As i am fairly new to the quilting world and just love all the beautiful quilts i see you have all made.. wondered if anyone can give me ideas.. not too difficult... lol,, have not got a lot of confidence in myself really... made items for grand kids, and a lap quilt for sister.. but looking for some small projects i can practice with.. getting it right!!! any help/ideas appreciated, thank you

A basic nine patch will teach you loads. Very easy, versitile, very pretty.

Rail Fence quilts are easy, Turning Twenty patterns are easy, esp. the first one in Volume 1. Patterns made with jelly rolls are often easy as well, just depends on the pattern.

But the Rail Fence (or is it Fence Rail?) and the Turning Twenty are easy, fast, and you really get a sense of accomplishment!

Good luck! Post some pics!

I agree, my first quilts were 9-patches, they helped me with lining things up correctly, pressing, just all your basics (I did them with strip piecing). You could also try a disappearing 9 patch (D9P) if you'd like to increase your difficulty.

You could choose a block pattern that you like - www.quilterscache.com is good and it has a pin system for the difficulty of the block. Then make just one and put a plain border round to turn it into a cushion cover or table mat for example. That way, you could try a block that stretches you a little, for example using half square triangles, without committing to making tons for a whole quilt! Plus you'd be finished quick and that would be an encouraging thing. This is how I started, with cushion covers. I just made a basic pillow case back. No zips or buttonholes! LOL

thanks for the replys all, will have a look round websites you suggest, have done the 9 patch for the lap quilt i made, but i did it by hand!! papers.... :roll:

Quiltbus has loads of free quilt block patterns with instructions, all in order..
http://www.quiltbus.com/free-quilt-blocks.htm

have fun!

I'm new at quilting. But I first started out with the Rail Fence pattern. Easy to do.

You might pick another block that is divided into 9 sections like the 9-patch and alternate the blocks, so you don't get tired of just making 9-patches. There's one called checkerboard where 5 of the patches in the 9-patch are 4 patches. Makes a checkerboard like pattern and looks nice with a 9 patch.

I make preemie quilts for the Special Care Nursery at the hospital. They are really small to fit in the isolettes.

They are really good for learning all types of techniques as they are small and easy to manipulate under the machine.

I got reasonably good at stitch in the ditch and free motion quilting by practising on the preemie quilts. They work up fast and give you a good sense of accomplishment. The little ones don't care if it's perfect, they keep warm.

I just contacted the hospital and asked what size they wanted. Then I putter away til I have enough to take to the hospital. I ask that the quilts go home with the babies so that gives me an excuse to make more.

I figure I am accomplishing two things, honing my skills and keeping preemies warm. Win/win.