As a very new quilter, I want to subscribe to a quilting magazine. (gotta start somewhere right?) But I get overwhelmed at all the different choices out there. What would you suggest as a good magazine for a beginner quilter?

I think I need to learn more of the basics and don't want something too overly complicated or technical. What I really need is something informative and inspiring to get me going in the right direction.

Right now, I still have a hard time looking at something like a 9 piece square and seeing what the final product will be. Which is great since when I look at some squares I think ...ehhh . .but when I see them put together in a complete quilt top - it looks amazing! I feel like I need more exposure to get my itty bitty creative side working harder :wink:

Any suggestions? :?:

I'm a newbie quilter, too. I subscribed to American Patchwork and Quilting magazine and to Quilter's World because the school was selling magazine subscriptions. They have beautiful pictures in them both. American Patchwork was 128 pages in December and 45 were full page ads. That is not even counting the partial page ads. I didn't count in Quilter's World but I don't think it is much different and it only had 98 pages. Most of the things advertised are way too pricey for me and I probably wouldn't know how to use them anyway. I spend much more time on this board and other internet sites looking for inspiration and guidance than I do with the magazines and think this board has helped me 100 times more than the magazines.

If you don't mind the subscription price for what you get in the magazine, it is nice to have something you can lay on the couch with and flip through the pretty pictures.

Are you sure you want to subscribe now??? Check out books from your library and use as resources. Buy Books by Eleanor Burns good for beginners. I do not subscribe because I do not always like what is in the magazine. Go to JoAnns or book store periodically and check out the magazines. Buy the ones you like and leave the rest. Quiltmaker has good beginner patterns. Also lots of free patterns on line.

Just my opinion :wink:

I just subscribed to Quilter's World, but I buy a lot of them in the store. :wink:
I agree, you learn so much more, and get so much more inspiration, from this board, then from the magazines.
But I do love to flip through them while laying on the couch, and I have made a few of the patterns.
One book I got which I love is Rodale's Sensational Sets & Borders. I checked it out through my library's inter-library loan, then bought it on Amazon for $1.92+ shipping! It's full of ideas and tons of pictures!!
:-)

I stopped subscribing to all magazines. I have found the every one has a few I really like out of the year's subscription. I look through the new quilt magazines at the bookstore and then buy the one I like that month if any.

The best all around mag is Fons and Porters Love of Quilting
It has all the projects pictured inside the back cover. Makes it easy to find when looking thru old issues.
They also publish Easy Quilts mag. This is perfect for beginers.
I also agree that El Burns is the best for beginers. Her books and videos are the easiest to use.
http://quiltinaday.com

The vote in our shop runs to Fons and Porter because it has more projects and less ads.

You can also check with your local public library--you may be able to check out back issues--FOR FREE. (my favorite price!!!)
Rose Hall

Same here. I used to get a lot of different magazines but after a while, they all looked alike. I take an afternoon at a bookstore and sit in the cafe with a mocha thumbing through the mags. Then I buy the ones that hold my interest.

I just remembered a few days ago to check for quilting magazines at our library. They have Quilters' Newsletter and American Patchwork and Quilting. I got a bunch of old issues out; it's nice to look through them knowing I didn't have to pay for them. :wink:

I wish they had Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting and Easy Quilts. I bought the October copy of Easy Quilts and liked it so well I was mad at myself for not buying the Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting issue.

Ah, so many magazine, so many books, so many patterns, so many styles of quilting...so little time! :|

Thanks! I see the point - probably a lot of advertising. I never even thought of the book store. My daugher and I love to go to Barnes & Noble, get a coffee, and just look around.

Thanks!!!!

I would also suggest trying your public library...I know mine has quilting/crafting magazines as well as quilting reference books. It seems like I have spent a small fortune on subscriptions and, to be honest, I have rarely ever actually made a project from any of them. Especially when I was beginning quilting, I found I was better off taking various classes at my LQS and also joining in on their yearly Block of the Month club. I have learned SO MUCH from the BOM that I know I would never have learned from a magazine. The magazines are fun to look at and some of the articles are interesting to read...but that is pretty much it for me. Just a suggestion. :)

Most magazines havea a website now, so if you have the time to surf the web, that might be a better bet than buying a subscription.

