Well, I'm kinda new to quilting. My mother taught me sometime last year and I've been working at it since.

I am asking for help because I would like to make a quilt for someone very special. He has been blind and deaf since birth. He has what is called "pin vision" in one eye. Which means he can see about as much as the size of a pin out of one eye.

He lives in a home that my mom works at. Mom heart just aches when she sees him because although he has taught himself a wealth of things throughout his life, he still seems like a lost soul sometimes. For instance, he sometimes lays on the floor curled in a ball because he likes the feel of the sunlight coming in through the window... He mostly communicates by touch. For example. They have a little wall hanging with pockets in his room and if it's supper time and my mom puts a spoon in the pocket and directs him to the wall hanging and he feels the spoon and heads for the kitchen. If they put a piece of coral in the pocket, he knows he's going to get to swim that day and his face just lights up.

Anyway, I would like to make a quilt for him. I was thinking maybe something with alot of different textures so that he could feel each one individually. I'm asking for any help or input that anyone could give. Whether it's design, fabric suggestions or anything else that you can think of that might help. THANKS!!!

You could make him a rag quilt out of several different fabrics.

Welcome to the board from Southern California.
Some Chenille fabric, some Minke, a washable velvet, maybe some lace over cotton. Cordoury fabric with different size wales, a scrap of denim jeans with the pocket on it. Maybe some ric rac type stuff sewn on cotton. Something glittery that you can feel the glitter. Most of these would have to be stabilized because if the stretching.
Would this be used a lot and washed over and over? That would make a difference cause then everything would have to be washable.
Use the brightest stuff you can find so he can see it.
I'm sure there are more ideas out there that someone can give you

What about adding some pockets that could hold different items? It could be something new every day.

Oh, sorry, I guess I should have mentioned that this will be a quilt that will be used often (hopefully) and will need to be washed often but thanks so much for the ideas so far!!! I was thinking of all the different fabrics, but I never thought to make it as a rag quilt or to use a piece of denim with a pocket on it, or ric rac... I'm so glad I decided to ask for help!!!

A block with a chenille design on it
maybe sew "tags" into the seams on a 9 patch blocks, using different fabrics in each block
tie a few blocks with different threads, yarns, ribbons
couch designs on some blocks, using different textured materials. Make some circles, squares, triangles, etc.
Applique some fake fur pieces to blocks
Pintuck some blocks
3 dimensional flying geese blocks
3 dimensional rose buds appliqued onto a block
different textured fabrics appliqued onto the outside border of the quilt

Maybe plaace some pockets on it with small stuffed animals or a ball or something like that. these could be attached with cord and they could be washable also.

I grew up with a blind cousin, and he had a bag of things that he felt , when he was little , dried fruit, toys. Also terri cloth has a great feel. You could tie it instead of quilting it, and he could feel the knots. You can get cotton with raised polka dots.

Or you could quilt different shapes in it and use a deep pile batting , so the different shapes would stand up!

Just a few, hope this helps some.

Even though it is going to be washed often, different fabrics could be used if all are prewashed and dried beforehand. Some I may even wash and dry a couple of times...If they hold up well after this, I would use them. Using the heaviest weight quilting thread you can, he could also trace these designs easily with his fingers, too.

You could make textured fabric using twin needles, sewing across fabric in lines, checks etc. Make fine pleats in another piece, add coarse lace on another (Men wore lace in history), woven strips of fabric or ribbon over a background. There is a book called Tucks Textures, and Pleats , by Jenny Rayment that has great ideas.

Could you sort of sew something right into it- like a few of those glass marbles? For instance: take 2 squares the same size and lay one top of the other, sew seams straight down them making 4 strips, and put one marble inside each strip. Then when you sew the square into the quilt the marbles will be caught inside. But he could move them around from the outside. I think they would wash ok.

Does that make sense?

I love this idea! why stop with marbles. maybe a chess piece or a checker or a ball or any item that had smooth edges!

Great idea Lisa! :wink:

I would go to the fabric strore or even the second hand store and to a touch test, close your eyes and see with your hands, touch as much as you can. find as many as you can that way, you can also embroider line designs where it is only the outline that is used, that way he can trace it with his fingers.

Oh my gosh! Can he read braille? What about embroidering some of that in there too?

I love all your ideas!!! I'm going to the fabric store today to check some things out. I'm definately gonna add the marbles. Also, what if I put some stuffed animals on it with velcro and he could pull them off and put them back on. Also, maybe with the jean pockets he could put things in the pockets.

I don't think he can read braille, but I'm not sure. I'll have to ask, but I'm assuming he can't because he's been deaf and blind since birth, so I'm not sure he could be taught the braille.... I'll ask my mom tonight.

What if I made a button string with ribbon and the buttons could be removed and put back on... Then you could take them off for washing.

I need to start a list... I'll let you know what I find at the fabric store. GREAT IDEAS EVERYONE! THANK Y OU!

