Advice for Kids' Quilt Project?
 

This summer, my DH and I will be hosting a mini "summer day camp," for my 9 yo DGD and a couple of 6 yo girls. I thought it'd be fun to introduce the girls to quilting, so decided to let them each help make a small quilt. My idea is to have each girl help make a small (kid-sized - about the size to cuddle under, on the sofa) quilt. I'm thinking something VERY simple, like large blocks, for which the girls will choose fabrics (which will already be bought and cut) and order of arrangement. Then they can draw simple shapes (on fusible paper-backed web, with or without templates) and choose fabrics for those shapes to become applique. I'll iron the pictures onto the applique fabric, then they'll cut out the shapes. I'll iron and then stitch them onto the blocks, then do the rest of the machine stitching. The quilts will be sandwiched and turned, then I'll just SID the blocks and outline the perimeter. The next day(?), the girls can go back and add ties.

Okay! My question is - in your opinion, which type batting would work best for this project? These little quilts will likely end up being washed a lot. Is there a batting that's sturdier than others, with minimal quilting? Any I should avoid? Needless to say, I don't want to spend a fortune on this. I have Warm & White and some of the lower-loft poly batting. I haven't yet used any of the higher-loft battings but am thinking it'd be more "fun" for the kids . . . but then I'd have to hand out the long needles. :shock: Maybe safer to just stick with the W&W. Opinions? If I use the W&W, the ties may not be needed, depending upon the size of the blocks. Okay, I've just about talked myself out of the higher loft. LOL

Another question - what is THE BEST marking pen, for the girls to use to write their names? I've heard the Pigma eventually fades and I'd hate for that to happen!

Also, any other ideas? I want the girls to be able to do as much of the work as possible BUT need to keep it simple, as a 6 yo's fine motor skills are generally not yet well developed. I want the quilts to showcase THEIR work, not mine. Also, I want the quilts to be something they can USE and not worry about ruining. :)

Thanks, everyone!

Well, I'm off to WalMart again, this time in search of a variety of girly fabrics, on sale! Such a worthy excuse, to buy more fabric! :thumbup:

I like the charm packs for kids to sew. They even make a sudoko quilt kit.

I would suggest having the fabric cut before hand so all they have to do is sew.

Put a pile of post it notes with a large rubber band or tape them down so the seams are all the same. The kids butt the fabric up against it and the seams are. My 6 yr. old son says put the stack next to the right side (1/4" inch seam) then let her sew at the slow speed, not to fast or she could get hurt.
He likes the cotton batting- spray baste and let them quilt in straight lines.

Nessie: Have fun.

I really like your ideas. Do you plan on having the girls piece the blocks together? By hand, or machine? I'm working with my 9 y.o. DGD with sewing projects, but the machine really intimidates her. I don't think a 9 y.o. hand pieced quilt would hold up to washing, but I want her to feel that she really has made this little quilt. Suggestions??

I really like your idea! You are going to be a very popular grandmother. I have taken yarn and instead of sewing it through the quilt, I've sewn in on with my sewing machine...tacked it in place and then tied it. Might be easier and you could use the high loft. A very simple applique pattern could be a heart. The kids could simply draw their heart the way they want and it would be easy to cut out. That just what I would do.

I'm really looking forward to it! :) We need a "BIG SMILE" smilie!!! LOL

I recently read about a kindergarten pillow project. the parent put the pedal on the table and let the child press the pedal to make the machine go. The parent "drove" and had the "speed" limited too. She said the kids loved it. I plan to let my 6year old sew a pillowcase like this once school is out :)

Thanks! I LOVE being a Gramma! :thumbup:

I really like the idea of tacking on yarn, instead of arming them with long needles! :D

I have some templates but I agree it would be cuter, to let them draw freehand. As long as they don't draw too, too tiny! LOL

Thinking it over, after everyone's input, I'm thinking maybe leave off the applique (which I would have to attach) and just trying to let them try out the sewing machine. If we keep the quilts small and the blocks few, I think it might be doable. To simplify matters even more, we could use more-forgiving 1/2" seams.

Thanks SO MUCH for the input, everyone!!! Now I can't wait, to get started!!! :) Am thinking I MAY let my DGD start her quilt early, so as to leave more sewing machine time for the younger girls, later.

What about a String or Crazy quilt?

