As a very new quilter, I want to subscribe to a quilting magazine. (gotta start somewhere right?) But I get overwhelmed at all the different choices out there. What would you suggest as a good magazine for a beginner quilter?

I think I need to learn more of the basics and don't want something too overly complicated or technical. What I really need is something informative and inspiring to get me going in the right direction.

Right now, I still have a hard time looking at something like a 9 piece square and seeing what the final product will be. Which is great since when I look at some squares I think ...ehhh . .but when I see them put together in a complete quilt top - it looks amazing! I feel like I need more exposure to get my itty bitty creative side working harder :wink:

Any suggestions? :?:

I'm a newbie quilter, too. I subscribed to American Patchwork and Quilting magazine and to Quilter's World because the school was selling magazine subscriptions. They have beautiful pictures in them both. American Patchwork was 128 pages in December and 45 were full page ads. That is not even counting the partial page ads. I didn't count in Quilter's World but I don't think it is much different and it only had 98 pages. Most of the things advertised are way too pricey for me and I probably wouldn't know how to use them anyway. I spend much more time on this board and other internet sites looking for inspiration and guidance than I do with the magazines and think this board has helped me 100 times more than the magazines.

If you don't mind the subscription price for what you get in the magazine, it is nice to have something you can lay on the couch with and flip through the pretty pictures.

Are you sure you want to subscribe now??? Check out books from your library and use as resources. Buy Books by Eleanor Burns good for beginners. I do not subscribe because I do not always like what is in the magazine. Go to JoAnns or book store periodically and check out the magazines. Buy the ones you like and leave the rest. Quiltmaker has good beginner patterns. Also lots of free patterns on line.

Just my opinion :wink:

I just subscribed to Quilter's World, but I buy a lot of them in the store. :wink:
I agree, you learn so much more, and get so much more inspiration, from this board, then from the magazines.
But I do love to flip through them while laying on the couch, and I have made a few of the patterns.
One book I got which I love is Rodale's Sensational Sets & Borders. I checked it out through my library's inter-library loan, then bought it on Amazon for $1.92+ shipping! It's full of ideas and tons of pictures!!
:-)

I stopped subscribing to all magazines. I have found the every one has a few I really like out of the year's subscription. I look through the new quilt magazines at the bookstore and then buy the one I like that month if any.

The best all around mag is Fons and Porters Love of Quilting
It has all the projects pictured inside the back cover. Makes it easy to find when looking thru old issues.
They also publish Easy Quilts mag. This is perfect for beginers.
I also agree that El Burns is the best for beginers. Her books and videos are the easiest to use.
http://quiltinaday.com

The vote in our shop runs to Fons and Porter because it has more projects and less ads.

You can also check with your local public library--you may be able to check out back issues--FOR FREE. (my favorite price!!!)
Rose Hall

Same here. I used to get a lot of different magazines but after a while, they all looked alike. I take an afternoon at a bookstore and sit in the cafe with a mocha thumbing through the mags. Then I buy the ones that hold my interest.

I just remembered a few days ago to check for quilting magazines at our library. They have Quilters' Newsletter and American Patchwork and Quilting. I got a bunch of old issues out; it's nice to look through them knowing I didn't have to pay for them. :wink:

I wish they had Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting and Easy Quilts. I bought the October copy of Easy Quilts and liked it so well I was mad at myself for not buying the Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting issue.

Ah, so many magazine, so many books, so many patterns, so many styles of quilting...so little time! :|