Kids Quilts

My friend Jo, teaches that want to learn to quilt through the library system in our town.  It starts in June for 4 weeks.  The kids come for two days a week to work on their skills.  The first group are the beginners. They learn the basics and make a 6 block sampler.  The second level are the kids that have completed the first year and learn more complex patterns, and have to put their tops together themselves.  The third group are kids that have completed the first two and will make a quilt from start to finish on their own.

These four quilts are kids that have completed two previous summer sessions.  They were given the pattern, and have to do everything from selecting their fabric, sewing the blocks, laying the blocks out and arranged, sew the borders on, layer the quilt, then quilt it.  They have the four weeks to complete this project and work all day at the library for the two days a week.

This is the second level group. They learn applique, sewing curves and paper piecing.  (I teach the paper piecing.)  This year 6 quilts were completed.  They come for the 2 days a week for 3 hours each of those days and learn this level of quilting.  When their time is done, they stay and help the beginners.

The beginners come in the afternoon and learn the basics and create a small sampler quilt. There are two to four adults that volunteer their time to help all levels.  Jo and a library employee, Krista put in 8 hours on each of the days. Jo takes the blocks home to put together for the beginning level and quilts and binds them.  The second level, Jo quilts and binds them.
There is no charge to the students.  It is all sponsored by the library.  The fabric and all the supplies are donations for the students to use.  Jo has several of us that help to supply sewing machines for their use. It is wonderful to see how the kids have progressed through the years.  This is the fourth year the program has been taught.

On an afternoon in August all of the young quilters and their parents come to celebrate the completion of the program.  Jo prints up certificates for each child for the completion of their level and presents them with their finished quilt.  The third level quilters receive a certificate for the completion of their quilt.  It was announced  that these young quilters are able to advance to the adult quilt classes.  Jo teaches adults quilting once a month at the library, also.

It is a wonderful celebration for all the young quilters.