OK everyone, I am trying so hard to teach MYSELF how to quilt!! its been very challanging I must say to say it lightly. I want to know what yall think is the BEST pattern to start with??? I just need all the Help I can receive, there are no classes here that I can talk and it just seems I cant get everything just right.

Here are a series of class that one of our board members made for us :D
Once you practice making some of these blocks/skills, you may find yourself with more confidence :D:D:D

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-66776-1.htm

Log cabin quilts are a great starter project. Welcome from Michigan!

Welcome from WA and I'm sure you'll be addicted in no time. Those tutorials are great to go through. Nine Patch is a very easy one to get started on too.

Hello TenaH Like you I live in an area where there are no classes and I didn't know anyone else who did patchwork. I borrowed several books from my library and started with some placemats using the log cabin block. Just straight strips but putting them together helped me with cutting and sewing a 1/4" seam. I found that was the most difficult to get consistent at first. But the log cabin gives plenty of practice without any tricky half and quarter triangles cut on the bias. And the placemats were a small enough size so that I wasn't too overwhelmed. Mind you my stitch ripper rapidly became my new best friend. I then moved on to a lap quilt using rail fence design. Again, straight strips but a much bigger project. By the time I finished the top I had just about got the hang of accurate seams! :lol: :lol: :lol: This worked for me but I'm sure that some others will have lots of useful advice that will benefit both of us.

Welcome from southern Indiana. I'm a new quilter too and I can't say enough good things about the information available on this board. Thank you, Amma, for the link to the beginning tutorials! TenaH, I feel as though I have a wealth of resources available at my fingertips here, I'm sure you will find the support you're looking for. Have fun!

Just stay on the board, everyone will help you each step of the way, and if you need individual help, please pm me and I will be happy to help you also. Happy Quilting..

There's a lot of 9 patch patterns out there also. You could make several projects with one block style and work up some confidence.

I don't know about the best, but I started with a rail fence. It was fun and not difficult and gave me a sense of what could be. Welcome to the board from Iowa.

The easiest set of blocks to do are 4-patch and 9-patch. There are no half-square triangles or quarter-triangles yet. :-P
You can do those in your next quilt :thumbup:

Welcome to the board from Southern California!

When I made my first quilt, I did the simple 4 patch with a solid color (white) in between each block. Turned our real nice and it is very easy to make. Good luck and welcome from Stagecoach, NV

I taught myself too. Made a lot of mistakes. Also there are great tutorials on Utube. Great for beginners and the rest of us too. Go to utube and type in quilting for beginners or quilting and you will find lots of links. Some are easier than others, find one that goes step by step MSQ company has lots and they are easy. welcome from North Carolina

You might want to see if you get the TV show "Fons & Porters Love of Quilting" It is on the BYU Channel and I have learned so much from them.

Log cabin, rail fence, these were my firsts, really easy strip quilts with lots of different design placement

hiya from virginia...

i started with a nine patch...which in theory is easy...but none of my seams matched up...i think it was because i know how to sew so i just went thru in a hurry...ive done a bunch of sample blocks...still have trouble with seam alignment

however i just started a baby blanket but the center square came near perfect...only 1 of my seams if off by a tiny bit...i ripped it out twice...repinned and stitched its so much better now...almost disappears lol

my work has improved only because of this QB and the wonderful people on it who freely hand out tips/tricks/advice...there is a wealth of info here...

keep on searching and keep on attempting...both the site and quilting will get you hooked lol

How did we manage before internet access???
You might also look for quilting guilds or groups in your area to join. Or even a singe person (ask everyone you can if they know a quilter).

It can become a passion and obsession. Quilting has added color and comfort to my life.

I taught myself to quilt way back in the 60s-- no books, no quilt shops, no teachers, no internet. I went to museums and looked at antique quilts there. And I used directions in the then new Quilters Newsletter.

This board and the internet will be a whole wealth of knowledge and support. Welcome to the board and good luck to you on this new journey.

Welcome from Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Have fun here.

I think the rail fence is a good first choice - fewer seams to match, no bias pieces, etc.

Thanks for your questions!! I'm just learning on my own too!

I started with the log cabin and ended up hating it. I actually stop after that for about 2 years. Log cabins & I just didn't make it. i got bored! But I agreed that 9 patch is great to start with!

I know what you mean. I am a fairly new quilter myself. We finally have someone in my area that is teaching quilting at the junior college. However, I have had very few problems in teaching myself because I have been sewing and making clothes for over 30 years. If you are lucky enough to have cable or satellite TV, you might check for quilting shows from Fons and Potter or Elenor Burns. Jeanniebelle

I am self taught....learned with Eleanor Burns. My first pattern was her log cabin. Her pattern books are very easy to understand. Try one! I live in Georgetown Texas. Happy to meet you :-D

Welcome I am also a newbie. Made my first table topper bought a kit no proba

Welcome I am also a newbie. Made my first table topper bought a kit no problem. Then got over confident started a queen size didn't think about the bias edgesof the block. Wow what an duca

Welcome I am also a newbie. Made my first table topper bought a kit no problem. Then got over confident started a queen size didn't think about the bias edges of the block. Wow what an education. Ready to do binding.
hope everything works. Also girls found out some libraries will let you use their rooms with the large tables. So much easier to handle for sandwiching the quilt.

I would consider looking at the quilt in a day books.These were the first books i bought and they have many that are listed as easy.The instructions are very clear and very detailed and every book was taught to7 or 8 classes of quilters.So they will even stop you from proceeding and omitting a step because people in the class wanted too also.I find myself using their techniques to this day and I am no longer a beginner.I am self taught from the Quilt in a Day books and one of my early quilts was Nana's garden quilt from this series. What is also neat about thesebooks is they give instructions on various sizes and planed colors or scrappy quilts.

quilt university is an online source for lots of classes. Prices seem reasonable. Here is the URL to Quilt Univ. home page:
http://www.quiltuniversity.com/

My first quilt that I made I used the Turning Twenty pattern. It worked really well for me and gave me the confidence to tackle something bigger the second time.

welcome and just know in advance you'll be a fabriholic like the rest of us :)

Welcome from San Gabriel, California

You should look for Eleanor Burns quilt patterns. She used to be a kindergarten teacher. And yes, she puts out learn to quilt books, that are filled with lots of pics, and step by step instructions, that are easy, even for kindergarten beginners !!!!! From Auntie B in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Try Eleanor Burns'book Quilt in a Day log Cabin. I love her books, they are great for beginners. You will be hooked