Teaching a 12 year old to quilt..need help!

[coffeebreak]

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!

[carolv]

I would do a jelly roll race...not much to cut, get her used to the machine.......nothing to match, then move right into D9P if she wants. Just my opinion.

[Carol_Ann]

Cheri, I started my 10 year old granddaughter out making a pillowcase for her first project because it is a fast project with 3 pieces of fabric. She enjoyed it so much that she made another for her best friend.

[K. McEuen]

I think one of the better ways to get her engaged in the whole project is to let her pick out her own fabrics. Kids change their favorite anything much like they change their underwear. What she likes today she may not like tomorrow.

[Denis]

A rail fence is fairly easy as well. Choose as many strips to cut; from 2 strips to 6 strips or more, then subcut them into squares. She can design her own layout and then sew the blocks together.

[Slokarma]

I've seen a couple of books for teaching kids to quilt. Library? or sometimes you can preview a book Thru the look inside feature on Amazon.

How's her patience level? Is she an instant result kind of kid? I started sewing fairly young, like Barbie doll young and I can't remember how they taught me how to use the machine.....although, I think it was Grandma's treadle machine.....LOL.

I did see a pieced black tote bag with colorful spikes as a free pattern on Jenny Beyer's website or a pillow case. OR, How about fairly simple table runner, mats or potholders to take home to Mom for a surprise "look what I learned" gift?

[Cat n bull]

Ok, when I think of a 12 yr old/young teen I think of something NOT made with straight lines.

I found a design that I instantly fell in love with for my daughter, and although it does involve sewing curves, the pattern is not rigid-set-in-stone-must-have-all-your-seams-line-up demanding.

You cut 2 shapes, sew them together with water soluable thread, turn, press, then sprtiz with water to dissolve thread, and voila! perfectly turned under seams for applique!

The applique can be glued on, or use any kind of heat-set bonding material, then she can have some fun with the edges.

Fabrics are of course whatever she likes, and you can make however many blocks you want to, no pre-determined size.

http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilt...ns-My-Way/9928

She may not want to do something like it, but it sure is different from the sewing strips kind of quilts!

[AlohaSandy]

This sounds so much like my grandughter who is also 11 she will be 12 in Oct. For her first quilt and sitting at my sewing machine I taught her how to cut the blocks 4 x 4 and had her pick her colors and sew them together. Then she was able to see what her mistakes were and take them out as needed. She made rows put them together and made her first quilt, it was extremely easy block pattern but she learned alot of how to sew 1/4" seams, measure and cut. And let me tell you she took off from there. Good luck and enjoy her because they grow up so fast. This would also be good for the 6 year old or maybe they can do together. I had alot of left overs for her to work with an easy block pattern with just showing them how to sew and put them together nothing fancy.

[auntiemern]

Rail fence was my first thought as well. I agree that she should go with you to pick out the fabrics that she loves. Show her the basics, but don't expect perfection. She is either going to love quilting or hate it. The 'tween ages are very difficult, due to peer pressure and wanting to hurry up and grow up. Let her guide you, as well as you teaching her, and you may just both learn something.

[SummerK]

I have an 11 year old that is learning to quilt as well, and one of the most exciting things for her is to pick out her own fabric. Since you have a JoAnn's nearby, I'd suggest taking her there and picking out a fat quarter bundle or 5-6 single fat quarters that she likes. An easy pattern that turns out super cute is a simple 4-patch and then have her sash them in whatever color she wants. It turns out super cute. Good luck!