I run a charity group that make quilts for children in the care of The Children's Aid Society. It seems like everytime we send our quilts in , we're short of quilts for boys aged 8-14!!!! I just delivered quilts and we were severely lacking in these. Can you suggest a line of fabric or something that might really work, sport novelty has been used, but everyone has a different passion. I'm thinking maybe a black and white that looks like a strips of differnt fabrics. Got any great ideas? Price IS important, can't spend huge amounts. Thanks so much.
Ruth

Black and white quilts are always beautiful, no matter what age the recipient is :D Most scrappy quilt patterns would work well, chinese coins for example. Or other more contemporary styled quilts maybe? :D:D:D

How about cars? Teenage boys usually like cars. Or space?

8 yr old boys love building things. I made a Lego quilt for one grandson. Real eassy use bricks 2"x5 or 6". Lots of red. Original legos red, now lots of different colors.

Anything with wheels is always good. Star Wars. Skateboarding. Wild natural animals - bears, penguins, moose etc. Whales. Music

Good luck & Thank you for giving back to those who need

I always think very basic patchwork done in homespuns are boy friendly like a Log cabins, D9P, warm wishes or just simple squares and rectangles sewn together. I like to go to thrift stores for mens shirts for homespun fabric, can't get much more inexpensive then that!

Designs like Buckeye Beauty or Jacobs Ladder look great done in all blues or browns and tans also make me think of boys quilt. For the younger set of boys, I bet there are panels in whatever is popular for boys at the time, like the movie Cars, Transformers, Yu-Gi-Oh (or however it is spelled), comic book super heroes or perhaps something based on a popular video game. Then you can add patchwork borders ala round robin style to build it out to quilt size. You need to find members in your group with male relatives that age and ask for their input.

These are two quilts that I recently made for nephews of various ages. and the third was for an uncle, mostly it is the colors and the prints that you use that make it better for a male.

I would definitely look at thematic prints at walmart. With my big boys I made dragon quilts. Walmart has dragon, fish, fire, cars, fire department, millitary etc. prints. something all my boys like too is camo.

I like novelty fabric - cars, motorcycles, dogs, airplanes, etc. Rather than cut into pieces for blocks, I like to have a piece about 36 X 42 (something like that, or even larger). Use that as a panel and build around it.

Other then floral or pastel colors, any fabric would be just fine for a boy. Boys like bright colors and contrast.

for pre-teen, you will want to stay away from cartoony looking prints. Go for camo, brights, darks, stripes, wild patterns. wildlife prints would also be good, remember these are young men, not little boys anymore.