Personal Opinion on Gifts
 

Hello all!
I was just curious, if you're making quilts for a group of kids roughly the same age in the same family, do you use the same pattern?
I am making quilts for my nieces (3 & 5) and nephew (1) for their new home and the first time they've had their own bedrooms. I bought fabric based on their personal interests, and planned on making the quilts with identical patterns so that there wasn't any jealousy or "I want hers!" types of discussions.
When/if you've done this, what have you done?

Additionally, with the scraps I'm making the girls doll quilts (mostly so I can practice quilting more before doing their big quilts), any suggestions on something boy-ish to use up scraps for my nephew? The girls will get a kick out of their dolls blankets matching their beds.

Maybe make a bag to hold Duplo or such for the little boy? Or a play mat? At one year old I'm sure he won't know if the girls get something he doesn't, but it is nice to keep things balanced!

Maybe something about the same size as the doll quilts, made to look something like a super hero cape; perhaps clip it to his shoulders of his shirts with some spring clothese pins? Or, a little more manly-appearing doll quilt for a favorite teddy bear to sit on?

I vote for a bear quilt, something the same as the doll quilts but out of his themed fabrics.

Teddy bears - or GI Joe - get cold, too.

At those ages the kids will probably not notice if the quilts are of the same pattern. They will see the fabrics of their favorites first. I was also looking for ideas for little boys to go with some doll quilts I've made. I'll watch for responses here

I made 3 g-boys (at the time, 2 yrs ago, they were 8, 3, 2 yrs) I Spy quilts--just a simple block with sashing and borders. I let each one pick out the colors for sashing & borders (2 colors each quilt) and used the same ISpy blocks (had collected from guild members plus a layer cut from Mo.Star for I Spy). All the same patterns, but different colors.

I have made quilts from same pattern using colors or themes each child likes. They do not notice the pattern - they only notice the fabrics and colors in my experience.

I would make them different patterns made with the fabric you've chosen for them. The only thing the five year old might notice is size, so I'd make them the same size. The boy might like a sleeping bag for his favorite action figure.

You have some good suggestions for how to manage the 'I like that one better." problem. For the little boy, how about making a doll quilt, excuse me, a little sleeping bag, with a pouch on the back and put a short handle on it. Put a stuffed animal in the sleeping bag. With the short handle - big enough for his hand, but no possibility or getting his head through it - he will be able to drag it around, and he can put whatever he wants into it.

I made and gave my 4 year old grandson one for his Pikachu stuffed animal. He also got some bowl cozies for beds for his stuffed cats, Pumpkin, Pumpkin and Rock Star. He was thrilled. Me, too.