We chose a rather large square (six inch) for a pattern to make it easy to cut and sew. We arranged the squares in the Around the World pattern with one square in the middle, then another fabric around that square, a different fabric for the next round, and so on.
After she sewed all the squares into strips, I sewed the strips together. The final quilt was big enough for a double bed. We then layered the batting and backing with the front and stitched it together and tied knots. Officially, I guess this isn't a quilt because it isn't quilted but ties were much easier (and faster) than quilting.
Most of the fabrics are from my girl's dresses so it makes a nice memory quilt. My daughter chose the brightest colored scraps which makes the quilt rather busy but certainly makes a cheery quilt for her room!
My son wanted to join the fun too. He took the small scraps after we had cut the larger squares and cut little three inch squares and sewed them together randomly into a small baby quilt. He loved running the sewing machine - maybe a boy's love of motors? His seams were not even and many of the squares were not square but it should still be warm. He donated the quilt to a relief organization to give to a needy family overseas.
Both children loved sewing by machine and are begging me to start another project. Maybe next year I'll pull out all my boxes of scrap fabric and let them make some more quilts to donate.
The quilt is absolutely amazing! And even more
ReplyDeleteAmazing is that your daughter did so well on it. I never realized kids could learn to sew so young. I adore the colors she choose. So bright and happy!! :-)
Beautiful! What a fun project! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like the projects we made with my mom. The comforters look very nice :)
ReplyDeleteCarlene
How neat! I started a rag quilt out of denim, but gave up due to lack of time. I have used the squared though and made corn sacks to give as gifts and to sell.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet! What thread did y'all use for the ties? Would crochet cotton work?
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what we used - crochet thread!
DeleteGina
Thanks. I think I am going to try making a quilt to tie. It is all the hand quilting that I eventually give up on.
DeleteBeautiful quilts! What wonderful memories you're making with your children. It's very sweet of your son to donate his. I make lots of items for charity and I know there are so many needs for warm clothing and blankets. Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
Good for them, and you, because it does take exercising some patience! Or maybe you're not like me! Our 10 yo and 8 yo girls just pieced a top, and our 12 yo sons' is almost done!! They are able to do it a lot themselves now, but needed some encouraging to stick it out and finish it!
ReplyDeleteYes - a LOT of patience! It was good for me!
DeleteGina
Beautiful quilt and beautiful children!! I'm so impressed and also jealous, as I wish I had the skills to teach my grandaughter (she's almost 9). We've had fun with doll clothes and pillows...all hand sewn. Wish we could move on to the machine! My husband and his brother could both make shirts on the machine! My dad worked with canvas, making duffle bags and he could also sew leather items. Thanks for sharing Gina, you're an inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteIf you are teaching her hand sewing - that is a wonderful skill to have. I'm sure you could find a simple pattern or book from the library and learn together. There is some fun sewing books for children now.
DeleteSounds like you have sewing in your genes!
Gina
oh, this is inspiring! My mother in law got my daughter a sewing machine and I need something to focus on to get her going.
ReplyDeleteHow old is your daughter? I'd love to hear a little more about how you guided the project - did you have set times when you worked on it? Were there points when she lost interest and you had to coax or cajole? I guess I'm still stuck seeing sewing as a creative endeavor vs. a practical skill. . .
My daughter just turned nine this month, so she was eight when she did this project. We didn't have set times but usually worked on it in the afternoon when the younger ones were napping. Sometimes on Saturdays. She did lose interest and at times I had to tell her to sew one more strip before she went to read a book! I think it did her good to have a project like this that couldn't be done in a day and needed some preserverence!
DeleteMy son, on the other hand, wouldn't quit. I had to tell him to stop and do something else because I had to go make supper and couldn't help him anymore! He would have worked on it all day and all night if I left him!
The difference in children! I hope you give it a try!
Gina
Thanks, Gina! This is helpful. We're going to set some cooking goals for this summer, so maybe we'll set some sewing goals for winter.
DeleteYou said that you used scrap dress material. Did you use all one type (ie all poly/ cotton, or all 100% cotton?)
ReplyDeleteI have an abundance of tropical breeze scraps that I don't know what to do with.
I used a variety of fabric, mostly cotton/poly mix - including some tropical breeze. I know a real quilter would only use 100% cotton but we were using what we had!
DeleteGina
In my opinion fostering a love of creating through quilting can lead to not only great beautiful but a lifetime love for quilting and what a great way to spend time in the winter with those you love : )
ReplyDeleteWell done, all of you! Patience and perseverance yield sweet fruit. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful projects....thanks for sharing them!
ReplyDeleteBoth quilts are absolutely beautiful, Gina! I just finished helping my 9-year-old granddaughter put together a quilt. It is much smaller than this, but all she wanted was just a quilt that would cover her from head to foot! I showed her your daughter's quilt and we both agreed that the Around the World pattern would be a good one to try next. I think it's so great that your son wanted to make one too, and what a good use he found for it. You are such a great mom!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you have lots of scraps so they can make more quilts in the future. Really fun to read about this. I make quilts too, and found using cotton embroidery floss worked but it rotted away after a few years. Now I understand why acrylic yarn was often used!
ReplyDeleteI have wanted to make a quilt with my little girl but we have no seeing machine and so everything sewn here is hand stitched. She is only 4 and I don't think she is ready or really in understanding of straight stitches. She would get to upset at me sewing for days and her not getting to do anything.
ReplyDeleteHi Gina,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to tell you what a wonderful website, full of inspiring ideas. As a young woman teaching myself to sew a quilt for a friend's wedding, I came across this page through google. It has given me the ideas I were hoping to find. Thank you for providing these resources online.
God Bless
Theresa (QLD, Australia)