Hello everyone: My daughter now wants to make a doll quilt, after watching how much fun I'm having. So, she and I were talking tonight and she wants to do a doll quilt swap too. I thought, hey, why not? So, I'm putting my feelers out...anyone out there with a child/grandchild/godchild/neice/neighbor etc., who wants to make one? I think it needs to be a child's level, not an experienced sewer...or...Perhaps we can do a "rank" of experience level and match up those kids...or perhaps there will only be one other child interested and this will be a two-child exchange. Anyway, I'd love to hear feedback and interest level...My daughter was already thinking about what kinds of "goodies" she would throw in with the quilt...

Has anyone done this sort of thing before? I know I'm not as comfortable with the idea that she would post and look online..I limit her exposure to the internet. However, I still think it could be contained, safe and a fun experience!

I don't have anyone who might like to do this, but I have a suggestion:

I have used quilting in my classroom (1st grade). One way to keep things organized and of a level the children can do, I suggest the children be assigned a particular idea the then they can decide on fabrics, colors , buttons etc. I have been amazed at how well my students could quilt. The first square might be 2 pieces of fabric and some batting. It could be tied with yarn. No binding, just sew the sides closed, and mail.

The second exchange could be 4 squares, cut and pinned by the child. Stitched with Mother's help. Then add batting and backing. I would tie this one and not bind it, just stitch closed.

The focus should be teaching the skills necessary to begin sewing. Cutting, measuring, matching colors, planning, pinning, ironing. By the third quilt, you could use interesting buttons to quilt the blanket.

If the child is very young, it might be a good idea to use a piece of flannel for a batting because it is easier to get a needle through. A slender knitting needle works well for 'pre-punching' stitching holes for yarn. An embroidery hoop can be used to hold the center tight so a child can stitch letters or designs into later quilts.

My first graders made a quilt block each month. At the end of the year, we stitched them into 9-patch rag quilts. It was awesome.

Gwyn

PM me if you want my help :wink:

I think this is a wonderful idea Esq - I don't know if Joey might be up for it or maybe he's too little. Though he HAS been working on a flower of EPP - just 7 hexs joined together. This has taken him several weeks though! :shock: If he's happy to send it away, I guess he could sew it onto a plain background then I could help him sandwich it and sew it closed like Gwyn suggests. Between you and me, it certainly won't be up to your daughter's standard but then he IS only 7! :shock: :lol:

I agree that there may be issues with looking and posting on here - I think only over 18s are technically allowed. Maybe check with Admin? :D

What a great idea! I don't have any willing participants here, but I'm sure there will be interest. In the past we've sent fabric to young new sewers introduced by our board members, so I don't think Admin would have an issue.

Wow it sounds like so much fun. I wish my granddaughter Maddy was closer because I know she would love to do it but she is 400 miles away and no one to help her sew at that end. Darn!!

I have no little ones here but this sounds like a great idea.

I'll swap with her! I'm a kid at heart!! Can I have See's candy as the extra goodies? lol

I don't have any small ones, but this sounds like a great idea!

This is a fantastic idea - I wish I had all my great nieces (nephews) living closer to me - they'd be in... My kids are too old to fit the criteria... bummer. I think passing on the art of quilting is such a wonderful thing! I would love to find the way to do it too!

Well, lots of posts that it's a good idea. perhaps Joey and Sophia can do an exchange? I'll give it a few more days...I know Sophia really wants a quilt to arrive in the mail for her, and she would love to pull one together. If it's for a boy, I think we can come up with good ideas for it!!

Terri - nice try - some people will do anything to get a quilt, eh??? :lol: :lol:

I think it's the See's Terri wants this time!

I'm sure Joey would love to swap with Sophia - just not sure Sophia would like to swap with Joey! :? Like I said - it's his first go, but I'm sure with help he can come up with SOMETHING! :lol:

Maybe give others a while to jump in - there must be more sewing age kids out there! Then we can match ages and abilities more closely.

Sophia would not care if it's a boy or a girl...my son William would, but that's another story! I had to talk him into inviting some girls to his bday party. He was worried they would get him "girl" presents!! It was funny too because at his party he spent a lot of time hanging with the girls!

I will definitely give this a few more days, it's got to be appealing to a few kids out there!

Gwyn, I kept meaning to respond to you! Thanks for your terrific suggestions. I know my daughter is in 5th grade and took a quilt class over the summer so she thinks she knows it all. She needs help sewing straight lines, and organization, so I will be there to guide her. She does not want me too involved (but won't let me leave the room!!). However, I think these ideas are great for the younger ones.

Ha! Joey hasn't yet got the 'girls are creatures from another planet' thing. I guess he's younger than William? At carnaval a while ago, he was adamant that he had to be dressed as a prince - turned out all the girls in his class were going as princesses! :lol:

Smart boy...getting on their good side while they are young!!

William is 7, and he's been like this for a few years. It seems to be just his make-up, lord knows his mommy is a "women's-lib" kinda gal! He actually thinks boys are better at things like sports - probably all the media with boys/men involved in the sports that he sees, but my daughter plays soccer, and he goes to all her games. Who knows where it comes from!

