illinois

My first book was Leisure Arts Complete Guide for Quilters. I still use it for reference to suggested sizes for quilts, on-point setting triangles, etc. Good basics in that book. My first quilt was a string quilt on muslin foundation. At the time I started (more than 20 yrs ago) a friend gave me a subscription to Quick Quilts that was a big help in finding something quick and easy but not boring. If you choose to watch online demonstrators, I recommend Eleanor Burns and more recently Donna Jordan. Both offer excellent suggestions as well as their technique for a being accurate in piecing. A lot of the "names" of today are not so much into the teaching but are selling product so be aware of that.

If you find older pattern books, you may find that the patterns all use templates rather than rotary cutting. Be careful of that if you don't intend to cut pieces with scissors as our previous generations did.