I have two subscriptions -- McCalls Quilting and Quilters Home -- because I have an hour commute each way to work every day. Quilters Home was started by Mark Lapinski. It usually only has 3 quilt patterns, but he has interesting articles about lots of topics, because we quilters are usually crafters / collectors, too.

I prefer quilting books to magazines myself. I can find them used online and with shipping not much more than a magazine's price.
I have seen all of the magazines trend of more advertisements...I understand the need/reasons but the proportions have got way out of hand!!!

Library magazines are always sponsored. If you would like your library to carry most of the quilt magazines, start a fundraiser to buy the subscriptions for them. This is one fundraiser my guild will be doing this year. It doesn't take a lot of money and the guild gets the magazines at the end of the year to pass out to the members. It's a win win.

I love Fons and Porters Love of Quilting. Before I decided to subscribe to any of them I bought a lot of them in the store and decided which one I liked best.

I learned to quilt from McCall's Quick Quilts (I really need to see things come together fairly quickly especially when I'm learning something). The quilts are "quick", mostly simple patterns, and it has a section in every issue on the basics of quilting: cutting accurately, accurate seams, binding, etc. which I found helpful. On top of that, I spent lots of time searching the library for books with patterns that I liked. You can usually find Eleanor Burns books at most libraries and she always simplifies patterns to make it easy for newbies. Have fun learning (and come here often...you can always get lots of help here!)

I subscribed to a lot of them and stopped everything except McCall Quick Quilts. The other source I use is the internet and search for "free quilt pattern. There is alot of site and they ofter tell you what skill level the pattern is. Hope this helps!

Some time ago I subscribed to about 6 at one time. They would have one or two I'd like. I only subscribe to one at a time now. i tear out the patterns I like and give the mags away. Check out thrift stores. I have bought out of date quilting mags there.

I do not subsrcibe to any magazines any more. I use my coupons at Hobby Lobby and JoAnns to get magazines because most of what I am interested in is already on sale!
Also, there are so many things on line that I can getthat I don't need anything MORE to pick up! There are so many ads in the magazines that are pretty, but not my style.

I want to second what others have said about stopping magazine subscriptions. After getting subscriptions for years and putting the magazines in binders, I finally decided that I was tired of magazines.

Now I do what a lot of others mentioned. I get them from the library. My library allows me to put a hold on a previous month's magazine and when it is available, I can get it and take it home. I can look at it, enjoy it and then take it back to the library where I don't have to store it.

If there is an issue that I have just got to have, I'll order it online. I have found that there are very few magazines that I have to have.

Someone mentioned one issue a few weeks ago. I loved it and ordered it online. Then I went out and bought a 2nd issue. I'm giving one to my quilting buddy.

I have not read all the responses to which quilt magazine but thought I would jump in.
Instead of a magazine how about a book?
One book I recommend to all my quilting students
"The Quilters Ultimate Visual Guild " is one that covers everything you need to know to get started and beyond. There are other good books out there and I have some of them, but this is my favorite.
a rodale book, Ellen Pahl, editor

Ann

I've been subscribing to QuiltersNewsletter for about 15 years now, have yet to be disappointed in any edition. Have had others over the years, and pick up some at the newstands.

What I've liked over the years with QuiltersNewsletter is the variety of projects, from beginner to advanced - something I could do just starting out, and something to think about to stretch my skills. Their mix of ads to articles is pretty good - I never get the feeling that they were having a bit of a 'lull' in their creative thinking :)

Don't worry about limiting yourself to any one thing - look at everything! Internet, books, magazines, libraries - don't forget to asking quilting friends to borrow some of their favorite resources! Guilds have lending libraries - ours has both books and DVDs, and also a nice collection of the donated photo CD's from shows our members have attended.