They're the same age then - I guess it's just genetic make up! :D

I know my daughter would LOVE to participate, but she is only five!

When my daughter was 5 she sewed TONS of little things on one of those toy sewing machines. Her dolls have blankets made from every scrap you can imagine. Maybe that would work for some of you all.

I will ask my kids if they would like to participate in this, they have liked watching my quilts come in the mail.

I just asked Joey and he's up for it! I like the idea of crazy - scrappy! It could even be done on a foundation of thick flannel à là QAYG then no need to sandwich; I wonder if at 7 he's too young for the sewing machine? He's pretty adept and careful.

7 is not to young for the sewing machine, I started the youngest before she was 5. I had to put a milk crate under the foot pedal so she could reach it. SHe does all sorts of things by herself now, she loves the serger as well.

OK thanks Cute - maybe I'll get my old spare out and let him loose on that! :D

Ok Kenzie will do it!

There is not a whole lot that they can do to the machine, nothing that you couldn't do accidentally, just have him be careful with pins, the worse danger. And if there is a speed control, turn it down so he can't go that fast, I have taught all three kids to sew, even my son who is currently 13. He was learning the big embroidery machine the other day. If he is interested, now is the time to catch him. you obviously know that there is some really easy things that he can start with and get good results to help keep him interested.

I used to sew with the wee one on my knee for a lot of years before she started.

Oh both my kids already know all about pins:! do not walk in bare feet - check the arm of the sofa before leaning on it! :shock: :lol:

That's great! :D

I meant if they have things pinned, make sure that the pull them and not sew over them, it is rare but you can hit one square on, and things can go flying. but yes, kids have had them stuck, in fact, DS had one buried up to the head straight up his foot. :shock: I had to get pliers to get it out.



I bet Kenzie will have a lot of fun doing it. I have yet to ask my kids, they are not home from school yet, though they are a little older than 5, they would love to get something that she made,

My machine is a cheapy so I don't have to worry about her messing it up I think if that were going to happen I or the two year old would have already done it, I fear her sewing a finger!

I think since my machine doesnt have a stitch regulator I will see about fashoning one out of a dowel stick to the foot pedal!

Mine hasn't either and THAT is an excellent idea! :D

It is really hard to sew a finger, if it was easy, chances are that I would have done it, just have her hands on the table, they won't slide under the foot that way, And to start with if she doesn't have any experience, you can sit her on your knee and do the speed while she works the material until she gets more comfortable with it. and then you are right there to watch her.

Cutebuns, Thank you for giving ME the confidence to do this. LOL
She has always watched me sew and play with scraps and tell me how she wanted them sewn together to make whatever she wanted! I always knew I would teach her to sew just didn't know when but I guess there is no time like the present! Right?

Right, I was a stay at home mom from the time the youngest was 1, and so we would spend a lot of time at the machine. she sat on me and one day she asked if she could help. so I of course said yes. (all three of my kids love to play with scraps) and so off we went. and the oldest is running aorund making bags and dresses and such right now. she is doing a good job as well. It is now the time to do it, when they are interested and they don't have a fear of the machines like an adult may. my youngest has been playing with the serger for years, how many people on the board say that they are scared of them? off she goes, serging all sorts of things. My 15 year old uses the big embroidery machine much better than a friend of mine that has more then twice the time on it.


She will have no such issues, she will just know that she can do it.

You can use an eraser to stop the foot control from going all the way down. (Read that on a site on how to teach kids to sew)

I will ask my kids 9yrd son and 11yrd daughter. They like machine sewing. Hope I can post a good reply from them.

So far I have two yes's, one from the youngest, 12 and then my son 13(as long as he gets to do two so he can keep one) and the oldest, Hammy, isn't home yet.

I now have a third yes that they would like to participate. And the oldest when asked if she minded getting a quilt from a 5 year old, thought that it would be cool. So you don't need to worry about her age and trying to match her up with anyone near her age or anything. All my kids love little kids and everything that they do.

Since you are all real quilters, I'm sure you have better ideas than this, but here is what we used to do.

My daughter took her little toy sewing machine and sewed all the scraps she like together to make a pretty "pattern". At 5 she was able to understand right sides together and such as that. When it was big enough to suit her, we'd cut a piece of flower sack towel to fit it. She would sew three sides and then turn it like a pillow. I'd turn the open end under for her, pin it and let her top stitch it closed and all around the other 3 sides.
She would then take embroidery thread (usually some wild outlandish color) and tie her blanket.

They were never perfect and not often pretty but she loved to make them and they kept all her dolls from Barbie to babies warm.

My youngest is also in 5th grade and she's the same exact way..now you know why Lorel' is my friend! :-)
I'm pretty sure she'll want to as she saw my quilt for the swap and she wanted it :-) :roll: :lol:

i don't have time to read the entire thread right now, off to doc's, but my niece samantha would love to do this.

she's 5, some of you might have seen her work, i always post her stuff on the forum.

I think this is such a wonderful idea!!!:D:D:D
One thought came to me...you could start with a cheater panel square in the middle and sew the borders on separately or sandwich it in a QAYG manner...
I can't wait to see these little cuties... what a great way to keep those youngin's interested or to get them started in sewing 8) 8) 8)