You know, a nine patch quilt is easy to put together and it comes in a variety of designs.
SandyG

Your Avatar doesn't say where you live, but I thought it might be Alabama. If we live anywhere near each other I'd be glad to help you get started. If by chance you live in the Dothan area, PM me (send a private message via email). Our quilt group meets Tuesday the 8th and the 22nd of this month. The private message area is at the top of the page.

do a strip quilt. My daughter is making her first quilt out of 2 inch strips (jelly roll) and it is just beautiful. Easy and fun. I still love doing them :)

do a strip quilt. My daughter is making her first quilt out of 2 inch strips (jelly roll) and it is just beautiful. Easy and fun. I still love doing them :) I'm in Miami if you are here

My first quilt was not designed nor did I use any pattern. I asked friends who sewed if they had any old fabric they would give me. One woman gave me lots of scraps. I was very careful and cut 6 1/2 Inch squares out of her different fabrics and the rest from plain white cotton fabric I bought at walmart. I did'nt know any one who made quilts and knew nothing about them except I wanted to make one. I took each square and using a pencil and a ruler, I made 1/4" lines around each square.(all of them) and there were quite a few. I then started hand sewing them together, one colored or print and one white. the next row I alternated so there were never 2 whites together. It took me almost a yr with 2 small boys and a parttime job and being a wife too. That quilt is on my bed and I love it to death. It is now almost 20 yrs old. I look at it now and think I did a wonderful job. every corner matches perfectly. I bought a little flower stencil and a heart stencil. On the white ones, I stitched the flower and there was still room so I put little hearts in each corner. On the colored ones, I used a school ruler and made diagonal lines. I love my quilt. It was a full size for several yrs and then we bought a queen size bed and I took the binding(white) off and added about 10 more inches of white on the front and back with batting between and sewed it to the edges of my quilt and added to the binding and finished it with a stencil I bought. Please do not be intimated by these wonderful women here. Everyone of us started somewhere and I am as much in awe of them and their artistic ability as you are. I only hand stitch and that way I can control my sewing better. I make baby quilts for every new baby in the family. I started a dresdon plate yrs ago and it is waiting for me to put together but I have to get on here everyday and read every single post. I will get my quilt out soon and finish it and then you will get to see my quilt on here. They are all here to teach us newbies and to show us what is possible. I will be looking for a quilt from you in the near future. Suzette

how about just a 9 patch block.......

Blocks 3 across and 3 down.......


for a 9"finished square, you would use nine 3 1'2"x3 1/2" squares......

Nothing easier than a rail fence. Grab three fabrics, cut strips 3 inches wide, sew the strips together, iron them, cut the strips into 8 inch sections, and assemble your quilt. Or do a simple 9 patch and square. When/if you run into a snag come to the board, or take your project to a local quilt shop, and ask for the next step.

Try a Double Irish Chain quilt. It's classic, and looks much harder than it is. Eleanor Burns has a wonderful book on this type of quilt called "Irish Chain in a Day." Her directions are very easy to follow. Check your local library. I'm sure they'd have a copy.

just cut out 9 squares whatever size you want, sew them together in strips of three, press then sew the 3 strips together and press you have a simple nine patch square

just cut out 9 squares whatever size you want, sew them together in strips of three, press then sew the 3 strips together and press you have a simple nine patch square

Well, I will put in my 2 cents. I also am less than a year quilting. So here is my suggestion: Start by making a few different table hot pads. One block at a time...finish it off, so you get many phases of the entire process. Start small. Then maybe do a small table runner or a small quilt. That is how I started. By the way...the rail fence is the easiest in my opinion. Just go for it. You will be so proud when you do your first hot pad and then go from there.

Hi There please don't get discouraged with making quilts. I am kind of new to this as well, I have made several quilts, but if you just want to do squares there are a lot of free patterns on quilterscache.com, from really easy to difficult. Go on that website and see what you can find. If you need anymore help please feel free to PM me at anytime and I will be glad to help you if I can. Don't give up ok. I am sure that you can find something that you like there ok. Sending you HUGS.

Don't get discouraged. there are so many simple quilts that you can make using blocks. One is the Rail Fence. Another one is just a simple nine patch. Then there is the Journey to Arkansas. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be doing the more complicated patterns before you know it. If you can't find these patterns and would like to have them, just PM me. I'll be glad to share and lend a helping hand if I can.

Fabulous idea. I hope you get to have fun with it and get some confidence. Good luck from across the water.

Sending you a pm

We all started with something more simple than what we are doing now. Don't give up. I just checked out the quilt done in all squares and it is very pretty. Squares are a good place to start. If you aren't sure about cutting, try a charm square pack. they are more expensive than yardage, but they have a good variety of patterns.

I agree...try Turning Twenty...You get to pick out 20 great fat quarters and then cut and sew it together in a weekend.

Yes, I think this is a "nine-patch" quilt. That is what I started with and found it quite easy. I think maybe start out with a lap quilt or twin quilt. Just jump and do it. We all make mistakes--sometimes our points don't match, our seams aren't straight and our border bow out. It's o.k.--just quilt for the joy of it and the satisfaction that you DID it. I would encourage you!

