i've been doing a class quilt with a local pre-school for 12 years now- every year we do a new one- it is one of the kids and teacher's favorite activities!
i start with cutting 13" squares of pre washed muslin- i iron freezer paper to the backs of each square-then use painters tape around the 4 edges-giving the kids a (frame) and securing the edges-
each child then draws, decorates their block any way they want- sometimes the teachers dictate a theme- or somehow work it into their lessons- sometimes it's been a free-for-all. i drop off the fabric squares and usually a couple weeks later i recieve a phone call to set up the next steps-
the kids use their own crayons- it is not necessary to purchase special crayons for crayon quilts- in fact the dollar store (less expensive ones) tend to work the best-
when the pictures are all done i collect them all-take them home and heat set them all- (by using a brown paper sack cut open as a pressing cloth) the brown paper absorbs the excess wax- and sets the colors.
then i set up class time with the teachers-we generally do an hour at a time.
during the 2 weeks waiting for the pictures i cut 3" strips of fabrics- 20" long in all kinds of great colors- prints- everything i can get my hands on
i go back to class with my little singer
the kids favorite part happens next- each child gets to pick 4 strips of fabric- and take turns sewing them around their block---the boys love using the machine the most!
one of the teachers man's an ironing board and as each child stitches their 4 strips around their block they take them to the teacher who trims corners and presses them-
when everyone has framed their block they lay them out on the floor- arrange them how they want them (this is a totally hands on class project) then we decide if it needs sashing strips or if it's ok as is- i carefully number each block top left to bottom right-so i dont (mess up their design) then i take them all home and sew them together- quilt, bind, design a label for the back which each child/teacher signs
the quilt is shown at the preschool (festival) photographed- and raffled off to pay for a year end class trip-
for the past 8 years the person(s) who have won the quilt have then 'donated' it back to the class- they are treasured- i really thought when i did n't have any more family members with children in preschool i wouldn't be doing this anymore- but i get that call every year about october-asking...
some years have been more (adventurous) than others- sometimes we make more than one quilt-like ABC quilts- but the crayon quilts are the all time favorites.