Upholstery fabrics have some great textures. if you got some samples they might be perfect too. don't forget a zipper. some snaps, and that fabric with the rubber bumps that goes on the feet of the footy PJ's. I have some dotted swiss that might not hold up to the test, but you are welcomed to it. I also have a pretty good bag of corduroy scraps and I have lots of zippers. If you want any of these things let me know and PM me your addy.

This is going to be an amazing quilt - please, please, please post pictures when you are done and tell us how he likes it!!

Don't forget to put some Yo-Yos on it (fabric ones of course :)

ZIPPERS! What a great idea!!!

I'm not quite sure how to do yo-yo's. I'm a beginner when it comes to quilting. Can anyone let me know how it's done?

Here's a good website for yo-yos:


http://www.quilterscache.com/Y/Yo-YoQuiltingBlock.html

Make sure to post pictures when you're done!

Yoyo quilting. Coming right up.

http://www.quilterscache.com/Y/Yo-YoQuiltingBlock.html

What a great idea...so many suggestions. I thought of sewing a mixture of buttons...the kind youy collect over the years, or you pick up at a yard sale.....big old knobbly buttons that may look ugly but would feel interesting. If you tie the quilt you could incorporate them with the tying.

How old is the person you are making the quilt for?

rag quilt sounds great with some add ons. my mom made my dad a rag quilt that she now use all the time and even after all the washings it feels great, nice and soft!!

how about a fannel quilt it,s soft and a pocket fir his pj,s or a pillow that,s would be nice im proud of you for your concern

Recent studies have shown that babies first recognize shapes and colors in red, white, and black.
A black and white background with a pop of red here and there may be the most appealing to him.
The greatest thing for anyone is to know that someone, somewhere cares enough to share something special.
Any simple quilt pattern with high contrast will be attractive for this client.
Bless you for your extra caring.

Maybe a block with trupunto?

He's in his 40's and he lives at a group home that my mom recently started working at. They do adult training in the afternoon, kinda like school for them, and then my mom is there the rest of the day to help take care of them. They do some really fun things with them though. EAch person gets to choose what they want to do each week for an outing. Ricky loves to swim so he's always reaching for his coral (which means it's time to swim) Mom says he's such a sweet soul even though it's difficult to communicate with him... It just breaks my heart to know that he can't experience something that we all take for granted every day... But, mom says that he's done amazingly well for himself considering the circumstances. I sent in some glow sticks for him last week. He had the flu and was feeling pretty down, but the glow sticks perked him right up... Anyway, big 4th of july weekend coming up. Everyone have a great time and be careful. I'll be scouting for fabrics this weekend and trying to put my quilt design on paper. I'll be in touch next week. THANKS!

How about some 3D pinwheels? Or you could make a line of them like flying geese. .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/campfol...7603964776160/

Here are a few more 3D patterns.

http://www.quilttownusa.com/mom/3dpa...kbeginners.htm

As you can tell, we are all very excited about your quilt! :mrgreen:

I have volunteered and worked with the CNIB here in Canada over the years (not to mention Mum has worked there over 37 years.. retiring this summer)... I have worked around many visually impaired children and adults and have learned about the condition your friend has. One thing I do know is they love anything that is tactile. Something they can really feel with their hands. yes I agree that Rag quilting would be really nice idea. Make your own chenille is another great idea to put into blocks. Applique and 3D applique is also a good idea.

If you went with a crazy patch quilt idea, find fabrics of different textures, shiny, coduroy, denim, velvet, velveteen, soft baby style fabrics.. (I think one is called Cabbage Roll).

I used to do fabric crafts with the children at the summer camps in Central Newfoundland and we played alot with many tactile fabrics and other textiles.

I hope this helps. If I can think of anything else, I will let you know!

Cheers
Andrea

Oh and have you seen this stuff? I saw it at a quilt show and it really looked easy.

http://www.quiltbus.com/confetti.htm

At my church we do prayer quilts and put little wooden crosses inside of some of the squares, then we put ties in them and everyone that says a prayer for the person, ties a knot in the ties. They could just consider them good wishes for him if they are not inclined to say prayers. We also sometimes put wooden hearts in them. These items might need to be made of something other than wood if they will be washed that much but it is an idea just the same.

How about a prairie points, too? You'd have tactile sensation all the way around the quilt.

[quote=Lacey]I love all your ideas!!! I'm going to the fabric store today to check some things out. I'm definately gonna add the marbles. Also, what if I put some stuffed animals on it with velcro and he could pull them off and put them back on. Also, maybe with the jean pockets he could put things in the pockets.




I would attach the stuffed animals with sturdy rick-rack so he can 'find' their home when he is finished...and the animal would 'stay' with the quilt and not be lost.

Just an idea.

There is a 'yo-yo maker' at Hobby Lobby here - so maybe it can be found in other places/stores. EASY and fun to make.

How sweet you are! I'm sure he is gonna love his quilt!