What do kids like in quilts?
 

I told a friend she was next in line for a quilt and when I called her to chat about her taste she asked that I quilt her sons a quilt each. They are 2 and 4 and the 4yo favourite colour is red and the 2yo doesn't have a favourite colour. She said they both love dinosaurs a lot so we'd like a dino theme for each.

I don't have kids nor do I have friends with kids. Are kids happy with a quilt block if it's in favourite colours? Bright colours? Or do they want lots of novelty fabric with dinosaurs? Applique a must?

I don't have dinosaur fabric and was hoping to use stash but totally willing to buy novelty fabric if it makes the quilt that much more appealing to a kid. She asked for one for their bed so I assume she would like them to use it.

I'm learning applique so willing to try some dinos but I really don't want to overwhelm myself and then it end up a ufo. I saw a quilt that had a basic block and then a row of fabric near the bottom with applique dragons. I was thinking something like that but dinos? Would that be appealing enough? Could I add dino borders? Let me know/see what you made you kids/grandkids if they loved the quilt!

this might be more work than you wanted to do but it's so cute. https://elizabethhartman.com/dinosaurs

If it were me, I would look for a couple of dinosaur panels and add some 4 patch blocks around the panels and some borders to make it the size you want. Make them easy. Panels will give you big dinos

I saw that one in my original search and I thought nooooo way. But it IS really cute!

Here's two dino patterns from an Ontario designer.
This way, you could have two different ones for the kids.
Her blog is here .......
Sew Fresh Quilts
Links to the patterns are here ......
Stegosaurus Dinosaur PDF Quilt Pattern Instant Download - Sew Fresh Quilts
Triceratops Dinosaur PDF Quilt Pattern Instant Download - Sew Fresh Quilts

since they are 2 and 4 years old they will not be picky in what they get. anything cute will work well I'm sure. Good luck.

I am with you girl friend — Simpler is best every time 😊

Check the Quilted Twins site. They have a lot of panels. I have a panel for my 4 yr old great nephew that he will love. I think I also saw a panel that would work for the 2 yr old. For kids I think panels with borders are best for drag around.

I like the idea of using a panel.

Using a panel or large print fabric is my suggestion. What they like at 2 and 4 is not what they will like in a few years. My suggestion is to make it simple and bright so that they love it now. Have fun.

Dinosaur Patterns - Popular Dinosaur Quilt Patterns You Need (freeapplique.com)
Here is another site for free dinosaurs applique patterns. Children are attracted to bright colors to stimulate their minds. How about something simple like a nine patch block with a couple of dinosaurs appliqued in various spots. Don't stress about it. I'm sure you can get some great idea's from Pinterest. Just search for children's dinosaurs quilts.

Keep it simple. Dino fabrics in bright happy colors. I find that kids like to wrap themselves up in quilts. Large enough for them but not necessary to do a bed size. Minky or soft back is a favorite. Make them the same but different. Siblings fight over anything each one needs to be easily recognizable as to who it belongs too. Like a blue border or a red border.

I wouldn't spend a lot of time or money on the quilts, because of their ages they wouldn't know about the time and money that goes into making a quilt. Use your stash or maybe a panel and using your stash to make it the size needed.

I sew play quilts for my grands all the time. I use panels. Their favorite theme changes and of course they need a new quilt with that theme. They love all their quilts, except the baby theme ones. LOL

I also would find dinosaur panels and add borders. I have done that and little boys (especially) really like that. When I made one for a grandson I used a panel, a very thin border and another border of squares. Turned out good I thought.

Lizzie3 ... OMG how did I miss this, and with you being a fellow Canuck .........
Being that the kids like dinos, they no doubt want and need a Toronto Raptors quilt!
Surely, you could oblige them!!!! :)

I am with the others. I would not make a bed sized quilt for boys those ages. I would not put a lot of time or work into them either. I made a Grandson an appliqued dino quilt when he was young. He never got to use it. He is now 33 and not interested in it.

I am sure the quilts will be washed often. Did she say what size the beds are? That would be important to know. I would not make anything really taking too much time as the kids will use the quilts for a few years maybe. However, they may keep them to use on the couch or whatever. I would say just get some dinosaur fabric , just prints or panels, add a few bright borders and call it good.
I just went to Handcock's of paduka and entered "dinosaur" into the search and got a lot of different ones. I sure that a lot of quilt shops will have a search feature .