Maybe you are looking to much.I know I get all undecided when the choices are to many.....I tell myself, "pick one and go with it". Always happy with the results

I made this quilt with just squares.

Don't get discouraged! I bought my first quilt all cut out and with directions on eBay. It was a simple block baby quilt with a border, binding , & backing all included. All I needed to supply was the batting. If you know the basics of sewing from your mother, Home Ec. class, etc. it will be quite easy. Good luck!

One of the prettiest quilts I ever saw was a simple 9-patch using white muslin as the light squares and the plain squares separating the 9-patch blocks. Every block seemed to be different because the maker was determined to blast through her stash the fastest way possible - the 9-patch blocks were assembly line fast and what could be simpler (or cheaper) than white muslin to offset the colors?

My husband's most favorite quilt that I've made for him is a simple 16-patch of medium & dark Civil War reproduction fabrics paired with cream or light beige Civil War repro fabrics. All the blocks go together beautifully. After seeing that first quilt and making this second one, I've never underestimates simple squares and simple 9- and 16-patch quilts ever again!

THAT SAID, if you want to try your hand at rectangles, my favorite pattern is Yellow Brick Road - it can be done with any color palette, the layout is very forgiving, and the size of the units is very comfortable to work with for beginners. I've made every size offered in the pattern at least four times.

Good luck and stay encouraged!

I haven't read all ten pages so maybe somebody already said this --- the main things to know are (1) just make sure your seam allowances are 1/4" and (2) ENJOY!!!! Once you've done one quilt (do a small one, lap size or baby size) you'll be enthusiastic about going forward.

I understand how you feel, like I could never make a quilt as good as some of the ones I see here. So I decided to just make what made me happy and some day when I feel up to it I will try something harded. Quilt for yourself not to compete with others. Quilting is a journey not a race enjoy the trip, it's your trip don't miss the fun on the way. (HUGS)

go to Utube and check out Missouri Star Quilt tutorials. They have some simple ones. The baby quilt one is simple squares. So is the dissappearing 9 patch.

Cheer up - the more you read the more confused you can get. Don't be intimidated by the experts. If you can cut in a straight line and sew in a straight line, well-begun is half done!

Grab an easy pattern - here's the one I chose for my first and it is very forgiving - http://www.clotilde.com/detail.html?prod_id=13453 -

and start cutting stuff up and sewing it back together! Before you know it you will be having great fun sewing and ripping out and cutting and pressing and quilting that you will get confidence. Take chances, make mistakes! It's how to learn :)

I like that - a journey not a race - describes it perfectly!

Hey scowlkat! I love that quilt. Thanks!

Dear Discouraged. I think you could master this pattern very well. You can make your squares any size you want! Don't give up before you've even started.

just do a 9 patch quilt it is very easy that was my first one get a chart so you can find out how maney squares you have to make. then cut them out the size you want then sew them together put a boarded on it the filling and the backing
have fun
Diztoy

I would love some shortcuts, too, Rhonda, if you are willing to share. I get bits and pieces of shortcuts from reading this board, but never start to finish instructions. I shy away from triangles because to cut them separately I end up with a miss measure or something! You can PM me or e-mail. Thank you!

You might try the 4 patch or a 9 patch with lots of success. Really simple with the right directions. Just don't give up, it's too much fun.

I am a brand new quilter (working on my first quilt as we speak). I signed up at a local quilt shop for a beginning class using the 9 patch pattern. I was the only one signed up, so they didn't hold the class. Since I had purchased everything for the quilt, I jumped into it and am having a blast, amazed at how easy it is. I picked out 6 fabrics, cut them into strips 4 1/2 inches wide, sewed three long strips together and then the other three long strips together, cut them across at 4 1/2 inches and made two sets of blocks. It sounds a bit confusing, but it was VERY easy. Try to find a 9 patch pattern and just jump in. You will be having a blast before you know it!! Good luck

I bought the book "Quilt with Confidence" by Nancy Zeiman at JoAnns. She starts you out with a simple 4 patch and goes on with easy directions and diagrams to 9 patch and some other patterns. I've been quilting for a long time and some of her tips made things easier for me. Please go look at this book and see if you like it before you give up. I'd hate for you to miss out on the fun.

Is there any way you can take a beginners quilting class? I started with one at a quilt shop and found it so helpful. I know I am a hands-on learner who needs someone to actually show me what to do. From there as was able to take off on my own, although, I am one who needs a pattern. Hang in there and try to find what works for you. It is worth it!

hang in there girl..if blocks are your thing..so be it..eventually you;ll come around and try something else...

You can,t get much easier than a four or nine patch. And they are really fun if they are scrappy.

Do you have a rotary cutter and ruler? Has anyone shown you how to use them? You need to start with the basics.

:wink: Hang in there! Start with inexpensive fabric and just cut and stitch and learn by doing! If it turns out 'wrong' who is to know?!

Don't be discouraged. Go to quilterscache.com. There are
several patterns with just squares. I love this site with so many
patterns. You can choose your own difficulty or simple pattern.

Don't be discouraged. The pattern Yellow Brick Road is an easy, but looks complicated, pattern. Also Rail Fence is a good pattern for new quilters. Just don't give up. Quilting is so much fun and so enjoyable.