Aszule

Hello Quilters...

I just found out my best friend is pregnant and I want to make her and her baby a quilt (she is very newly pregnant so I have a bit of time, thank god).

I have no sewing experience, and I have never made a quilt. I have done some searching on the internet, and the style of quilt I want to make (I think) is a kaleidoscope one block wonder (hexagon blocks). Sooo here are my questions:

I want the quilt to have a sort of night sky look to it, similar to this:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8wt4hHbs8K...h/DSCN1570.JPG

I was thinking about using this fabric:

https://www.fabric.com/buy/0365021/s...d-29889bf8fb7b

would that make good blocks?

How do I figure out how much fabric to buy?

Once I make all of the blocks how do I sew them all together?

What else will I need besides: big ruler, triangle ruler, sewing machine, rotary cutter, pins

Any help would be appreciated.

Geri B

Your desire to make that very complex quilt for your friend is very commendable, however, I personally think that since you have admitted you have NO sewing experience whatsoever...I think you should begin this journey first be visiting a local quilt shop...see if they have any beginner classes...show them what you would like to accomplish and let them guide you so that you can possibly do that quilt.....if not that one, perhaps something similar, but a bit easier.....keep us posted....others on this board may have other thought, ideas, these are just my first thoughts on your post. I grant you videos, you tube has much to offer, but I think you need some one on one to start.....

Barb in Louisiana

I agree with Geri B. The One Block Wonder quilt you chose is not usually a first quilt. It is more in the advanced category.

Having said that, I love the fabric you chose but would use it in a different fashion. I would use it as a large piece and not cut it. Jus add the batting and a solid color back, then bind it. That material can stand on it's on. Do you intend for it to be a nursery quilt or a toddler quilt? A nursery quilt can be fairly small. Baby quilts can be anywhere from a 32" square to a 52" square or a rectangle. You could do this type quilt with a small cut. A yard & a half would give you a 44x45" piece. That would be more than enough. You won't lose any fabric on the length, but you will on the width. The selvedges have to be cut off before you sew it.

Find a quilt guild or a Joan's Fabric or a local quilt shop and I know they can give you some guidance. Youtube has videos for anything you want to know about quilting. I typed in Beginner Quilting Lessons and got all these https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...ilting+lessons I changed the search to Beginner quilting tutorial and got these results https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...lting+tutorial

Good Luck!

Peckish

The bummer part about being a beginner is you don't know what you don't know. I agree with the others, this isn't the best project to start with. All those triangles have bias edges, which will warp and stretch. It will be difficult to match the blocks up, and you will pull every single hair out and and throw the top in the corner and pout. Ask me how I know.

Dina

Oh, I love that fabric!!I will be buying some of that!!!! I can't give you any better advice than you have been given, except to agree that the One Block Wonder quilt is pretty advanced for a beginner. I have been quilting 5 years and I don't feel ready to tackle that one yet.

However, I am going to copy Barb's idea. That fabric is so pretty that it can stand on its own, and I am going to make my brother a quilt from it, or I may make it a checkerboard with one of the night sky fabrics that fabric.com shows on that page. Got to think on that.

I do hope that you end up quilting and enjoying it. It is a great hobby, though way more expensive than I thought it would be. (I thought....sewing pieces of fabric together, how much can that cost....silly me, but I am addicted...)

Dina

Basketman

I guess it is all about your determination to succeed and then finding the path to make it all happen. I know from experience that I had zero sewing skills as well and a "crash course" of maybe one hour from a friend was my introduction to quilting. I launched into a king sized quilt with 50 blocks with maybe 40 half square triangle in each block, biased edges, directional fabrics, setting zig zags between the blocks and it came out square! Maybe just "dumb luck" but I never retreat from anything... I just advance in a different direction. That said, I also agree it is nice to have a mentor and being able to discuss those areas that give you the greatest concern and get some direct advice. I know when I needed some pointers and I went to the internet I was so inexperienced I did not even know how to ask an informed question and search out the answer...so do the best of both worlds. GO FOR IT...one can never aim too high, getting there that makes for an interesting journey, find an adviser to hold the safety net and best of luck!

QuiltnNan

good advice posted here. brings back memories of my first quilt... a tumbling blocks!!! another pattern that should not be tackled as a beginner. fortunately, after a lot of frustrations, i completed it and it was well loved. good luck to you and welcome to the QB

danydany

Hi, Aszule.

I congratulate you on your intention to make a quilt for your friend. Good luck!

I like the fabric you have chosen. I also like the pattern you are considering. But as the other posters have said, that is a rather ambitious project for a first go. The part "Peckish" noted, about the sewing of bias edges being finicky, is very true. One thing you might consider, to achieve a similar effect but with a much easier task, is to make a "four-patch stack and whack." The edges on this are all straight-grain, and so they are easier to sew, there are fewer pieces for each block, and the effect is similar to the pattern you are considering.

Here are some links for info about the four-patch version:
http://www.connectingthreads.com/tut...lock__D20.html

https://www.pinterest.com/akcaro/4-p...-whack-quilts/
http://shenandoahgatewayfarm.blogspo...and-whack.html
http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/sho...-progress.html

Note that a lot of the pix on the links above add "fancy" finishing touches, like sashing or setting the blocks on point, but you don't have to do that to have a beautiful and impressive quilt.

Good luck!
...dany (in the 'burbs of Boston)

meyert

you are braver than I am! I have made dozens of quilts and I would be afraid to try that one. But go for it! where there is a will there is a way Be sure to show us when you are donw

Dina

Thanks so much for the connecting threads link....I really like the step by step instructions!

Dina