My friends/community/family and I have made a quilt for each of my children before they were born.
We have sent out pieces of paper 3"x3" square (Post-It Note size!) with instructions and everyone who wants to makes a 6"x6" square (4 - 3"x3" squares sewn together) or a few to become part of the quilt. Even non-sewers can manage. You baste the fabric around the paper (leaving the paper in until all the squares are sewn together at the end) and then hand sew the squares together to make a square of 4 smaller squares. This method is called paper piecing or foundation piecing.
It is a really nice thing to work on together at a baby shower, and the quilts are so beautiful. My kids love to look at them and talk about all the different fabrics and who made which square.
(I can email anyone a PDF instruction sheet that we sent out with our shower invitations- email me if you want it!)
I finally got around to photographing Maxine's quilt:
***Don't forget to enter the draw for my 100th post giveaway! Leave a comment on the "Happy 100" post.