have a nice tote of deconstructed men's shirts waiting for me to start cutting- maybe this winter.

Have you seen the "Hobo Quilts" by Debra Henninger? It was just exactly what I was looking for when I wanted to make a comfort quilt for my cousin, Don, while he is going cancer "stuff". It was fast and easy and very interesting as each block was based on the secret language of riding the rails and gave a little story about each one. Great quilt for a guy--My cousin loves it !!!