What is her level of understanding of how things fit together? She could try a block of the more complicated quilt using stash material and then you both could decide what to do from there.

Whatever she does it should be something she really likes. I know of several quilters who started out with more complicated quilts and finished them because they loved making them.

Just make sure you can do the quilt she chooses as you are her mentor.

ali

Rail fence, log cabin

My 14 year old DD did the warm wishes pattern all by herself, I think she did a great job. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t204321.html
It's a great pattern with a main focal fabric

I agree. Alex Andersons beginning quilt book is wonderful - good illustrations and nice patterns for beginners.

Maybe you could take your student to a quilt shop and let her browse the fabrics and look at the kits. She may see a kit that is perfect or she could help choose her fabrics.

do you have a couple beginner books around? i would allow her to choose a pattern & the fabrics- she may have very different tastes than you-
when my nephew's girl friend decided she wanted to make a quilt i cringed & shuddered over her choices- but she was liking them and completed the quilt---she was so proud of it--and she gave it to her grandmother as a special gift-who was thrilled- it was pink & brown & i hated everything about it- but it was not mine & i didn't have to work on it....had it been something i had to work on it never would have been done.
if you have a stash maybe she could (shop) your stash- then let her look through beginner patterns or pictures on the internet-
all 3 of my grandaughters made their first 2 or 3 quilts without patterns- they chose fabrics they liked-wanted to make into quilts- layed them out & made them the way they wanted- loved them-were very proud of them and were (hooked) on sewing. basically learning to stitch a straight line, cut & iron are the basics- from there--the sky is the limit & teens have such keen eyes & imaginations to be creative if given the opportunities.

I agree with everyone else ... on letting her pick her colors but my advice would be cut 2.5 inch wide strips of your stash and let her pick the strips she would like to use in her rail fence or log cabin.... then use a multicolor print for the border or black (teenagers love black) Since she is a newby and probally does not know how to use a rotary cutter or how to sew a 1/4 inch seam ...practice first on some scrap fabrics.... make sure they use the same machine throughout the sewing of the quilt. Show them a pic of the quilt and let them know it will take more than one hour to make the blocks allow extra time because it always take more time... the reason I know this is because I helped teach teenagers and younger to sew quilts and pillowcases and lunch bags... Summer quilt camps for the kids...
hugs and bless you for doing this..

I love this idea! 1/4" seams aren't crucial because there are no intersecting seams and I think she'd get a kick out of cutting the fabric (of her choice, of course).

There is a great tutorial for the Double Layer Slice on the Doodlebug website.

http://doodlebugshouse.blogspot.com/...quilt-top.html

I would do rail fence or warm wishes with fabric she loves and that will have a great effect when finished. IOW, great fabric contrast colors.

I love this video tutorial on the Irish Chain by Jenny Doan at Missouri Star Quilting Company. Makes it really easy. The link is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHfIX...eature=mh_lolz

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