Quilt Patchwork Patterns

What are fun ways to make personalized quilt blocks?

I want to make 12X12 inch quilt blocks and need some fun creative ideas. I have never done this before, but want to personalize each block. This will be an Xmas gift and I don't have a lot of spare time so I am not looking for time consuming ideas. Ideas? I know I can search the net, but what have some of you done to personalize and make special quilts? Will be for a five year old niece.

Public Comments

1. You can ask the mom to give you some baby clothes and sew them on the squares, alternating with her name, pets name or some other favourite things.
2. **help your niece put her hand prints on one square **her foot prints on another square **do her parents have her birth foot prints? copy those **get material of characters she likes, ie, Dora the Explorer or SpongeBob, and cut out the character **have the middle block her name, either embroidered or cut out of material **have her parents each do a special block for her (give them the block to decorate) **copy her baby picture onto a block **copy a current picture onto a block **copy your picture onto a block with special words for her along with your signature/date Have fun!
3. Give her a pack or two of Crayola fabric crayons ( available at Office Depot or craft stores ) and as many sheets of plain white paper as quilt blocks you want to make and have her draw pictures about her favorite things,people,activities etc. Use these drawings to make the quilt blocks by turning them face down on a piece of fabric ( a blend makes a more brilliant transfer than 100% cotton) and ironing the back of the paper at the temperature recommended on the crayon box. Maybe you can make one corner block with info like her age at the time of the drawings and who made it and gave the quilt to her.
4. I've made quilts for kids that had blank blocks and I quilted things the kids like - I did a boot, a sheriff badge, a horse, a cow for on on one I did an "under the sea" theme with different fish quilted on the plain blocks - I alternated the blocks with a colorful print. For a young girl you could do Barbie or Princesses and even sew in some of the outfits, or quilt the shape of a crown, a slipper, a castle, look in children's coloring books - there are a lot of great ideas for quilting patters on plain blocks. I even put buttons (there are a lot of cute ones) and patches on one.