Do you have time to have them practice without thread on paper first? Then you can get an idea of their confidence and ability before starting on the fabric. In a school project we did a simple 9 patch pot holder and it was pretty easy for most of us. Maybe you could do a square quilt with 9 blocks... 5 of them 9 patch and the other 4 solids. If you get on a roll you can have them do the simple appliqué in the solids, otherwise leave them blank.

I would have time, for my DGD to practice but will probably have to use all time available sewing, with the younger girls, so their quilts will have to be kept as simple as possible. I'm thinking just big squares, sewn together. Originally planned on applique but if I let them do some actual sewing, I think I'll keep anything else to a minimum (the less of MY work, the better, to make them truly theirs).

I found some really pretty fabrics (will have to take a picture and post it)!

Another cool idea. Can they each bring a favorite t-shirt for the center of the quilt? That would be a fun way for them to personalize the quilt. There are also ways to heat set markers or crayons on fabric so they can actually draw on their quilt fabric blocks. I did this with my son and just used different colored sharpie markers. That might be fun. I have used warm and natural for my son's daycare quilt and it have been washed about 75x (once weekly... every weekend) and counting. The red fabric has faded slightly but man has it held up well.

Crayola makes a crayon that can be ironed to heat set. WE've had kids draw pics and add them to quilts. You're supposed to color onto paper and then iron on, but it also works about as well drawing directly onto fabric. (just make sure you heat set with paper between the iron and the piece.

I may be late with my reply, but thought you might like to know. I have a junior quilting group ( ages 6 to 11) we make rug mugs for mother day. They drew a picture muslin with crayola crayon.. Iron the wax out between paper towels. I explain sandwiching as if they were making a peanut butter sandwich. Once the sandwich was made the children were intruduced to to the sewing maching as a group going over the safty rules. Then each child were given a chance to quilt thier mug rug. as I stood by. The 6 year old sit in my lap while I guided her hands. Since our machined do not have speed controll. I put waddes of paper under the foot peddle so the stayed of the "turn pike". Be prepared for "grandma what do I do next? all at the same time. P.S. I cut the muslin before class. I started this group last year with the advice from this board.So my thanks to the many who gave me advice and may they have many blessing

I've made little bows out of thin satin.. then sewed them on the quilt like ties..

Many thanks, for the advice and ideas!

I remember ironing crayon art but also remember having to be careful, about putting those items into the dryer. It'd be a wonderful way, to make a wall hanging, though! Maybe that can be another project, if we have time. :)

The T-shirt idea would be awfully cute but I'm really trying to keep this as simple as possible. Will keep that in mind, though, for another DGD project! :thumbup:

The two younger girls will only be here about four(?) hours a day, for maybe only five days. I'll have to have everything pretty much ready to go and super simple, if they're going to be doing most of the sewing. May need to have a "trial run," with my granddaughter, to make sure I'm not forgetting anything. Guess I should pick up some of that basting spray, next time I'm out. There certainly won't be time for hand basting! :shock: Guess I should make sure I have a good supply of machine needles, too . . . just in case. :p

We'll be doing this, in either June or July, with all three girls. Will share our progress, when the time comes! :)

I really like this book and DVD

http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponlin...play.asp?i=635

Neesie, what a cool grandma you are. Please keep us informed as to how your mini-sewing-daycamp goes. I'm going to be following this. Have fun!!

Neesie, This is such a cool idea.
Last August, several of the ladies in the church association did a quilting camp for girls 8 to 108. They could each make a 4 block lap quilt. The blocks were 12 1/2 finished. They put in sashing and borders. SID and borders.
The youngest just turned 8. The secret to our success was many volunteers, giving each student an adult. I shared myself with two sisters. It was 5 days and two hours. Not good, many days we stayed late or came early to help those who could come.
The only charge was $15.00 to pay for the warm and natural batting. We had lots of donated fabrics that a few of us sorted a head of time.
The girls and adults loved getting to learn to cut the fabrics they chose from the stash. I would have preferred to have premade kits already cut (that we put together ahead of time) and then they could have selected the colors (as they did from the stash). I also cringed at the waste in cutting the batting.
We used the 9 block and patiece corner, two each. We had someone supervise cutting and ironing for safety reasons. Hope this helps. Teresa

Ooooh! I need that . . . for ME! LOL Thanks! :thumbup:

I'm soooo looking forward to this! Here are the fabrics I bought, yesterday (all from WalMart, some on sale). May add a few from my stash, as well. They probably won't use all of the fabrics but I wanted to give them a good choice. Can you tell I'm getting excited about this? :D

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Yes! It does help! Thanks! I need all the success stories, I can get. :) That sounds like so much fun!

