The warm wishes pattern is always pretty and easy.
Elaine

I agree with starting smaller. I've taught several folks to quilt, and I frequently recommend a rail fence in a lap quilt size...but what do I know. My first quilt top was a fancy fan that was king sized.. :oops:

Welcome to quilting and this wonderful board. The first thing you must do is take a rotary cutting class at you local quilt shop and then a basic piecing class. For easy quilts try a 9 or 4 patch, rail fence, log cabin, warm wishes. Then move on to friendship star and snowball. With these you will have the basics. Good luck and be sure to post pics of your progress.
Connie

my first book was a booklet....I think it was callled "I can't believe I'm quilting" I will look for it later.

The first project I made, was a table runner with just 3 blocks. It was very easy and the instructions were great.

Also, I like sampler quilts with easy blocks. Then you don't get bored, with a ton of the same blocks.

Oh yeah, welcome to the board :)

Found the book that the teacher of my first classes made each of us buy. We learned to rotary cut from it and then our intro to piecing was the sampler in it. The book is: Rotary Cutting with Alex Anderson. After these classes I, as a beginner was able to do even the dreaded Y seam. When done with this sampler you have tackled all the basic shapes and angles you will ever need to know. I have looked at many books for beginners and feel this is the most complete to get started.
Connie

I agree. 9 patch or 4 patch. JUST HAVE FUN :D

Welcome to the board but be aware, it is addictive.
Any book or video by Eleanor Burns will give you a good start.
She is very detailed even to telling you which way to iron your seams.
She uses the easiest methods and likes to make oversized then trim.
That way everything turns out right.

It is always on the first weekend in May at the Grass Valley Fairgrounds. This year is an anniversary - 25 years - so it should be a real good one.

http://www.pinetreequiltguild.com/


As far as using large squares of printed fabric as a first quilt. I think that is a lovely idea. Just one thing to remember: If you plan to do only stitch-in-the-ditch, make sure and use a batting that can handle wide open spaces between quilting lines.

this is the best place for a beginner. be sure to browes around Recent Topics and Random Topics. Everyone shares their techniques and finished products ! It is a great place for any question ! Any, believe me.. grin..

Have fun quilting. 30 years ago I started a 6 block sampler, Honeycomb, card tricks, applique, .. from a class. But my most successful and repeated easiest was Log Cabin. Google the Quilt design Log cabin. THere will be free patterns.

have fun !!! If the bug bites you... it will be a life time of pleasure !

Ell

http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html
You may have seen this site but it is a wonderful place to browse and a lot of the patterns can be made into pillows from these blocks.
Marcia gives wonderful instructions even I can follow.
Good luck with your first try
Darlene