Thanks for all your ideas! I am going to take a look at the The Quilters Ultimate Visual Guild next time I go to Barnes & Noble. That looks like just my style! Then if I like it - it goes on the Christmas list :)

I would recommend the magazine 'Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting'. It is a good magazine for beginners (and those a bit beyond) and you can even follow along with the patterns they make on their tv show, which airs on PBS on Sunday afternoons. (At least here in southeastern Idaho it does.) A lot of times the patterns they make on their tv show are in the magazine, which is quite helpful! They've also got a lot of wonderful information on their website. Just clickhere to check it out.

i quit getting magazines it seems like they are getting to be full of advertiseing and less projects
i go to the library or look at them in the store and if i like them i buy them from the stand

No subscriptions for me...just the library, thrift stores and second hand book stores. I always find books are better and it is surprising how many really good books are available second hand. There is now this site in my life, and I have to say, more inspiring and thought provoking than any magazine.

I also like F & P Love of Quilting ... More economically, I recently hit aq few estate sales and cashed in (cheaply) on bunches of old quilting mags, with far less adds and far more info.

But my main resource is the internet and EQ6. This I love and it is a tiresess resource for designing your quilts, boarders, sashing, etc. I started with EQ4 (after a year of researching this ... Hubby is a Puter Geek and helped with the research). This software is amazing and lots of fun to play with.

Good Luck and welcomr to the wonderful world of quilting!

Sorry for the typos ... it's late and the wine was yummy.

Again, there are many, many FREE links on the web. Many tutorials and if you see a pattern you like, one of us can probably find you a tutorial,

This site has a link for resources and tutorials. Also we lots of times help each other with finding particular fabrics. I, personally have sent out numerous "squishies" I don't think you will find a more amiable site.

I like McCalls Quick Quilts.

When I want a book or magazine that they don't have I put in a request.
Sometimes they get them and I can check them out.

Worth asking your library if you take requests.

Just a thought

beginning quilter?---Quick Quilts. i stopped all the rest. just buy one occassionaly.

Another vote here for McCalls Quick Quilts. Fun patterns, easy to follow for beginners and just an all around nice magazine.

An excellent book (found at library) is called "Rotary Magic" by Nancy Johnson-Srebro. Great helps for beginners. Pictures, easy instructions too. I learned so much from this book I bought one on Amazon and have referred to it many times!

I hit e-bay for magazines. Usually, I can get 10-15 magazines delivered for about ten dollars. I just can't justify paying more than that, considering I am mainly looking for techniques, not necessarily the latest fabric designs. Some of the stuff I've found in older magazines is still new to me.

My library has no quilting magazines. :cry:

cminor: Let us know which quilt magazine you decide to get and what you think of it.

Me, I actually stopped all of my subscriptions except for the AQ Magazine. It's a more advanced magazine and I absolutely love it!!! I also decided to get the Quilter's Home magazine, even though it covers a lot of basic stuff. I can't help it; that guy Jeff is so hilarious! Whenever I get the magazine I read it cover to cover right away. He sure makes me laugh. That would be a great one for those who are just starting out on their quilting journey.

And while I don't resubscribe to the Quilter's Newsletter, it has started coming to the house, which means either they made a mistake or someone has blessed me with a subscription and hasn't said anything. I do have a Secret Sister in my local guild and she might have done something like that. I used to subscribe to it but I haven't been happy with the direction they've gone in the past year and decided to let my subscription lapse.

I love magazines too, however I stopped them all because I really enjoy watching it done. I now subscribe to The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. There I can watch it on my computer screen. If there's a project I want to make I can watch it many times till it sinks in. I love the show.

when do they come on, and would you share the link also? i have even lost the times for quilt shows on t.v. somehow got sidetracked from catching them, but would like to do so this winter. any idea when all the quilt t.v. shows come on? we have direct t.v. & i guess if i werent' so techn. challenged, i could find them all.

This board is just amazing. Last night I got a message from Martha Jo offering to send me some of her old magazines! I am super excited.

It's great how friendly and thoughtfull people here are :-)

We do have very generous board members :D :D :D

Check out your PBS stations for quilting shows. In my area Saturday mornings they are on from 8am until 12:30. There are some on during the weekdays, too. Even the sewing shows are touching on quilting or techniques that work in quilting/piecing blocks. You should be able to visit your stations website and find the tv listings, too :wink:

Our library does not allow the magazines to be checked out, but I do enjoy looking through them, and I photocopy a pattern if it interests me. They do give the magazines away after being on the shelf for a year.