Carhop mentiones the book "Quilting for Dummies". Google "Quilting for Dummies.pdf". I got mine free somehere years ago, forgot where, but I have it in my files. I can e-mail the file to you if you post (Private Messages, maybe?) your e-mail address. The book is very clear and does cover the basics to get started, no too fancy stuff to mess your head up! Let me know, I read this board every morning (my time zone is in Europe).