MandyM

Please don't be discouraged... I agree with others...simple squares or even rail fence would be a good starting place. Perhaps a small project to start with... to build confidence.

Qwiltylady

If you just want to start with a plain block quilt here is the instructions.
1. decide what size blocks you want to use.
2. cut blocks the finished size plus 1/2 inch.
3. start sewing blocks in a row until the quilt is the width you want.
4. from this row decide how long you want you first quilt to be.
5. multiply the number of blocks across by the number of block down and then subtract the number of blocks you already have cut.
6. cut the remaining blocks out.
7. sew the blocks into rows like the first one you did.
8. press the seams to the left on even rows and to the right on odd rows.
9. sew the rows together in 2s ie 1+2 3+4 5+6. pin the seams so they line up and don't move.
10. keep sewing and pressing rows until you have one finished top.
Important points: Make sure all blocks are cut the exact same size. Make sure all seams are the same width. Most quilter's use 1/4 inch seams but I have seen larger. It is only important that all seams are equal so blocks line up when sewing into rows.
I hope these simply instructions help you be less frustrated.

whatever

This is what I love about this site everyone is so helpful . I suck at quilting but what I read makes me say heck just keep going I'm bound to get it right. and the things I have done have a LOT off errors but I tell people it's to remind them no one is perfect we all have flaws... and my family agrees with that lol just hang in there keep going at it when you get fustrated stop and do something else then come back to it youl'll be showing your great quilts on this site real soon

stoppain

Hi Susan I cound not agree more. I have sold Quilts I have made at craft shows and people don't understand that fact, so they thing i want too much money for my things

peacebypiece

Yeah, you can get a lot of stuff from the internet for free, but not the real experience of seeing what's "out there". 15 minutes in any fabric/craft/quilting store will have you overloaded with simple patterns. Some people NEED to buy the pattern book and read and follow the printed directions. It really won't bankrupt you to buy just one quilting book. (Stopping with just one is the hard part.)Actually I get some of my best ideas by just browsing through the quilting books at JoAnns.

hudgoddess

My first quilts were rag quilts for babies. Find some cute frog or princess cotton or flannel and go to about.com and search rag quilt. It's all simple square blocks and you don't have to worry about your corners lining up perfectly. I did a couple, then I found some fabric so beautiful that I just couldn't rag. I took a hands on class at my LQS and I haven't stopped since.

star619

Please on't give up! When I get overwhelmed, I tell myself that I"ll do just one seam, and then I can quit if I want to. And, sometimes I do put it down & move on. BUT, sometimes I'll sew "just one more seam" ,and success breads
sucess & self-confidence. Was it Charlie Chaplin who said that "The biggest factor to success in life is just showing up!" So show up at that machine and do it. The first part of learning anything is learning technique, and then you'll have the freedom to make artistic decisions. As someone told me in my early thirties, "You're just having growing pains!" It made me laugh, & helped put things in perspective.

tryitall

try qnntv.com Mary Fons starts from the basics and I mean basics. Threading the machine and goes from there, filling bobbin and on. This seems to be a good site. I think one of the first quilts is an Irish Chain, which is square blocks. Good luck!

atvrider

Oh my goodness, please don't be overwhelmed, once you start you won't be able to quit! You can buy some 5" or 10" pre-cut squares and put them together. Add 1 or 2 boarders and voila -a quilt is born.

diannemc

Don't give up! HAVE FUN!!! And start small!!!