When my daughter was in about 5th grade, she went to Vacation Bible School with a friend. One of the activities was to lay out a quilt block (the fabrics were precut in squares and triangles and backed with Wonder Under-type material) on a muslin square then the ladies ironed it to secure it THEN overnight zigzagged around each shape so each kid got their finished block back the next day. I blanket stitched hers to a throw pillow that was about the right size (maybe 16 x 16?).....maybe you could try this with some of the littler ones.