Hi Steve
I have also been a lurker. I have been quilting for about 3 years and just invested in a long arm quilting machine. I'm really excited. The best how to quilt books I have found (and I wish I had found them when I first started) is Harriet Hargrave's Quilter's Academy series. There are 6 and they take you through a very logical progression, teaching correct techniques, starting with simple blocks and building to the more complicatedon. She gives you different methods to do the same thing, for example 8 ways to make half-square triangles, and you pick the one that you like the best and that works for you. They also teach you to design your own quilts and not rely on kits. I would have saved myself a lot of headaches if I had started out with these. Good luck and happy quilting