As i am fairly new to the quilting world and just love all the beautiful quilts i see you have all made.. wondered if anyone can give me ideas.. not too difficult... lol,, have not got a lot of confidence in myself really... made items for grand kids, and a lap quilt for sister.. but looking for some small projects i can practice with.. getting it right!!! any help/ideas appreciated, thank you

A basic nine patch will teach you loads. Very easy, versitile, very pretty.

Rail Fence quilts are easy, Turning Twenty patterns are easy, esp. the first one in Volume 1. Patterns made with jelly rolls are often easy as well, just depends on the pattern.

But the Rail Fence (or is it Fence Rail?) and the Turning Twenty are easy, fast, and you really get a sense of accomplishment!

Good luck! Post some pics!

I agree, my first quilts were 9-patches, they helped me with lining things up correctly, pressing, just all your basics (I did them with strip piecing). You could also try a disappearing 9 patch (D9P) if you'd like to increase your difficulty.

You could choose a block pattern that you like - www.quilterscache.com is good and it has a pin system for the difficulty of the block. Then make just one and put a plain border round to turn it into a cushion cover or table mat for example. That way, you could try a block that stretches you a little, for example using half square triangles, without committing to making tons for a whole quilt! Plus you'd be finished quick and that would be an encouraging thing. This is how I started, with cushion covers. I just made a basic pillow case back. No zips or buttonholes! LOL

thanks for the replys all, will have a look round websites you suggest, have done the 9 patch for the lap quilt i made, but i did it by hand!! papers.... :roll:

Quiltbus has loads of free quilt block patterns with instructions, all in order..
http://www.quiltbus.com/free-quilt-blocks.htm

have fun!

I'm new at quilting. But I first started out with the Rail Fence pattern. Easy to do.

You might pick another block that is divided into 9 sections like the 9-patch and alternate the blocks, so you don't get tired of just making 9-patches. There's one called checkerboard where 5 of the patches in the 9-patch are 4 patches. Makes a checkerboard like pattern and looks nice with a 9 patch.

I make preemie quilts for the Special Care Nursery at the hospital. They are really small to fit in the isolettes.

They are really good for learning all types of techniques as they are small and easy to manipulate under the machine.

I got reasonably good at stitch in the ditch and free motion quilting by practising on the preemie quilts. They work up fast and give you a good sense of accomplishment. The little ones don't care if it's perfect, they keep warm.

I just contacted the hospital and asked what size they wanted. Then I putter away til I have enough to take to the hospital. I ask that the quilts go home with the babies so that gives me an excuse to make more.

I figure I am accomplishing two things, honing my skills and keeping preemies warm. Win/win.

What a lovely idea, thinking of all the babies you have kept warm!!

Maybe you could make a sampler quilt. Purchase 4 different coordinating fabrics, say a 1 1/2 each. Go to quilterscache.com and pick out 12 blocks that are easy (1 pin next to them) and make one of each. This way you can try different patterns and gently stretch out from the basic nine patch. If you sash each block and add a border or two you will have a nice sized lap quilt :D:D:D

There are many 12 in blocks there that are made using larger pieces, and not a whole lot of them either :wink: When you get more confident, start a second sampler quilt using the blocks with 2 pins next to them.

Most of these blocks can be made using 1/2 or 1/4 triangles, and there are very good tutorials here for making these. ShellyQ made a series of 4 tutes for the beginner and there are a lot of pictures and wonderful descriptions...plus you know we will help you too!!!

what are the size for premie quilts ??

Last year I knit 20 baby hats for our NICU........
Thx for the info

Thanks I will give it a try. Doris

I began my quilting journey with a nine patch, easy but effective, you can have fun with so many different colour ways.
A cushion is a good idea and even better if you want to try out small blocks etc is to make pin cushions. I have seen heaps of these in quilting mags and quilting project books and they are beautiful little items which could be given as gifts later on to friends or family who sew or quilt.

Gal

Thanks again for all your help ladies, magazines are in short supply here in UK they are sooo advanced and quite honestly there are more pictures of what peeps have done than actual 'how to's' theres tons of cardmaking, knitting, mags but trying to find a mag i can actually use is hopeless, i see them all on US sites, australian etc... but not here.... sob sob

I am new to Quilting too and for my first easy one I am making a Scrappy Quilt out of 3 inch size squares. All you have to do is sew the squares together. I have 9 squares in each of my block and the total blocks that I'm going have is 4. Mine is made out of Purples.

I too was going to say rail fence.

One of my first quilts was a log cabin and I loved doing it. Also a double Irish chain. They are not to difficult but look so pretty.