Go for it. This is how we learn. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Just because you haven't done a technique, doesn't mean you can't do it. If you get stuck, don't be afraid to ask for help. Again, this is how we learn. Good Luck!!

I say go for it! My very first applique project was for the local guild raffle quilt. I learned so much doing it. I have done several other applique projects since then. I always have a project on hand. I did one that took about 3 years. It turned out super.
Just take your time and enjoy the process. It isn't a race, so it at your own pace.

Did I understand it is a kit and you don't want to take a chance on spending money for something you might not be able to complete? If you applique at all, you can surely complete it. It may take years but I'll bet after one block you will not be a beginner. The BOM pattern at Fat Cat referenced above looks like a good alternate pattern. I've been working on my West of Baltimore since 2007 & starting block #9 this weekend.

I noticed on the link to the pix it shows a cost of $28 is that for one block & does it include material? My West of Baltimore was $24.95 per block which included material plus I had to buy material for backing, borders and blocks. Expensive, but hopefully my daughter will enjoy it when I'm gone.

I say go for it. It is really pretty!

advanced vs intermediate? i say it's about confidence. go for it, have fun, take your time, have patience and be proud when you finish. if it's a project you really want and like you'll finish the quilt just so you can show it off to others. (ok, maybe that's just me) anything less will just not be as satisfying. good luck.

it is gorgeous. the deterrent for me would be knowing all the time needed to be invested in it. if i didn't have to work so much at my "real" job, i'd be tempted. the colors and layout are wonderful--and i really like the black background she showed, as well. i'd be hard pressed to choose!

i say, do it! even if it requires a little rest stop along the way, and something else to do for a distraction, you've got the workings of a real heirloom here. keep us posted if you do jump in!

Very pretty. I've been looking for something baltimore but not for an applique project.

Lovely quilt. I salute you for the attempt.

I loved this quilt and I am in process of making one. I am going to enter it in one of our contests but at the risk of not entering (since we aren't supposed to post pictures prior to) I will show you anyway becasue I think you should try the quilt. If I recall from reading the article, Michelle did machine applique with a satin stitch which to my mind would be easier for one not skilled in hand applique. I happen to like hand applique and the way I did it was to download some Mexican tile pictures from a website that sold Mexican tiles. I used some simple shapes to do a fairly decent recreation of the pattern and then used the freezer paper method of applique to make the blocks. The rest is just quilt as you go using the hexangonal shape. I am not an artist and I don't do quilting commercially so I gotta bet that anyone can do this - whether its by hand (I like portable projects) or by machine. As a few people have said, try a couple of blocks and see how you like it but I would not be intimidated either.

I would say try it! If you know you like applique then you already are "experienced". For placement on complicated blocks I trace the design on clear plastic that you buy on a roll by the yard at fabric shops to make on overlay for placement using a fine tip Sharpie. Then you prepare the applique pieces in your choice of method, put the background fabric under the overlay and lay your pieces in place matching the seam lines to the tracing. If you are doing freezeer paper then it should match almost exactly, needle turn - the drawn line should match the overlay. This helps cut way down on those pieces being too far to the right or left! It will even help with Sunbonnet sue's arms, dresden plates being centered etc.

I love that quilt and have been thinking about doing it too. I think if you take it slow, you can do it.

I don't think it would be any more difficult than any other applique block, though there are many repetitions in each block (petals, curves, etc.) Just take your time, mark everything well, use a glue stick where you need to and move it on. It will be beautiful! Show us when you finish it.

If you are fusing and then machine stitching, then a confident beginner could do it. If this is your first attempt at needleturn applique, I would say it's a rather tall order.
As a teacher, I like my students to build on a number of smaller successes before tackling a difficult project, which may cause them to give up.
It's like this: when you first had your learner's permit, did you learn on the Daytona 500, or were you navigating a parking lot?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Go for it. It is a gorgeous quilt!

I don't see why you can't do it...we all have to try something new, sometime, eh?...and, since you have some great local support if you need it...I would go for it!!
Good luck,
Kan

Very pretty what you have done so far...

Thanks everyone for all of your great and informative responses. I actually enjoy hand applique by using the Karen Kay Buckley way of starch and templates - it is comforting and soothing. I also enjoy using 100wt silk thread! That is why I have been so very pleased with my small straight stitches :-D (okay bragging a little bit here). So based on those things I am pretty sure that I could do this one but I showed both of the quilts to my husband and he really liked Sindy's Fiesta quilt design (fatcatpatterns.com) a little better. So that made the decision for me to purchase that one and if I do okay with it I will progress to the Fiesta de Talavera Quilt. Not sure about using the dark background but that will be a challenge in itself too. Thanks again for all your help.

For those of you wondering - the full kit and NOT a BOM of Fiesta de Talavera quilt can be found here: http://www.swdecoratives.com/proddetail.php?prod=112724

Omigosh, this is stunning!!! Go for it, and let us watch your progress! And you will most definitely be advanced by time you're finished and you can help us make one. :D

JNCT14 Thank you for sharing - beautiful work!

Go for it. They don't know your level of experience. You just might enjoy it. And when finished you will have a beautiful quilt.

Great advice-I think I will take it.

Doesn't look complicated just a lot to do ... it requires perseverance. And look on the bright side, if you make a block you don't like, turn it into a pot holder. The pots and pans won't mind!

BTW I'm an instant gratification type of gal ... I wouldn't survive this one without running screaming from my room!

If you enjoy applique you can do it. I only enjoy it a few minutes here and there so I would never get it finished. It sure is a beautiful quilt.

I never pay attention to those type of comments. Anyone can do any pattern if they are willing to be patient and understand that some patterns may take them longer to complete. I say jump in with both feet and GO FOR IT!

Wow that is gorgeous! I don't think I can ever make that! I hope you can, if only to give me inspiration!

Sorry don't know.

It's a beautiful quilt and I don't think it has to be done by an "advanced stitcher". In the 25+ years that I have been quilting I've tackled patterns and quilts that might have been advanced, but I did them anyway because no one was there to tell me I couldn't. It would be a great way to stretch your skills and if you follow the pattern, you should be fine. There are no rules in quilting, just tell yourself you can do it and go for it girl. I know you will be glad that you did. I've done some of my best work when I listened to my "quilting" heart and just did it. The first quilt that I machine quilted was king size, and I really learned a lot. No one was there to tell me I couldn't do it so I did it. You can do any thing if you tell yourself you can and then do it. I'll be looking forward to your picture of the finished quilt. It is a beautiful pattern.

Shoot, when I started quilting two years ago, I found a few patterns I loved, and just went for it! Are they perfect -Probably not. Do I LOVE these quilts - yep!!

I say if you love that pattern; if you keep coming back to it and looking at it; if you keep thinking about it - you were DESTINED to make that quilt. Buy that kit or pattern, jump in, and never look back!

Oh, and post pictures so we can admire them...

Oh that is beautiful! I'll have to add it to my to do list.

Never let anyone tell you not to try a thing. Even yourself! If you love it enough you will keep at it until you have accomplished. If you look at the pattern and see repeats of sections you know if you do it once you are already ahead of the game. I have, in the past, tried a thing just because I wanted one. When it was finished everyone told me it was a crazy place to start learning. I was able to do it because no one was around to tell me it was too ambitious.