I am going to suggest you take a class either at your local quilt shop, Joann or similar store. There really is no substitute for someone giving you hands on instruction. You won't be sorry.

http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltpa...s/index.01.htm

I have used one pattern from this site. There are tons of every level in their gallery.
What I liked about this site was it told me how much fabric to purchase of each color. I don't have a stash yet, so am purchasing new for each quilt.

I made the Bonnie Scotsman quilt twice now - it goes together well.

The secret to learning the process is overcoming your fear of starting. Quit taking in the information for right now. Grab your fabric, ruler and rotary cutter, and make strips or squares. Sew them together in a way that appeals to you. You will be working from a pattern later. Why push it?

The main idea is to start. Don't give in to the frustration of too much information. A purchased quilt may be as warm as one you make, but you will never have the feeling of accomplishment that making a quilt will give.

Ask lots of questions. There is ALWAYS someone here to answer your questions.

We are cheering for you!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes it's just intimidating to think about taking that first step, especially by yourself. Is there a quilt shop nearby? Maybe they offer beginner classes. If there's not a quilt shop, is there another fabric shop like a Hancock's or JoAnn's? Often they offer classes for quilters. If they don't, they might have names of people in the area who teach quilting.

I found this on You tube...it looked really easy, great fun and the end result looked beautiful...would also have everyone thinking you were an amazing quilter...really suggest you have a look.
its called 10 minute blocks 3 seam blocks for quicker quilts...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbTHl...eature=related

hope this sends you to the right place...thought I'd definatly give this a try for a present for a friend...Good luck

My very favorite quilt is a simple 9 patch. Can't get a whole lot simpler then that. Please just keep moving on. You will be very surprised at how quickly you progress. Many many times a quilter will start a quilt and by time she finishes the blocks she will go back and remake the first block(s) because the last ones are so much better. Hang in there baby!!!

Here is an easy one to try, just a block, but you put multiple blocks together to make a quilt top. Surf this site, it has so much to offer a beginning quilter.

http://quilting.about.com/od/blockof...lt-pattern.htm

Don't get discouraged..and don't get too caught up in the rules either. Sounds like something FreeForm may be just what you need. Grab your rotary cutter and trust yourself to cut. Then take a picture..I wanna see what you come up with. =) Have fun and no sweating of the small stuff allowed!

I'm working my way through Quilter's Academy Volume 1: Freshman year by Harriet Hargrave & Carrie Hargrave and there are some wonderful patterns using squares/rectangles. No funny angles/triangles until you get to the Sophomore and Junior years.

Quilter's Cache is a great site too for blocks if you want to build a sampler.

Cheers, K

Oh please do not give up. I did three just plain blocks for my grandchildren for Christmas, then a tulip for my daughter-in-law.. my last one was a log cabin finished yesterday and that was so easy..and fun..and you can make several different designs out of making one block.

Here is the link to mine..or search log cabin and see all the other beautiful ways it can be done.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-104211-1.htm

I also suggest Warm Wishes. If I could do it, anyone can. I promise!

you dont need to make a whole quilt for your first project! Make a bookmark, potholder, pillowcase or tablerunner. Try different blocks to see what you like and enjoy doing.
Then make a baby quilt. My first project was a table runner and then I made a baby rag quilt and a nappy bag to go with it.

Just take baby steps and all will be fine. Here's a tutorial for a simple nine patch.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-6460-1.htm

ShellyQ has other excellent tutorials for beginners. Check them out
in the Tutorial section. You can click on her name and check her posts.

Don't try too many things at once. You will get overwhelmed.

Happy quilting. :-)

I think what you need is to find someone near you or a quilt guild and get some one on one . They would be glad to get you started and it would be a support group for you". Not all of us are the type to teach ourselves and some require a little bit of guidence to get started. You would be very surprized if you spent just an hour with someone who knows what they are doing. in that short amount of time they would be able to show you how to cut and sew your simple square quilt together . Try and get a rotory cutter and mat along with a ruler and you would be suprized how quickly things will go. I taught myself to quilt years and years ago before such things were avaialble and a girlfriend came to visit later on with a mat, ruler , and rotery cutter. These things changed my lifeeeeeeeee. what used to be soooooooo time consuming suddely was conceivable in a short time span and I was hooked from the very beginning. No one could have talked me out of trying to quilt.

Never Give Up ! I'm still learning,and I've been at it for over 20 years.

You poor dear have been bombarded with ideas and now I'll bet you're feeling even more overwhelmed. Well, here's one more. If you want to start with squares, I suggest you try the one that EIQuilter suggested....the one with alternating 4-patch blocks and a plain block. I think instructions for this quilt may be online from Quilts for Kids or Downy Quilts. Someone correct me on this. This is one of the first quilts I tried. Choose fun fabrics and get started. Good luck.

How about a nine patch! Quilting is an ever-learning experience. Start out easy!

