Timelines for Quilting with Children

Below are some average times for each step in making a quilt. These are from my experience in working with groups of fifteen to twenty kids.

Brainstorming-- Allow 40 to 60 minutes for this. Letting the students decide on a topic for their quilt will make them more excited about the whole process.
Picture blocks-- Allow at least two class periods of 40-60 minutes each. If the kids are sketching rough drafts and really taking care in their drawing, it may take even longer.
Ironing-- Allow an hour or so at home to heat set picture blocks if you have used fabric crayons.
Cutting and marking pieces-- Give yourself at least one evening at home to cut and mark the pieces for the hand sewn blocks.
Hand sewn blocks-- Allow at least three sessions on three separate days of 30-60 minutes each. This is really a concentration heavy task for kids. Consider playing music during these sessions.
Putting together the top-- This usually takes me a whole evening at home.
Quick turns-- Another evening for me at home, but a shorter one. I have done the top and a quick turn in the same evening.
Binding-- If you are applying binding using my method, it will take at least two evenings at home. All that blind stitching takes time!
Tying the quilt-- One class period of about 30 minutes for the lesson, then I usually let the kids do the tying during their free time for the rest of the day or in shifts.
Photographing the quilt-- I take lots of pictures with the kids, so allow 30-40 minutes to photograph each kid with the quilt.

I allow at least two weeks for a quilt project from start to finish.

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Heddi Craft, heddi@thecraftstudio.com
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