Thread: Brand new quilter needing elementary advice!

Originally Posted by betsyjohnson

Yes, I do have a rotary cutter and a mat, and two different sized rulers. This is the pattern I'm making:http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/?p=1016
It seems like it shouldn't be too bad for a beginner!
Thank you for the advice! Cutting 112 pieces in a row seemed so overwhelming! Just cutting enough for one row seems like a much better Idea!

What I saw was a variation of the disappearing nine patch. A nine patch is an ideal block to begin with and an ideal block to do with chain piecing. Each row of the 9 patch can be stitched from a strip then cut into the 3 squares across. Then each 9 patch can be cut to make what you'll be using.

Originally Posted by GrannieAnnie

What I saw was a variation of the disappearing nine patch. A nine patch is an ideal block to begin with and an ideal block to do with chain piecing. Each row of the 9 patch can be stitched from a strip then cut into the 3 squares across. Then each 9 patch can be cut to make what you'll be using.

GrannieAnnie is right about this quilt. I am somewhat amazed that the instructions ask you to cut and piece this pattern as they do. It would be much simpler to do it the way it's usually done. In this case, each 9 patch block will have 4 white squares, one in the middle of each side. Then it will have three fabrics from the diagonal row it's on and one each from from the diagonal row before and after. For example, the orange row blocks will have one red corner and one turquoise corner. Here is a link demonstrating how to make a disappearing nine patch, which is an excellent pattern for a newbie, as well as us old-bies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clL_nz8J_vg Instead of arranging the piece the way she does in the video, you just flip two of the corners so that there are only 2 small squares in the middle. There are other instructions out there that you can google, but this one is pretty straightforward and has the light squares where you'll want to place your whites. All the squares start out the same size.

Safety is task number 1! I'm tired of seeing people type on this board about cutting themselves. Most of us had at least a close call as beginners. Never put any part of you or another person (or pet) in front of where you're pushing the cutter. It's a good idea to coat the under side of your rulers with rubber cement before you begin. They will be much more stable, and this doesn't hurt the rulers.

I'm editing this to add that the quilt has about a half a block more on the left side, so those are going to have to be pieced as the instructions show. That's extra practice cutting and piecing different sizes, I guess, but if it was my quilt, I'd probably just go ahead and make another complete row, unless there's not enough fabric to do so, or you have to have a quilt exactly the size given.

Welcome to the QB, and best wishes for your project!

Originally Posted by betsyjohnson

Yes, I do have a rotary cutter and a mat, and two different sized rulers. This is the pattern I'm making:http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/?p=1016
It seems like it shouldn't be too bad for a beginner!
Thank you for the advice! Cutting 112 pieces in a row seemed so overwhelming! Just cutting enough for one row seems like a much better Idea!

Since most here are not recommending strip piecing, I'm going to assume I saw the wrong quilt block. Can you tell me the name of the quilt itself?

Originally Posted by betsyjohnson

Yes, I do have a rotary cutter and a mat, and two different sized rulers. This is the pattern I'm making:http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/?p=1016
It seems like it shouldn't be too bad for a beginner!

That does look like a great pattern to start out with as a beginner. The most challenging part, I think, will be the quilt assembly. Since there are so many different blocks, and the order of assembly is so important. I'd suggest you pin little pieces of paper to each block as you finish it, with the letter written on the paper.