I want to offer my 12 year old grand daugther to teach her how to quilt this summer. I am hoping to have her stay with me for a few days throughout the summer and a "long lasting" craft project with some "down time" would be perfect for her. She loves crafts, but mostly only if she can do the total creation of it...and what better to create than a quilt.

However, I need some insite on some patterns that are good for a beginner, BUT, more specifically, not so scrappy looking that she thinks she is sewing scraps (that is what she will think!) but still looks good, even cool so that she'll want to put forth the effort.

I know just sewing charms together is a beginners first quilt but she won't go for it. To boring! But...she has never sat at a sewing machine and hates needlepoint and hand sewing (already tried that!) So something that doesn't look complicated or "scrappy" so it will catch her attention yet something that is beginner skill. And it would be just a lap size quilt, nothing bigger (maybe next summer for that!)

Some things about her:
She is 12...very mature for her age..i.e....she tells me how to upload, download, cellphone this and that and..well you get the pic! She is sharp in math but hates it, and likes science.
She is a city girl so nothing "prairie" or "old fashioned" looking
She likes Bright colors, but not "corn, peas and carrots" style bright
She LOVES orca whales and dolphins.
She currently likes the black and white, pink and black and teal and black zebra style prints
Favorite color is black, and then minorly pink
She likes animals, but the reall looking ones, nothing cartoony.

Some things about me.
I have been sewing since age 10 so I have done most out there to do. I just went back to quilting after about 15 years hiatis. I don't follow patterns well, so if you have a picture..that'd be a huge help. I am an "intermediate" beginner...intermediate in all the "how-tos" but beginner in many of the styles like the flying geese (although I have recently mastered that!) and I don't like triangles at all, and some of the more advanced techinques/patterns.. I'm not there yet either. And the small stuff.. with a mild vision problem I don't like to go smaller than a 4", maybe 3" square size. I have a new Singer 9960 with all the quilting attachments and have learned FMQ but only stippling and meandering...another skill I hope to learn to do better.

I have a Joannes right near me so I can get whatever I need. I plan to talk with her between now and when she gets to come her and have the pattern all decided, and the material and fabrics all purchased and ready to go and maybe even some of the peices already cut and ready to sew/assemble..depending on the pattern.

So...any ideas or suggestions anyone can share? Whether they are ideas for the pattern or tips on how you taught someone..kid or anyone else, how to quilt for the first time...I'd appreciate anything anyone cares to offer and share. I have a 6 yo GD too, and I know she'd go for all this.. I just dont' know if she could handle the sewing machine speed and all that part, but never know till she tries! But I dont' think I will get her more than a couple hours every other couple of weeks, but I'd at least like to plan ahead for that time I might be able to have her. But for now...I concentrate on a lap size quilt for the 12 year old.
Thanks everyone!