grammagayle

AND stay tuned to this site; esp reading this part AND looking at the part with all the pictures of quilts etc. For a long time I just checked the part with everyone's pictures; would keep pictures of the ones I liked, and look up the patterns for that picture on Google and tutorials. That was neat enough. THEN I decided to check out this part of the site; and see what everyone was talking about. NOW I'm spending WAY too much time reading all of the suggestions and looking up MORE info on Google to make my life easier on Quilting. LOL I've quilted for years; but have sure learned a LOT since reading this site regularly!!!!! You've just made one of the best steps you could make in learning to quilt by checking out this site!!!! Happy quilting. :)

quiltingshorttimer

I was in your shoes 2 years ago. Luckily our local quilt guild offers a 6 wk, 3hr weekly class for the price of membership that taught me all the basics, plus I'm now a member of a guild of great women that encourage you at every turn and always are learning themselves, so there are workshops, speakers,etc. You might check to see if a local guild does a similar program.

QuiltingHaven

Sorry about this but there is a very good book called "Quilting for Dummies - A Reference for the Rest of Us!" I got it on Amazon and it was only $7.48 and it has been a great reference for starting quilting plus all the great information available from the Quilting Board.

buttons

You could get a Quilt in a Day book from Eleanor Burns.
Eleanor has some real easy ways to make quilts. Get some of her first books She always worked with 2 1/2" strips.
Have a lot of fun learning and if you make a mistake don't get upset because that is the way you learn You get hooked on quilting

Jean in Ohio13452

I would start by going to local library and look at the quilt books they have. Both of the library's near me have several shelves of Quilt books.
I would think that picking out a very basic block and get it all sewed and pressed would be a great start, then make a block with more pieces like a 9 patch with border... or a basic Sampler Quilt... would be a Great introduction to quilts... Basic squares can be used for potholders, table toppers, or even to sew on to a totebag... lots of ideas can be found in those books with smaller projects... Good Luck...

Nurse Jan

Welcome from Arizona. I'm fairly new, too, both to this site and to quilting. I bought Nancy Zeiman's book and it really helped a lot. It's very basic.. Gpood luck

jlwheart

Welcome from Minnesota. I starteed with quilt classes at my LQS (sadly, now out of business) and learned how to make twelve 12" squares. My favorite book is the one from Better Homes & Gardens. But I have learned the most from being on this board and looking at the quilt pics every day. The folks here are so wonderfully creative. Now I just have to get my quilt finished.

