Lois, don't know if this would work for you, but two summers ago (I had just learned basic rotary cutting and the 1/4" seam), my sister (who has over 30 years of experience) and I brought my two nieces who were then 9 and 10 years old, respectively, to my sister's quilt studio for a few days during summer vacation to teach them something about quilting. Before that, I had the girls for a month, so we went shopping for fabric for a twin-sized quilt for their beds (that's what they wanted!). I guided them on fabric choices (but they still picked their own fabrics--we looked together at what would work with the Irish Chain pattern we were going to work on). They each had their yardage list and I made sure to match their fabric choices to the list, but they had to order the yardage from the sales associate themselves. They were thrilled to be part of the whole process. As soon as we got the fabric, I mailed it to my sister and she did all the cutting.

When we got to my sister's house, we taught them the basics of how the sewing machine runs and how to be safe on it. My sister and I each took one girl under wing to stay with while they got the hang of chain-piecing. The girls learned to press as well. At the end of the day, when the girls went to sleep, my sister and I went over the work and fixed what needed to be (there wasn't much to fix though) and while the girls put the blocks together in a row, I connected the rows for them. By the time they left my sister's house to go back to their parents, their bed quilt tops were completed.

At about the halfway point of this adventure, my sister and I had turned away from the sewing machines for a second to look at the design wall. We heard this sudden whirring of the Bernina 440 and turned around to see in amazement the older of the two girls was happily chain-piecing a really good quarter inch seam but had sped up the machine and did not miss a beat! With the help of my sister, they chose their quilting design which my sister did on her HQ16 and a week later they received in the mail their quilts. They still want to quilt when they come spend their summer vacation with us. I do believe that because they were involved in the entire process, from choosing and buying fabric, they owned the process from the beginning and the journey became fun especially as they saw the quilt come together step-by-step.



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Reetzbobeetz wrote: After all it's just a machine with a computer in it, right? If you're 16, what's not to like?

I don't know that my son would consider himself a quilter yet, he is not talking about doing another one or anything.. but I think the seed is sewn and this little project has taken the fear out of it for him. Actually he was amazingly unafraid of the free motion process - kind of like the way kids just naturally take to computers in a fearless way.

Yes, Rita it is wonderful that you have nurtured this interest in your son. I would so much like to do the same in my extended family. I have 4 grown nieces who live in my town. There are six small children ages 2-10. You'd think I could hook one of them. So far no success, but I keep thinking about how I might nuture the love of quilting.

Rita, isn't it wonderful to see the creative spark pass to the next generation? Kudos to you for nurturing it!

Nice work you son (and you) have done here. Love the colors

Oooooh, Rita! NEVER say "NEVER"...

Kathy I did read him all the comments and he is delighted. I am very proud of him - he has great stamina for things he is interested in.

As for sharing my sewing room Rosemary - never!

Great piece of work by your son there Rita - are you now going to share your sewing space more often?

Rita: Very nice work by your son. Will it embarrass him too much, or will you tell him about the compliments he gets here? I think he has really captured his subject/theme well and the colors are inspired. I love the peach(?) on the rock wall and sand, and the fabric for the mountain shows shadows from clouds and a patch of bright sunlight. If he put it up for aution, I would bid! Of course we all hope that he continues to incorporate quilting/sewing/fabric in his artistic endeavors. Thanks for sharing with us.

Well done your boy. The rock on the left looks like a face on its side The middle one just looks like a pile of rocks

VERY nice little Japanese quilt - Creativity runs in your family, Rita. Bravo!

Ditto to what's been said Rita. You got to be a very proud Mama! Congrats to the talented boy.

Love your son's small quilt Rita. Yes, definitely following in his Mum's footsteps. A very creative family all together