Disappearing 9 Patch is good, easy and looks like you did a lot more work than you actually did. Coconut chips is easy. It's just strips of varying widths sewn together and recut and restitched.

I'd say any pattern without a lot of matching that can be sewn up quickly would be a good for a beginner.

Since your fabric has a large pattern, why not keep it simple and make a whole-cloth quilt? She can outline the images on the fabric and learn how to put a quilt together. She will then know if she wants to take on piecing.

I was in my mid 40s when my mom convinced me to give it a try. I did a 1600 quilt. Very simple. Just 2 1/2 inch strips sewn together. I just used scraps from mom's scrap basket since I had no sewing experience and didn't know if I'd even like quilting.

I agree. Those of us who have taught classes for a long time often see these two patterns as producing good results AND giving great encouragements to beginners. :) This rail fence might be handy for her.

Jan in VA

I have an older friend who is just taking up quilting. She hasn't sewn for many years. She has made 2 quilts using the 10" square blocks in layer cakes and is loving quilting. She can make one in two days. The corners do have to match up, but it's less than a lot of patterns. Another good one is Just Can't Cut it. The only seams you have to match is on the corners of the blocks. A great quilt for a beginner and she can use her motorcycle fabric for the larger focus squares. https://millersdrygoods.com/patterns...t-pattern.html

FYI - You don't really need the pattern. It is easy to figure out if you base it on a 12" finished block. The mixed block is 2 finished 6" square blocks and 3 finished 4x6' blocks. The large block is a 12" finished square.

I used the disappearing 9 patch for my first quilt. It came out ok. I would not suggest that to anyone else for their first. There are easier quilts that look fine for the beginner. There is still lots of matching seams in it. The problem I found with the d9p is that all my squares were different sizes, so, I had to do the squaring up thing. Also, I had planned to have it look like the second top, but it wasn't even enough to do it that way. So, I had to lay it out another way. (The combination of mis-cutting and missing my 1/4 in. seam was the problem.) Not all the seams would nest when I cut and rearranged. Everyone says to press to the dark side, but when you rearrange the blocks, it doesn't always work.

I found it much easier to sash the blocks than do all that cutting and rearranging which is how I did my second quilt, on which I just finished the top. I still spent a lot of time with Mr. Seamripper, but it was easier to fix than when you did it as a disappearing nine patch.
bkay

My first quilt, followed by the top of the second:

Since you don't think A rail fence would work, warm wishes might. Also, go to the Tutorial section on this board and look at the one I posted called 'Five Easy Pieces Charity Quilt' as it is large pieces and no seams to match---great for beginners.

I would definitely recommend Warm Wishes it's easy and comes together quickly.

I would say Disappearing Nine Patch (D9P). Great quilt, easy to make. If she makes all the centers of her 9-patch the same, it makes a great quilt. An easy pattern with a great look. Another option would be to check out pinterest for easy quilts. Have fun!

Quilters cache has some easy blocks. My go to block using 3 or 4 colors is Autumn tints 2. Easy 4 patch and one larger square alternating.