I did a quilt with dinosaur themes for a child awhile ago - I found a dinosaur silhouette (from a colour page free on line) and used Golden Threads paper to stitch that shape in several places. I think the bright colours are a must, and if you can include some dinosaur fabric I think that would make it even better!

I hadn't really thought of the fact that they won't use it for long. They could outgrow dinos in a few years and be done with it. This reason alone made me decide to go ahead and order two panels and I'm going to add some simple borders to make it bigger.

I told my friend I prefer couch quilts or maybe a small bed quilt but she wanted it for their beds which are queen size. She said not to worry about covering the whole bed at all though. I'm thinking a throw? The batting is 60x60 so I'll go with that I think? Do you think that big enough?

I'll pick up some dino fabric when the panels come in...

lol I think that could have been a really good option!!!!!!!!

For my 2yo niece I just did pretty colors/sweet patterns. My 5yo niece is in the grips of unicorn fever so I did one w unicorn prints and a panel on the back. For my nephews I think I’ll do animals for the baby and cars for the toddler. Older kids will have stronger preferences!

I have had this free pattern on my bucket list for years and thought of you....https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt...lts/dino-might
You can use your stash with this pattern. I hope this works for you!

Omg that is so sticking adorable! I've pinned it for later and I'll totally make it for a baby quilt!

Thanks .... Always good to support the home team!!
There is Raptors fabric out there. Not sure any focuses on the dino. I think it is pretty much just the Raptors word and basketballs. If they are a basketball family, maybe that could be your backing and coordinate the front to it?

I did that with truck/construction panels for 2 of my GSs. They turned out quite nice.

My sister is currently making 2 dinosaur quilts. We went over design thought again and again. She use many solids from her stash. Mostly primary colors and purchased the dinosaur die to go with the Accuquilt system that she has (the Go! Me). She is using the 3 different dinosaurs on the die for this quilt then her only other purchase was to buy a backing fabric and she found a 108" dinosaur fabric for the backing. She is still working on appliqueing the dinosaurs and making her blocks. I thought this might give you a few thoughts to work with.

I would use a bright panel with some easy blocks surrounding it. My grandkids like the Snuggle or Minky on the back.

Elizabeth Hartman has great patterns but some of the blocks have very small pieces. I made a quilt for my granddaughter from one of her patterns and really enjoyed the process. The only tip I can give for her patterns is starch your fabric before cutting.

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions! I will keep it all in mind once the panels arrive and for future quilts for kids

I find with little kids that texture really appeals to them. I try to use flannel whenever possible, at least for the back if not the top as well. And they LOVE the feel of satin, so I try to incorporate a narrow satin border somewhere, or put some satin into the blocks.

Most kids are pretty open to any colour scheme, but personally I don't like really loud, bright schemes which is what you often find in kid prints....for that matter I find most "kid prints" pretty awful. I would rather the print(s) did not carry the design.

My sister and I like to make baby quilts for charity, and for that purpose stick to simple designs when possible. We have a Pinterest board called "Baby Quilt Awesomeness" you may want to check out!

....... or for another texture, how about minkee for the backing?? :)

when I do kids I love to do 6 inch square quilts, I've got a die cutter die that cuts the perfect squares that finish at 6 inches and then I can just go nuts with fun fabric with themes they like (cats, dinosaurs, fairies, space, science, etc)

Sometimes I'll do a panel with squares around the sides but I often find that panels aren't printed very well which is frustrating BUT the kids certainly don't mind.

My then 5 year old granddaughter was playing in my sewing room (I had a little play area for them while I sewed)
I was talking to myself but out loud trying to decide which fabric to use in a baby quilt. My granddaughter, whose ears were always listening, looked up and said "the bright colors grandma, babies like bright colors, remember that!" She was right, lol

I think I will definitely gt minky or flannel for the back!

These look simple and suitable
https://www.freeapplique.com/dinosaur-patterns.html

Suitable for 2 & 4 yo.. just need to add more boarders
👍👏🦖🦕

.......... or could make the dino larger. Or put on more than one dino.
Lots of possibilities.

My sons and my granddaughters prefer fleece, minky or flannel on the back. They are their go to quilts ALL THE TIME.. I recently made an I spy quilt for my grandchildren. When it comes off their bed, they can use it at the beach, on the couch or wherever they want to drag it. My granddaughter was princess obsessed when she was three. She now is not as interested in that quilt and asked for a new one of rainbows and unicorns. Just enjoy what you are making yourself. Kids love everything. it's all in the build up and presention! When not on their beds, they will use it if you let them..