Wednesday, July 16, 2014

4-H Summer Quilt Camp!


Each summer, I get to teach 4-H Quilt Camp in our county.  Held four consecutive afternoons, Moms are invited to come and it's definitely a team effort!   We teach these kids (ages 9 to 14) how to take perfectly good fabric, cut it up, then sew it back together again, with super fun results!

BRICKS & CHECKERBOARDS
This year, there were 6 kids and their Moms or big sisters who would help to pin and press.  The kids had a choice of three different quilts to make:   (Some of my pictures were deleted, but maybe you can get the idea...)

BRICKS
Cut 10 @ 8-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles from 9 different prints, 1/4 yard each.  
Lay out and arrange blocks.

Have Mom help, then take a picture to help you remember the layout. 

Stitch 7 bricks together end to end to make 6 rows.
Stitch 8 bricks together end to end; make 4 rows.

Stitch 3 rows together to make a set.  Use 2 rows of 7 bricks and 1 row of 8 in the center.
Scoot to alternate the middle row (like bricks) and trim off the excess.
 Make 4 sections.  
Karissa stitches her sections

Cut 5 @ 8-1/2" x width of fabric strips (1-1/4 yards) for sashing. Join short ends together.
Measure the width of all the sets, and cut three sashing strips to that measurement, about 56".
 Stitch an 8-1/2" x 56" strip of coordinating fabric between each row
to grow the quilt to a nice twin-size quilt, 56" x 72".
Shelby's 1st quilt!  BRICKS: envelope finish, tied with rainbow yarn.

Using a walking foot


Mom helps...
Straight Line quilting!
Kaimbry's BRICKS:  A good start to a great finish!

JELLY ROLL RACE
Stitch 42 @ 2-1/2" x 42" strips of fabric together, end to end, using a diagonal seam. 

Cut that in half and stitch together (just keep sewing, just keep sewing...);  

 If you lay it out in the hallway, it will reach to the end of the building.
 
Cut that in half and stitch back together.
REPEAT the process as many times as needed until you get a decent-size, cool-looking quilt!
Lizzy's JELLY ROLL RACE, 52" x 64" quilt top, ready to send to the longarm quilter!

CHECKERBOARD
Cut 12 sets each of 3-1/2" x width of fabric light and dark strips (1-1/2 yards each light and dark, or 1/2 yard cuts of six different coordinating prints).  Stitch together into sets of 3 strips, alternating Light-Dark-Light for half, and Dark-Light-Dark for the other half.  Always press toward the dark.  Cut into 3-1/2" sections; PIN to nestle (kiss) the seam allowances (have Mom help), then chain-piece to sew those back together until you have a checkerboard with 3 x 21 squares.

Make 4 sections (just keep sewing, just keep sewing...)
Cut 5 @ 5-1/2" strips x width of coordinating fabric and join short ends together (7/8 yard).
Measure the length of each section, and cut 3 strips to that measurement;
Stitch 5-1/2" strips between the checkerboards for the perfect size lap quilt.
CHECKERBOARD lap quilt top 51" x 63"  
Since Lizzy's Jelly Roll quilt went so fast, she shopped in her Momma's stash to make a checkerboard too!
Lizzy's CHECKERBOARD -  60" x 72"
LOVE, love quilt camp!  I am continually impressed with what kids can create - well, any new quilter, for that matter.  They're pretty much fearless.  The kids had a blast, Moms also learned some great tricks.  Now it's nearly time for the County Fair!  These quilts will look great on display - Blue-ribbon winners, every one!

8 comments:

  1. how good to see the yiungsters stitching and making lovely quilts, some great ideas you have shared too, more to add to my to do list, must treat myself to a couple of jelly rolls soon. thanks once again

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  2. I love that you helped them make quilts for the Fair. I am in charge of Quilts at our Fair.

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  3. That's something all of those kids will remember forever. And maybe you've had a hand in teaching the next big name in the quilting world. It's great to see their Mom's working with them too. All their quilts look great.

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  4. can you hear me clapping...way to go ladies and girls....love the checkerboard one...love yellow and black together...Deonn how lucky they all would be to have summer memories of you

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  5. What a great post! Love the quilts and the colors your younger quilters put together. All blue ribbons and give them a big gold star. (Remember the stars teachers put on your work in scholl? Tells how far back I go in memorys.)

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  6. That is so great you teach the quilt camp! We need to cultivate young quilters.

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  7. Love working with young quilters - they soak up everything like a sponge. Everyone's quilts came out fantastic and the smiles tell it all.

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  8. All of those are just terrific. The girls did a fantastic job.

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So happy you stopped by for a visit! Thank you!