Quilting With Children

For children from about 3 until 6 or 7 years old, I like to have them “quilt” with a small scissors, a piece of white paper, a glue stick and plenty of bright scraps. It is amazing how a 3 year old (who can manage a scissors) can become engaged in this creative task.

Beginning around 7 or 8 years old, a child can begin to use a sewing machine as their feet are generally long enough to reach the pedal! I like to use a 1” by 3” piece of Dr. Scholl’s padded shoe inserts with adhesive on one side to provide a bumper for a child to align their raw edges. Keep the pieces big enough 4” – 5” and the projects small such as doll quilts, placemats, potholders, etc Making a potholder for her mom. Bethy stitched strips together, subcut them and repieced into a checkerboard potholder.

By 10 years old, it’s amazing what kids can do. See the following examples. Beth, 11, decides to make a baby quilt for a new cousin. A strip quilt can be made in an afternoon. She found a dragonfly on the computer, enlarged it and fused an applique dragonfly to her quilt.

Funky Rainbow Crazy Logs pattern in summer quilt camp for teens and tweens aged 10-15. Pattern by Allison Quilt Desgins. Allow 15 hours.

Caribbean Sunburst pattern in kids quilt camp (ages 10-15). Allow 15-18 hours; preprint the sunburst on non fusible interfacing. Based on a pattern by Sharon Yost. Imagine: 10 year olds foundation piecing!

This H.S. creative sewing class enjoyed the quilting experience by each making a friendship block for a charity quilt

This H.S. creative sewing class chose a quilt design and made their own simple quilts as one of their projects.