Teaching someone to quilt
 

I have a friend who wants to learn to quilt. LQS lessons not an option at this time. I know I can teach her but what's an easy design to start with that will get her "hooked"? I thought about a basic nine patch. What would you do?

I learned on Yellow Brick Road. Very easy, but includes patches of different sizes so seems more interesting to work on than a 9-patch.

My first quilt was a four-patch with alternating plain squares, sashing and cornerstones. Pretty basic, but would give your friend an idea of what's involved - cutting, strip piecing, nesting seams, etc.... Using bright, colorful fabrics would make it fun.

Have you asked her what she'd like to learn? Is she attracted to the modern quilts or the traditional patterns or applique? Does she like bright colors or muted ones? If you start her on a project that she's excited about, it will so much easier for her to learn. As for size, I'd start with a 16-block with borders which will produce a size that she can hang on the wall or use as a bed topper or a baby quilt.

The disappearing 9 patch was my first quilt, and I was so amazed at how it came together I was very excited to finish it! A little more work than a plain 9patch, but some interesting results!

I took a class that used a 2 color Jacob's Ladder that I made into a baby quilt. It gave excellent practice at four patches and half square triangles, matching seams, etc. However, from watching posts on this board, many people do a beautiful job on first quilts using patterns of their own choosing. Hope it is a fun time for both of you.

My first quilt was a flannel rag quilt with 6x6 squares, very forgiving. lol. Enjoy, and have a great time.

whatever it is, have fun with it .... the pattern and color doesn't matter if you're having fun doing it.

You could do a jelly roll race just leave out the race part LOL Fast, pretty, easy to do.

In my opinion, a rail fence is the best pattern to start with. It does not require matching any seams, plus it can look quite complex in spite of being very easy. A 9-patch would be the next step up in difficulty because of the seam-matching required within blocks.

Let her chose 4 or 5 patterns she likes then you chose the one you think would be easiest for her to do the first time out. If it's something she really likes, she's more likely to stay interested.

I agree with Prism99 - you find 4 colors which she will love, and there are no corners to match up the big thing is learning to measure twice and cut once. Is she going to machine quilt this or tying it?

Rail fence is quick and fun.

I think I would go with a string quilt. It is very forgiving.

My first pattern was a large-ish log cabin. It was really repetitive and allowed me to get into the swing of chain piecing. In my opinion, I'd give her a few "easy" options and let her choose. It's more motivating and "fun" to stick through it when you like the patterns and colors.

one of my early quilts was rail fence - pretty basic. but easy with a little more interest would be warm wishes

This is the one I would choose...when I first did it I was so amazed.

I was just rethinking this...the string quilt would be perfect...she could use all scraps besides the middle piece. She will be totally amazed how it comes together. And also hooked on scrappy quilts.

Start with basic 9 patch. Don't get any more complicated than that to begin.

"Just Can't Cut It" is a pattern that goes together very quickly. Squares are 4 1/2 x 6 1/2; 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 and 12 1/2blocks.

I agree with Artsy Girl - if she likes the style and colors it will be so much more fun for her. It's so much easier even now when I work on something that appeals to me - not that I don't do other things because everyone wants something different.

Rail Fence or Yellow Brick Road would be my input. Both easy , with great learning opportunites. I have taught many a beginner with Rail Fence, but now I would lean toward Yellow brick road... just has a broader appeal.. and more opportunity for great fabric collecting.

I agree with those that have suggested a pattern that she finds interesting. I started knitting with a pattern that was for 'experienced knitters only'. And other than a basic knit/perl stitch am completely self taught. That pattern really appealed to me and that's why I completed it. Same with quilting. Again, completely self taught. I started with a double irish chain. Not difficult but also gave me an opportunity to work on hand quilting which is what I really wanted to do, more than the piecing at that point. Find a couple that she finds appealing and go fabric shopping with her as well to lend some guidance as to color combos, values, etc. After all, that's part of the process as well.

my first quilt was a log cabin and I was totally hooked after that

I'd for sure let her have some say in the pattern----------teacher can judge the difficulty and absolutely have a say in the fabrics.

I taught the daughter of a friend of mine to quilt, and we used this pattern. I had found it free online, can't find it any longer, and didn't it show up in "Quilters' Newletter Magazine"! I'm not sure whether the published pattern was by the same person, or the person who submitted the design just added a border to the free pattern, but in any case, the center is the very same, and was very easy for a beginner to learn. http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/ar...ern_Brick_Wall

Turning Twenty is a good one. Takes 20 fat quarters. Very easy. Turns out great!

Is she wanting to learn the piecing, the quilting, or the whole shebang?

A lady in our guild teaches a beginners class and uses the Churn Dash block. They learn both cutting squares and triangles and how to sew both. I personally like the Friendship Star. My first quilt was a log cabin Eleanor Burns way. There are a lot of 9 patch variations, maybe a sampler of various 9 patches. Large blocks on a small quilt would make it doable and not overwhelming.

Start with something simple...something she likes...you want her to finish her first project to feel successful and want to go on to make more quilts. There are many simple patterns to choose from. Maybe even start with a table-runner or wallhanging/table-topper so it is a smaller project that will get done sooner and not take too long to complete. Second project could be a quilt.

Remember to have some chocolate and all will perfect - especially if she is working with her favorite colors and her selected pattern. Are you taking her shopping first?

Do a sampler quilt. Pick out 6 different easy blocks and have her do each one. She might get bored doing the same block over and over. The beginners quilt classes at our LQS do a sampler quilt with 4 blocks. I thought that was too little. 9 would be even better. You have some good ideas above, choose some and have her do them. She'll know quite a bit when her quilt is finished instead of knowing only one block.

I taught a friend to quilt. We started with a wall hanging size, she wanted a Christmas wall hanging and I had a pattern for an applique (simple fusible applique). So she learned to use steam a seam, blanket stitch around it, and then add a border. Then she was able to do a simple quilting around it and then bound it. Done in one day (she stayed up to finish her binding she told me!).

so she learned a lot that first project and had a finished piece in one day. Really motivated her to keep going. Next we chose a sudoko quilt...again simple squares and then she was able to learn sashing. and she quilted it again herself and voila! Done.

Keep it simple and small for the first thing, what if she finds she doesn't like quilting and has a whole project to finish? something that can be done in one day or two is perfect. Wall hanging, table runner.

Have fun!!!!

Oh I should mention that she immediately then went into a Kaffe Fassett quilt and finished it up in one weekend. She is hooked!!!!

This was actually the way I learned!! It was a 4 block wall hanging but when I went so crazy over piecing the teacher expanded it to 6 blockes. Each block taught a different technique ! I thought we would shop for fabric first then start with simple blocks!! Might have to hunt up my very first quilt!! Lol.

Thanks everyone for the great ideas!! Please keep them coming!!

Is she familiar with her sewing machine? I start all my true sewing beginners on string blocks. They are forgiving on seams (until there is a BIT more confidence...then you don't have to be a task master to start). I taught 3 children from ages 6-12 this summer and we made string blocks till then end. By then they were ready to move on and made pillowcases. They even mastered my serger!

One day when my sister and I were just playing around with her sewing machine, I taught her to make half-square triangles. She was thrilled, and we practiced making several, then arranging them in different designs. That is all it took to get her hooked on making quilt tops. So far, though, she isn't interested in doing the quilting part, except for very small items.

If she has sewn before, she will have the basic consept. So if it were me I would make sure it was not a big quilt to start with. A lap size would be good. Any simple pattern would be good.

When I took lessons, we did a sampler quilt, too. Can't remember whether we did 9 squares or 12.