I just made a rail fence pattern...can't believe how easy it was! I cut strips from four colors, sewed separate colors together, end to end, sewed the four color strips to each other and then cut the big long strip into blocks. Arrange the blocks so the colors "attach" to make the fence diagonally through the quilt! So easy!!
It's easy to get discouraged, but everyone on here is so helpful...they can figure out every detail or problem that should arise. Good luck and don't give up!
My first quilt was a crazy nine patch, the second the same, but turned out way different. The third and fourth were disappearing 9 patch and they were so fun!! The next a pinwheel, which was a bit more advanced than I anticipated, then a strip quilt (easy), then a split rail fence, 10 minute block, rag quilt and now the rail fence. I've made lots of mistakes that my grandkids (recipients of the quilts) would never see and it's made me so happy to give them a part of me.
You will do fine. Start cutting and sewing and just see how things come together. The first quilt is a learning experience. Take notes. :lol:

I really do know how you feel, trust me on this one. Have you tried going to Quilt in a Day? I love how she teaches and things are soooo easy with her. I love how she teaches doing the trip around the world quilt. Soooooooo easy. I have worked on making kits for a quilt store where I live and yesterday was a disaster......I was going to just call it quits, but I just need a break. Please don't give up.

My very first quilt was a sampler. It will teach you lots of different skills. But I agree with the others, try a simple four patchwith 2 or 4 colors.

you need to do a nine patch. that was my first quilt. very easy and all squares. and you will not find a better site than www.quilterscache.com for patterns. but don't let it overwhelm you. they truly have a lot. just stick with the 9 patch. you could make it scrappy or even easier make it two colors to get you started.

Oh no...don't buy a quilt. It is much more fun and satisfying to make your own. Do a four patch and then just stitch n the ditch to quilt it, which is just using a walking foot and following all your lines. You will be addicted by the time you are half way through making the top. Don't be overwelmed by the group here. They are wonderful and helpfull. Not to mention the experience in this group is awesome. Of course theirs is going to more intricate. Just start with a simple two color 4 patch. You can also take a class at joanns. Oh and also their are wonderful tutorials on youtube

Do not be discouraged!! There are plenty of simple patterns....Couple of examples are the Turning Twenty series and Yellow Brick Road............visit your local quilt shop (LQS) and look at the patterns there. You can always start out with charm packs (pre-cut 5" squares) and just put them together in a pattern that is pleasing to you.

The disappearing 9 patch would be a great pattern to start with. You'll love the results, and it's so easy.

do "a trip around the world" it is just squares and they are very pretty i like them

do "a trip around the world" it is just squares and they are very pretty i like them

Oh, I hope you find something you will try. I am a beginner too and I just had to stop fretting myself and jump in on one... and, I started with just making one little block or two of different kinds. I love making the star but that has points. I was going to do a block pattern because it looked simple enough for even me... I have not done it yet... I will try to attached it here. I prefer the more challenging ones now that i have done them. I learned on my own too and I found that watching the "you tube" videos helped me a lot. If you want some of my saved videos and or patterns that I have found you can email me [email protected] and I will send you what I have
:-) hang in there! it will come to you after you try a few blocks out.

Can anyone 'adopt' Dmacc? In addition to all the good ideas here (and PLEASE don't buy a quilt - yuck!)some individual support would help a lot.

I felt the same way when I first started piecing. try looking for "simple" patterns. Someone suggested a 4 or 9 patch. A nine patch alternating with a plain square is very pretty. Don't overanalyze...get some fabric you love and go for it. Experience is the best teacher. After a while everything will be second nature. If you hit a snag: just ask what to do.

Oh and too ... just to let you know, I have not tried the simple pattern I sent to you because after I started making the star patterns with the short cuts I found to make them, then it was so simple for me, and, so I have just stuck with that so far. It makes so many different looks to a quilt.

I can share all the short cuts I have found if you want. Like sewing long strips together and then cutting them to get a half triangle square. Or, the one where you sew three pieces of fabric together and then use a square ruler to lay on it and cut out a great block piece... I am still getting use to terms too so please forgive me all you professional quilters :-)...

I would adopt you if I were a quilter with years of experience... I know how you feel but don't give up after you make a few little blocks you will feel comfrotable enough to make a whole quilt. And, I found that I got discouraged along the way because it just wasn't looking right but after I layed it out all the with the blocks together Wow it looked good....

Please don't be discouraged. First, I would recommend taking a quilting class from your LQS. If there are no quilt shops in your area, try this site: www.quilting.about.com That site has so many very simple patterns and how to construct them...from start to finish. Good luck!

Try a simple nine-patch. all squares.

...try this one link "allpeoplequilt" lots of free patterns and ideas on that website, and, try doing a search online at "you tube" with typing in just the terms... like "half quarter square quilt" don't forget each time you do a seach you have to include the word "quilt" or "quilting" or else you will all sorts of silly stuff.
www.allpeoplequilt.com

All of us has started at the beginning and advanced onward.There are simple patterns out there.Tell your self this isn't going to beat me.You should see me on this computer i want to download embroidery patterns on to memory cards,i can't do it yet but I'm going to do it. Connie in CO

why not make a nine patch and snowball quilt. they are easy to make and make a very pretty quilt.

Have you tried the magzine "Quiltmaker". I made a couple from it first and they were so cute, and I learned a lot. Hope this helps.

Don't give up! My first blocks were rail fence - look it up. Also, like others have suggested, try an easy 4 patch. Use some great color combos and you'll be off and sewing.

my first quilt was a rail fence. that is a very easy pattern give that a try

Try this: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-44258-1.htm

It is the tube quilt method. It is fast, easy and goes together very easily. It is great for a beginner because your points go together so perfectly and all it all squares.