You might take a look at www.quiltville.com. She has some really great patterns. I'm particularly thinking of the one called "Bricks and Stepping Stones". Very scrappy, very easy, can be made any size, very easy instructions.

Just a tip: Depending on the pattern, and the size of pieces you need, it can be cheaper to buy a 1/4 year of fabric from the bolt, instead of a fat quarter. Check it out before you spend!

Welcome Becky,

For the cost of a magazine subscription or a book (about $24 a year) you can join QNN on the web. I joined and I am thrilled with it. I too am a novice quilter. They have beginning quilting video's, Eleanor BUrns, and many others. You can watch them any time it is convenient...as well as rewatching them. FOR ME, it is well worth the money. If you start with the beginner quilting videos it takes you through step by step, choosing fabric, cutting, sewing etc. There are videos on binding and quilting. IT IS GREAT. Also You tube has great tutorials. But I love QNN. They also have tons of FREE patterns and ideas.


http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/tpc/ERA_032909_ARS

Margie

OOOPS gave you the site to support animals, breast cancer, literacy, rain forest, childrens health by clicking each day...good site but wrong one SORRY.

Here is the correct site for Qnn, if you are interested...you can view sample video too.

http://www.qnntv.com/aspx/qnn/default.aspx

Margie

Hello!
I agree, you should check out a library. You may think you want something simple, but if you find an all-around quilting book (what I'd call a comprehensive book), you will be glad you spent the money, because it will contain many shortcuts, pointers, probably even the reasoning behind why certain things were done one way, and are now done another way. A good book would also cover (at least the basics) of both hand and machine techniques.
If you have any quilting friends, look through some of their books before buying.
If you have any sort of fabric store nearby, chances are you can browse books before you buy. My local JoAnn's has the books located with the sewing patterns, so there are tables and chairs right there to make it even more convenient.
Also, check the news stands, even in your local grocery. At least some quilting magazines include the basics in every issue.
If you are crafty, and don't normally have trouble with printed instructions, I imagine you wouldn't have any trouble with many types of blocks. Box in a Box is fun, Log cabin is pretty easy too. You could have a lot of fun with Flying geese, especially if you think outside the box with your colors. There's an eight pointed star (is that what it's called?) that is very common, I would think you could even handle that, given good instructions!
Good luck! We'll be waiting to hear if you get the addiction we all seem to have!

I have been a quilter for over 25 years and find Fons Porter books good as well as thimbleberry books. Check them out at the library or many book stores carry them. I have over 100 books and still use these as reference and they have some great beginner projects.

Just wanted to say "thank you" again. I got so many great and helpful responses, and I think I will probably end up using more than one of them at some point in the near future.

For my first project, though: I went back and forth on whether I should do a small project or a quilt, and my heart won out over my head (I decided to go with a quilt). I got a lot of votes for nine-patch, so I went looking for an unintimidating looking nine-patch pattern. Here's what I found:

http://www.quickquilts.com/patterns/...s.html?idx=271

I would do it without the applique, to keep it simple.

Unfortunately all the diagram links on that page are broken, so I'm going to need to find a back issue if I decide to do this quilt. Would love to know some opinions, first!

Thanks!!!

Becki

I did one with a heart appliqued in the alternating squares. I loved the way it turned out.

http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/f...ts_closeup.jpg

But I made one where I alternated the 9-patch with a coordinating fabric square. That was pretty too.

BTW: are you planning to use strip piecing? That makes the 9-patch easier than cutting out each square.

U R Rough and Ready girl, right? If you run into a snag, give a shout. Maybe I could come to the rescue. You are not that far away.

9 patch with a snowball sq. make a very interesting pattern.
I like Billi Lauders way of doing nine patchs.
She is on http://quilterstv.com

GiddyUpGo: What I would suggest is check out quilt sites and look at all the FREE patterns and tutorial instructions that are offered on the Internet before you invest in lots of books. Two great sites are: quilterscache.com and Quiltbus.com . When looking at patterns sometimes they'll have a rating of 1 Thimble (easy) to 4 Thimble which is very advanced. The Rail Fence is a great, easy and quick pattern that really jazzed me up when I first started because the blocks are easy and in not time at all you have a finished quilt! Nothing like a finished quilt to get the creative juices flowing and the desire to do another.

If you want a great book, Elinor Burns' "Quilt In A Day" is a good one.

Make sure and post pictures of your quilt and get all the Ohhhs and Ahhhs and Good Jobs on your hard (easy) work.

Welcome to the board. You'll learn a ton here.
[b]

Quiltbug suggested magazines and books as an excellent way to learn about quilting. This is a GREAT idea...I've gotten a ton of quilt magazines and BOOKs at our local St. Vincent dePaul for almost nothing. You might find exactly what you need there for a quarter! Check it out. I've also found some wonderful fabric at this store for about $1 a yard. Since I learned of this potential resource, I can't go by our SVdP store without stopping in to see what treasures they have.