I was wondering what were some easy quilts for a beginner to work on? I am currently working on a nine patch and have some log cabin kits coming. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

The disappearing nine patch is great. You just cut the nine patch in half on each side + and put it back togather turning the sections in a different way.

DannyValentine -

When I started, my first attempt was going to be a log cabin. But, I found the process of choosing, buying, and cutting all those fabrics began got overwhelming. Next attempt was taking a beginner's class where a maple leaf block was created. I was SO nervous, my hands shook the whole time (don't know why) and, I was sweating buckets trying to keep up with my classmates who didn't appear to be fellow beginners. Seemed to me, by the time I completed my one block, they had the top done and were starting to tape the layers together on the floor!

Well, happily I've come a long way (I hope) since then. No more shakes and I now realize that quilters of all levels attend these classes, that the reason to take classes is 50% to learn but also 50% to smooze with fellow quilters.

Sorry for the long chat.... back to your question... I think you should stick with 4 or 9 patches for awhile. Alex Anderson (of TV fame) said the best lesson she ever learned was on a quilting cruise (we should all have such $$) where the instructor insisted they keep practice sewing until they got a perfect 1/4" seam.

For example, sew two 2 1/4" squares together. Press carefully. Is the finished rectangle 4" long? If not, first check that the seam is pressed correctly, and if it is, try again with two more squares. This is basically the process you're using for your 9-patch. Is your finished 9-patch block the correct size? It all has to do with that 1/4".

Anyways, welcome to the quilting world! Don't get discouraged - quilting grows on you. There's lots of advice on this site and plenty of people more than willing to help. Enjoy!

I'm currently doing a log cabin as my second quilt, and it's very easy. I'm using Eleanor Burn's Quilt in a Day book as my reference source, and she really lays out everything for you in detail. This quilt is actually easier than my first one, which was a double Irish Chain -- there was a lot more matching up of blocks with that one.

If you aren't familiar with about.com quilting, you might enjoy her site. She posted a rail fence baby quilt that I thought was sweet and also easy. Here is the link to it (I hope). http://quilting.about.com/od/babyqui...quilt.htm?nl=1 . I hope you enjoy it.

Check out ShellyQ's tutorials for beginners in the Tutorial section...she has some great ideas for quilts along with showing you how to make the blocks :D:D:D

I also like the Disappearing 9 Patch for beginners...it is what I teach for people just starting out. And we all know it comes out looking like you have been quilting for years!!! :lol:

Welcome to the Board, Danny. You'll get tons of great help here.

When I started it was with a 9 patch and of course a disappearing 9 patch had to follow.

I am currently working a log cabin block quilt. I have a few ideas for quilts later on.

I started with a Just Can't Cut It (http://ctquilting.com/v-web/productp...s/CTQ-0016.png), followed by a Turning Twenty Again (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yWoxKg5oKr...20+Again+2.jpg) - While both quilts have blocks, they're quick pieced blocks, and I found them to be a great way to get QUICKLY addicted! Now I'm really getting in to making individual blocks - a sampler is one of my up-and-comings... now that I'm hooked, I actually want to take the time to sit and make blocks. Not so much when I started.

Neither of the pictures as examples are mine... they're ones I found on google.