AlamoAA

How to sew a basic 9-Patch Quilt Top
First wash and iron your fabrics, then fold until ready to use. Half are dark and half are light.
Cutting: Cut them into Sq’s at 4” or 6” whatever size you choose. Make sure they are all uniform and square. Iron as you go.
Sewing: No back stitching as you will go over each sq enough in a different direction to be the same as back stitching. Make sure your seams are uniform at a standard Ό” seam. Use a guide on your machine such as a stack of post it notes to make a raised edge. Measure from the needle not the out side of the foot. And get a quarter inch foot for your machine.
Ironing: As you get a stack of 9 patches sewed, iron them flat pressing seams to the dark side of the fabric. And after you sew rows again press your new seams again towards the dark fabrics.
Now stack in groups of 10-20 or 40. You want even number of dark and light in two stacks of say 63 that is 4” sq at 7 -9 Patches x say 10 rows gives 630 squares divide that in half and you get 315 squares of dark and 315 sq of light color. That is a top 7 9 patches wide by 10 9 patches long. Or it should be 80.5” wide and 115” long.
Ok take your dark and light stacks. You are going to lay them out start with sq #1 dark and then sq #2 light. You make half starting with a dark sq and the other half starting with a light sq. So when you finish your 9 Patches #1 & #2 you can sew them together and you will continue with dark and light. Example: 9 patch is 3 rows of 3 sq.s Start with a dark sq then a light sq and a dark sq for row 1, then start with a light sq and a dark sq and a light sq. repeat row 1 for row 3. Now when you sew the three rows together you have.
D, L, D and L, D, L
L, D, L D, L, D
D, L, D L, D, L repeat all this for 7- 9 patch squares across the bed so you can see your pattern. Or if you have a wall to hang them on with push pins is good too.
Then in row 2 you reverse the dark and lights.
L, D, L and D, L, D
D, L, D L, D, L
L, D, L D, L, D
Then row 3 you repeat row 1 dark
Row 4 you repeat row 2 light
Row 5 you repeat row 1 dark
Row 6 you repeat row 2 light
Row 7 you repeat row 1 dark
Row 8 you repeat row 2 light
Row 9 you repeat row 1 dark
Row 10 you repeat row 2 light
Sew each 9 patch square with the proper sq next to it. All across the row. Sew all 7 sq across. Mark the upper left corner of each row with a safety pin so you do not mix them up. Place the pin in the top left sq of each row.
Now to sew your rows 1-10 together.
First all your 7 - 9 Patches are across the bed in dark and light and dark and light all across the row. NO 2 Darks are to be together and no 2 lights are to be together.
Now sew row 1 & row 2 all across. You flip row 2 over row 1 & sew at the bottom of row 1 and it will be the top of row 2. You do this so when open right sides out your safety pins are all in the upper left sq of both rows.
Repeat row 3 and 4 Then 5-6, Then 7 & 8 and 9 & 10.
Remember to flip them so right sides are together and all pins are in upper left corner on top. If not you have one up side down.
Once all 10 rows are done you have a quilt top about 80.5” x 115”
I hope this helps make a top.
Now add a backing that is 6” wider on all 4 sides so in this case it is 80.5 wide plus 6 on each side is 92.5 and 115 plus 6 inches on each side” add 12” at 6 on each end makes it 127” long. Make your batting 2.5” to 3” larger than the top. So if my math is correct I will add 6” to the 80.5 + 6= 86.5” wide and 115” add another 6” = 121” Long
Layer the 3 layers backing will be right side down on your table top or bed top. You may need to sew 2 lengths of 44” wide fabric to get 87.6” wide when sewn together at 121” long each. Once your seam is sewn iron it in the seam. Now lay it down right side down and wrong side up.
Lay down batting so 3” inside the backing on all 4 sides. Trim to fit if you need to.
Now lay the top you just made on top of the batting and it will be right side up.
Now you tie yarn in the 9 patches on upper left corner (safety pins are removed) and in the center of the 9 patch and go all across. Use sport weight yarn it is lighter. Thread a yarn needle and go thru all the layers of the top, batting and backing. Start on the top, go thru and come back up to the top. Leave yarn ends long enough to tie in 2 or 3 knots and trim to 1”. Go all across each row that way so 2 yarn ties are in each 9 patch. And It will be like this:
D, L, D row one D on left gets a yarn in upper left corner of the sq.
L. D. L row two of 9 patch gets the center D sq with a yarn tie in the center of the sq.
D, L, D
Once all across the row repeat the second row, third, fourth etc… to row 10.
Now fold the back over the batting and to the top. Turn for a Ό” seam to turn under. Pin all the way around. Miter the corners. Look online how to do that. It is a matter of folding and pining a corner. Then zig zag around the edge.
You now have a finished beginner quilt. Hope this is clearer than mud.

heather1949

Hi Tulika and welcome from Victoria,Australia.

AlamoAA

Welcome to our group. I am fairly new myself and call myself quilterwannabe. If I had more time I could get more fancy I guess. But I hope you glean all you can from all of us and how I got started was I was recrouted to a church quilt circle and they taught me the basics and I have gone from there to making my own at home with a homemade quilt rack my hubby made for me it is easy of 4 18" saw horses and long poles wrapped with fabric scraps not suitable for quilting. I think to but batting under the fabric on the poles would have been even better.
Here are a few quilts I have made for tots. AS you can see I am super simple and have yet to machine quilt a quilt together. Some day I will. I did machine a yard of fabric to make a purse and have yet to make it.
Enjoy all of us and pick our brains. Someone will have an answer.
Most of my 9 patches are diagonal and it is done the same way only with 3 different fabrics one Dark, Light and a medium. lay it out D 1- M 2- L 3 on row 2 is: L 1, D 2 then M 3. and row three is , M1, L 2 & D 3 This makes a diagonal 9 Patch that will repeat all thru the quilt. Then add a few triangles and you can have countless varieties.