As a long time scout leader, I agree with Bella. Mothers are much worse than the kids! Most rules are needed to govern pushy moms.

Big nine patches might be easy but attractive too.

What about a simple 4 patch alternating with a plain block? Gives them a clue of strip piecing; no points to match up and easy as pie. Then birth and tie the quilts? Could some of the adults cut the strips ahead? I've helped my niece's 4th grade class do a similar project in the past. Have another upcoming one in a month or so. The adults did all the cutting ahead and there were no machines. All the kids sewed by hand. Since they are working with machines you should be able to get a reasonable number of quilts done, especially if they are rotating stations.

how about the 1600 quilt = otherwiseknown as the fastest quilt top ever.....precut 2.5 inch strips, have them stitch them together end to end, fold, stitch the long side, fold, etc. You can always add appliques if you want more than strips.

Agree with this. I've had 3 niece/nephews do just a big 4 patch as their first projects and they loved doing it and making them. It's a quick success for them and me!

Anita Grossman Solomon published a pattern for a 3-fabric quilt. You use three different but coordinating fabrics cut one yard each, and the yield is three tops. I think it was published by Quiltmaker Magazine and may even be available on their website. It is minimal cutting and piecing but you get really cute quilts.

This would be a perfect pattern for the girls. I worked with Girl Guides of Canada for 25 years before moving to the USA and I would have done this with Guides or Pathfinders aka Juniors of Cadettes (do they still call them that here in the USA) The girls would not have to have "perfect seams" because if they are a little wonky it wouldn't matter!

I think D9P would be great. Cut all the squares ahead of time and let them do the rest

I've done pillowcases with sewers as young as 7 as well as newbies of all ages. The jelly roll quilts are also easy for newbies. How about the quick strippie on Maryquilts.com? Looks impressive, all straight seams. Mix and match 3 fabrics- nothing simpler, no seams to match. Or rows of pieced 6 1/2" squares alternating with width of fabric strips. Again- no seams to match. The most giggles seemed to come from the pillowcases being unrolled. I'll be making more for a local hospital Saturday with a church TLC group. Members are 8 to almost 90. For more experienced sewers- I agree with many of the other great suggestions.

If you get to chose the fabric, I'd be tempted to find panels and then just frame them out. I'm assuming each girl will do one? I'd think you'd need ever bit of four hours to sandwich and pin and sew and tack.