I don't have any stash so I will be buying fabric for my quilt. I don't want to do just a crazy or rag quilt (although they are pretty too). What block patterns would be easy for a beginner, but be something I would be proud to show? Is the Log cabin hard? I would prefer not to have too many different colors, but more than 2. Any other suggestions will be appreciated.

Anything that doesnt have triangles. Traditional log cabin requires accurate seams. I would start with a nine patch or variation

Rail Fence is the pattern I usually recommend to beginners.

Warm Wishes is another easier pattern :D:D:D

Trip around the world is super easy and looks great!! All squares. Need a little math.

I recommend rail fence, too. It's easy, can be stunning with the right color mix, and takes only 4-5 different fabrics. You can learn several techniques--strip piecing and rotary cutting pieced strips are two that I thought of right away. Good luck. Let us know what you decide and if you have any questions, just ask. I, for one, would be very happy to lend a hand.

My first quilt was a "Crazy Quilt", it was very easy & I learned a lot from it. I used fat quarters that I picked out, using coordinating colors. I've always wanted to make another one.

I love Log Cabin quilts and it is fun to play with the layouts, getting different patterns. However, to have contrast between light and dark it is necessary to have quite a few fabrics of each (at least 3 to 5 of each plus the center square. Rail Fence is also a very good pattern for the newbie to quilting. It provides a great opportunity to master the l/4 inch seam! An accurate l/4 inch seam is absolutely vital later on when you have progressed to flying geese and star points. Took me forever to get that. I have to move my needle even though I use a l/4 inch foot on my machine. Go for it and glad you are here. We are here to answer your questions and give our humble opinions! Happy Quilting and Happy New Year.

The first quilt my daughter did was a rail fence and it came out beautiful, she used fall colors. The nice thing is that the different color combos give a totally new look. She is now getting ready to do a log cabin. Onward and upward.

I like the rail fence for a simple quilt. If you find a pretty focus fabric you can do every other square of that and then do a rail fence using 3 colors that coordinate with the focus. I find this to be an easy way to choose colors too.

I love this one too!

I think Disappearing 9 patch (or D9P) is a really easy fun one to make. If you're buying fabric, you'll need at least 8 fabrics (I use one color in 2 blocks).....but you'll need about the same amount of total fabric as if you'd made a regular 4 patch or 1 patch, even!!!!

I love the look of a D9P. It gives such a cool effect.

I've done this too. Have use 2 colors or 3 colors both in different quilts though.

Where would I find this pattern DP9?

How about a Turning Twenty? There are different variations of it, such as Turning Twenty Around the Block. They are made with fat quarters. Many quilt shops carry the Around the Block leaflets. Here is a link so you get an idea of what they look like. They are very easy!

http://www.thequiltedcastle.com/item...lt-Pattern.htm

My first quilt was a rail fence it is also my. It turned out stunning.

I taught a beginning class many years ago, the class progect used a ninepatch set with a snowball block. The piecing was simple and it looked great. Very good for scraps, or large prints.

Patience Corner is one of the easiest but you might find it uninspiring. Attic Window is another easy one - using 3 fabrics. Grandma's Fan is also easy. King's Cross is also easy. Log Cabin is easy as is Monkey Wrench.

Log Cabin is a good, easy beginner block. Here's a tip: make your last row around wider than the rest by a half inch or more. Then you can trim up your blocks to size with no worries.

Just Google "Disappearing Nine Patch" for the pattern. This one is super easy, too, and if you lay it out right, you don't even have to match any seams. This is a very easy pattern that makes up super quick and looks great, too. An excellent choice for beginners.

Disappearing four patch is another one.

Stephanie

Irish Chain is a very nice one to start with. Only uses two or three choices of fabric.

I did not find the disappearing 9 patch all that easy. I used 9 different fabrics and I really don't like the end result - I made 3 of them and I have made heirloom quilts, log cabins, etc. - but perhaps the D9 patch looks better with only 3 fabrics - I wrote to people on the board because theirs looks great and never really got answers.

good luck - rail fence is fun!

My first quilt was a combination rail fence and 9 patch. I alternated every other block and it turned out really cute.

Welcome to the wonderful world of quilting! check out Quilterscache.com Pictures and directions are aplenty!

Turning twenty and disappearing 9 patch work great for beginners -

My first quilt was a 9-patch and rail fence set on point. I learned almost everything I need to know on that one quilt, and it was very pretty. Three fabrics total. If you would like the instructions, PM me, and I'll email them to you and offer up help to boot, if you need it.

Log cabin needs way more than 2 fabrics. I love the 9-patch or 4-patch with alternating blocks.

Go to quilterscache.com and you will find hundreds of patterns. Pick the one you like. I like it because it shows the full quilt when done.

Hi, the disappearing nine patch is really simple, yet when it is done it looks like you have done something more complex. Make nine patch blocks with the center piece being the same color in all the blocks. i.e. I made one with black and white squares and red block centers. Then after you sew the nine patch, cut in in half both vertically and horizontally and rotate the upper right quarter and the lower left quarter 180 degrees until the center piece in on the corner and then sew the block back together again. Just google a disappearing nine patch block pattern, there are some really good tutorials out there. It really is a neat looking quilt yet very simple to make. Hope you'll give it a try.

I agree that rail fence and warm wishes are great for beginners. D9P can be made as phrojangles suggests, or with different colors in the centers and different layouts, also with more or fewer colors. Yellow brick road is also a good pattern for a beginner. (YBR was my first quilt.)

My first was loaded with triangles and small squares, but I learned what not to do and now feel comfortable with most straight lines. Log cabins can be made quilt as you go as well as not. I am intimidated by curves and very pointy designs that require paper piecing.:)

Thanks to Girlsfour for the great site.

Warm Wishes is another easy pattern and it looks like you worked hard. Changing fabrics creates entirely new looks and it is so much fun to do.

To Mpark-
I highly advise going to :
www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore
All patterns are free. Marcia Hohn illustrates how to make each block and she has hundreds on her site. She also has an illustrative quilt for each block.
You can sort the blocks by difficulty and size. I never had done any quilting or sewing. I copied each block onto my computer and by the time I was done, I felt like I had had a course in
block construction.
I never found anything I wanted to buy in her tiny store so periodically, I just send a check and a thank you. - Judy

Thank you all so much. You have made some great suggestions. I am leaning toward Warm Wishes and starting out with a baby quilt. However, I will look at quilterscache before finally deciding. Maybe I can show you a finished product one day soon. Thanks again!

I have found some of the translations for the lingo used here but am still pretty confused. For instance, what on earth does DP9 mean???.....I am not a texter is that my problem?

I think you could easily do a log cabin, DP9 or rail fence. Either of the first two are fun to play with, many designs can be made by playing with the blocks.

D9P is Disappearing 9 patch. Sometimes the abbreviation gets out of order (DP9).

It's not texting, just quilter's shorthand.

I teach beginning quilters and always rec. a Rail Fence. Although I love Log Cabins and all the others mentioned here, new quilters often have trouble when many different fabrics are required. They don't always have enough experience at selecting a range of fabrics in varying tones for contrast. Keep it to a few fabrics, or just use a charm pack and sew all the blocks together and and a border or two. Keep it simple!

http://quiltsatcs.blogspot.com/2007/...-tutorial.html

for easy disappearing 9 patch