I didn't have any sewing experience when I started quilting. I read the novel "The Quilters Apprentice" and thought it sounded fun. I went to the library and checked out the books "Quilting for Dummies" and "The Complete Idiots Guide to Quilting" for guidance.
I got out some graph paper and designed my first quilt. It is machine pieced and hand quilted. It took a year to complete. It is the bedspread that I use on my spare bedroom double bed. It is my most cherished quilt, and I'd never part with it.
I've tried to follow a pattern since then, but can't understand the directions. I find it easier to make quilts that live in my head. I'm always working on one now.