Wish I had more people, experienced in sewing, to help. My daughter (27) will be here but she's going to learn to sew, as well. She wasn't interested in it, as a child, so I'm thrilled with her change of heart! Anyway, she'll be able to help me watch those little fingers, around the needle, at least. If I can get her up to speed, before the "camp," maybe we can each take a child and a machine. Hmmmmmm. . . . I need a second chair!!! I KNEW I should've bought two chairs, when they were on sale! :p

We're probably gonna go with 12" - 15" (finished) blocks . . . and I'm thinking 1/2" seams, to give more "ooops" room. Still trying to decide just how many blocks and the finished size. Guess I need to measure different sizes against my DGD, since she's the tallest.

Neesie, very pretty fabrics. They'll have so much fun!

when I did a doll quilt when I was little they just had us pick out charm squares to sew together

This does work well with the pedal on the table right beside the machine. I use the old fashioned laundry pen (Identa pen) for signatures and black and white marking..

That sounds like fun, not sure if anyone mentioned it, but I've had good results with a sharpie that's been heat sealed with my iron on fabric. It hasn't faded in the wash for me.

Sometimes my 7 year-old grandson wants to sew with me. He loves the foot pedal and I can just set the speed for slow on my machine and we sit together and sew.

It sounds like so much fun!

Hats off to you, Grandma. You are ambitious and have thought this through thoroughly. I hope you all have a great day and the little ones will someday want to follow in your footsteps. My little grandson asked me the other day while I was piecing a block, "What is so important about sewing, Nana?"

Those charm squares are awfully cute but I have this thing about pre-washing the fabric; seems like those small squares would end up fraying a lot. When I buy 1/4 - 1/3 of a yard, I wash the piece in a lingerie back and it still frays. How big are those charm squares, anyway?

That sounds really cute . . . but I don't think they'll have that many blocks. Seriously, I'm thinking maybe 9 or 12, most likely they'll be 12" (finished) squares.

I do like the brick idea, though. We'll see how the "super simple" quilts go, then maybe move on to something more involved, next time. :)

Awwww, thanks! This all started because my DD wants to learn to sew . . . so of course my DGD wants to learn, also! Quilts are so much more fun, than skirts . . . and also more forgiving of crooked seams. :)

Thanks for the marker/laundry marker advice! Sounds like heat-setting the ink, must be the key. :thumbup:

I'm a newbie and not sure if this helps but when my gramma first let me sew on the machine she made me wear knit gloves so they would get stitched before my fingers did, but looking back I could have still sewn my finger but the mittens did make me very aware of where my hands were and I was 5. I say God bless you Gramma passing crafts down is an amazing gift to future generations and more people should be doing it.

Neesie, how did the quilting camp go? I'd love to hear all about it!

Oh, yes, please fill us in. Inquirin' minds want ta know.

Had to make a "minor" change, in the plans. We had the three girls here, last week, and did a few other crafts (to test the waters). Turns out the younger girls' fine motor skills are still a bit "young" and while they did stick with a craft, they were both tired of it, before it was finished. On the other hand, my 9.5 yo DGD seems to be powered by Eveready and Duracell, both! We kept her from Thursday through Sunday, after my DD took the other two back. Friday, she picked out her fabrics, then I got the squares cut. Then she decided how she wanted them arranged. On Saturday and Sunday, she learned to pin and sew! We used the post-it notes block, for a seam guide . . . but I think next time, she'll graduate to using a strip of painters' tape, as a guide. Will post some pictures, in a bit (gotta get them off of my camera). She did VERY well, for her first time! Practiced briefly, on a strip of scraps, then I let her have the squares. Had to rip/redo a few minor parts but overall, she did really great . . . and she loves it! Once she gets off of the slow speed, it'll be much more fun. I did do a heart applique, with her name and date, but all of the rest, she did! We only got the top done and will put on the backing, next time she comes over. :)

Will return, in a bit, with pictures. Gotta feed this silly dog, first (she's reminding me it's mealtime). :p

Right. I feel that sewing is so important because of the generations before us all sewed. Then it was a need. Now we use it more of a hobby.