lynnsv

Welcome from Pittsburgh! Buy either the Yellow Brick road or the Take Five patterns. They have the fabric requirements and both are simple. You'll love them and you'll be hooked!

ufoqueen

Hello and welcome from Corpus Christi, Texas. You have taken the most important step in a quilter's life, you asked for advice. Start with a simple pattern, 9 square, rail fence, anything square. Don't be hard on yourself, take a class if you can, buy a book( there's lots of beginning quilter books) and go girl!

shelburn

Hi Sheila, I am Shelia, too, just spelled different. I suggest that you pay attention to the questions that mpspeedy asked. We need to know your tools, capabilities and experience before suggesting what to start with. I would read some quilting books and magazines first. Then maybe try putting together a few blocks, then a simple small miniquilt, runner, table tom, or lap quilt before trying something as daunting as a bed-sized quilt.
I have sewn all my life, and never did a lot of quilting, and still dabble in quilting, doll-making, tailoring, and charity sewing. I get along just fine with the minimun of tools, using scraps in various ways and just enjoying everything. Just take it slow!
I live just over the MA border in CT. If I can help, e-mail me!

Edie

You can always go to Quilter's Cache. There are a myriad of patterns, different sizes, according to your ability at the time. Paper piecing (which I have never done), applique (which I don't particularly care for), it gives instructions on how to cut your fabric and everything. It is a must keep! Also, learn how to feel the fabric. You can feel the quality of fabric with your thumb and index finger just by "petting" it! I learned that from my mother, who learned it from her mother - the "feel" of the fabric. You will learn that! Rail Fence is a good starter as it nine patch. I am personally partial to sampler quilts, because it is basically your design on how you want the blocks placed, the names and what they mean to you, the colors, etc. Then the most important, choose a background! No, not fabric, environment. By a window, in the attic, in the basement, in the dining room, in the room that your child used until he/she moved out and you grabbed before he/she shut the door behind him/her!!!!! You may want to listen to music, or the tv, I like to listen to audiobooks. Doesn't really matter as long as you are happy.

It is a joyous adventure, it is a getaway, a place for you to design what you want, how you want and you are under no pressure (at least you hope you aren't) and you get to know better the most important person - YOU! I found out that I can do it - I just sat behind a table (at the time) and did it. When I decided that I could do it, which everyone can one way or the other, I got a new sewing machine (nothing fantabulous, but enough to make quilts), a sewing table, and the most important tool of all, the seam ripper. You will thank each person that mentions the seam ripper, because you will rip seams, believe me - YOU WILL RIP SEAMS!!!!!!

And then there is the backache! You have to learn to get up and walk around, maybe have a Coke, or tea or coffee or water, or maybe a nice glass of wine. You can sit at your sewing table with your fabric all around you and swig on a nice glass of Chardonnay or Choco-Vine and realize how great life really is! Take a walk around the block with the trusty dog and come back and sew some more. It is a wonderful life, you will enjoy and we are looking forward to hearing your new adventures in Quiltland!!!!!!

Do not give up. If something isn't working for you, set it aside and start something else, but keep the project because you will want to finish it. If I have a problem with a block, I set it aside, work on another block and by the time that one is done, my brain has already figured out what I did wrong. It's really amazing how we work!

Welcome to Quilting Board from St. Paul, Minnesota! Edie

supergma

Hello, and welcome from Texas. go to your local quilt store, ask about a beginner's class. Pick a pattern and they will help you with yardages for it. Good luck.

Jeanniebelle

Good Morning from Mena, AR. I would suggest finding a book of patterns and choose a fairly simple one. About the simplest patterns are a 4-patch or 9-patch. Also if you have a quilting store in your area talk with them. I got the quilting bug several years ago by watching tv shows with Alex Anderson, Elenor Burns and Nancy Zimman. Check your tv schedule to see if you can find any such programs. Jeanniebelle

Tweety2911

Hi and welcome from New York.

be a quilter

Hello from Pa. I got the book, "Quilting for Dummies", great book, explains everything in detail. And then, just hang out on here and you will learn tons. Happy quilting!!

mbeskosty12360

where is Mass are you? There are plenty of stores that offer classes for beginners. that is how i finally did it.

Marcie

Howdy! :D