Originally Posted by craftinggrandma
I have made rag quilts but have never made a regular quilt. I was wondering if you had taken classes or are you self taught. What is the easiest quilt design to learn for a beginner.
I started in 1969. I saw quilts at the Newark Museum in Newark Museum and I fell in love.
I taught myself to piece as best I could by looking at unfinished tops, seeing how the seams went together. I taught myself to quilt as best I could by looking at antique quilts up close and personal.
As years went by, I continued my research with antique quilts. Quilting cameintovogue with the Bicentennialin 1976 and books appeared. Quilt shops popped up. There were magazines, classes, and shows, and I learned from them all.
I joined AOL in 1997 and there was a quilting message board and quilting chat. It was like an online guild. We shared and learned together online. And this board keeps that rolling along, the sharing and the learning.
I teach workshops on antique quilts and quilting, and I've been a professional longarm quilter since 2005. I hope I am continuing the thread for future generations.
As for an easy pattern, there are many. Rail fence is super simple.
But another easy pattern that looks hard is the Chimney sweep, and it is a particular favorite of mine. It was one of the most popular patterns in the nineteenth century. It has no seams that have to match. I'm working on several samples now for my next workshop, which will be on the history and making of the Chimney sweep quilt.