Welcome from Pittsburgh! Buy either the Yellow Brick road or the Take Five patterns. They have the fabric requirements and both are simple. You'll love them and you'll be hooked!

Hello and welcome from Corpus Christi, Texas. You have taken the most important step in a quilter's life, you asked for advice. Start with a simple pattern, 9 square, rail fence, anything square. Don't be hard on yourself, take a class if you can, buy a book( there's lots of beginning quilter books) and go girl!

Hi Sheila, I am Shelia, too, just spelled different. I suggest that you pay attention to the questions that mpspeedy asked. We need to know your tools, capabilities and experience before suggesting what to start with. I would read some quilting books and magazines first. Then maybe try putting together a few blocks, then a simple small miniquilt, runner, table tom, or lap quilt before trying something as daunting as a bed-sized quilt.
I have sewn all my life, and never did a lot of quilting, and still dabble in quilting, doll-making, tailoring, and charity sewing. I get along just fine with the minimun of tools, using scraps in various ways and just enjoying everything. Just take it slow!
I live just over the MA border in CT. If I can help, e-mail me!

You can always go to Quilter's Cache. There are a myriad of patterns, different sizes, according to your ability at the time. Paper piecing (which I have never done), applique (which I don't particularly care for), it gives instructions on how to cut your fabric and everything. It is a must keep! Also, learn how to feel the fabric. You can feel the quality of fabric with your thumb and index finger just by "petting" it! I learned that from my mother, who learned it from her mother - the "feel" of the fabric. You will learn that! Rail Fence is a good starter as it nine patch. I am personally partial to sampler quilts, because it is basically your design on how you want the blocks placed, the names and what they mean to you, the colors, etc. Then the most important, choose a background! No, not fabric, environment. By a window, in the attic, in the basement, in the dining room, in the room that your child used until he/she moved out and you grabbed before he/she shut the door behind him/her!!!!! You may want to listen to music, or the tv, I like to listen to audiobooks. Doesn't really matter as long as you are happy.

It is a joyous adventure, it is a getaway, a place for you to design what you want, how you want and you are under no pressure (at least you hope you aren't) and you get to know better the most important person - YOU! I found out that I can do it - I just sat behind a table (at the time) and did it. When I decided that I could do it, which everyone can one way or the other, I got a new sewing machine (nothing fantabulous, but enough to make quilts), a sewing table, and the most important tool of all, the seam ripper. You will thank each person that mentions the seam ripper, because you will rip seams, believe me - YOU WILL RIP SEAMS!!!!!!

And then there is the backache! You have to learn to get up and walk around, maybe have a Coke, or tea or coffee or water, or maybe a nice glass of wine. You can sit at your sewing table with your fabric all around you and swig on a nice glass of Chardonnay or Choco-Vine and realize how great life really is! Take a walk around the block with the trusty dog and come back and sew some more. It is a wonderful life, you will enjoy and we are looking forward to hearing your new adventures in Quiltland!!!!!!

Do not give up. If something isn't working for you, set it aside and start something else, but keep the project because you will want to finish it. If I have a problem with a block, I set it aside, work on another block and by the time that one is done, my brain has already figured out what I did wrong. It's really amazing how we work!

Welcome to Quilting Board from St. Paul, Minnesota! Edie

Hello, and welcome from Texas. go to your local quilt store, ask about a beginner's class. Pick a pattern and they will help you with yardages for it. Good luck.

Good Morning from Mena, AR. I would suggest finding a book of patterns and choose a fairly simple one. About the simplest patterns are a 4-patch or 9-patch. Also if you have a quilting store in your area talk with them. I got the quilting bug several years ago by watching tv shows with Alex Anderson, Elenor Burns and Nancy Zimman. Check your tv schedule to see if you can find any such programs. Jeanniebelle

Hi and welcome from New York.

Hello from Pa. I got the book, "Quilting for Dummies", great book, explains everything in detail. And then, just hang out on here and you will learn tons. Happy quilting!!

where is Mass are you? There are plenty of stores that offer classes for beginners. that is how i finally did it.

Howdy! :D

Welcome from Delaware. I understand how you feel being new. I had sewn since I can remember probably about 7-8 years old, but never quilted. It took me reading for over a year --- reading, reading, reading, to get brave enough to start one. That was way too long ---- sometimes reading too much just confuses your thoughts. This site is great, a book is helpful and if possible a beginners class, but don't wait, there are lots of beginner patterns depending on your likes. Start simple.
Let us see your first item.
Happy quilting.

Welcome from Deltona, Florida
Ellen

Welcome to this wonderful board of kind people. I took my non quilting neighbor to a little quilt fair and by the end of the hour, she had picked up every future fair announcement. She is so hooked and you will be too. So many great tutorials on this site.

Welcome to the Quilting Board!!!! You have come to
the right place to learn quilting.

The first quilt that I made was a scrappy crazy quilt. To this day, I still love them. I am actually making another one now with all my little scraps and left over fabric

Some of the sites I used were.

This Blog under the SEARCH engine.
MissouriQuiltCo.com
You Tube

And last but not least my wonderful neighbor across the street. Sorry I don't loan her out. The most important part is have fun and never quilt when your tired. That's when I make most of my mistakes. Good Luck

Welcome from Sioux Falls, SD!
Definately take a class! My DH bought me a Brother SE-44 for Christmas, it is a great machine to learn on and I can quilt, sew and embroider. I began classes and have learned so much, made a beautiful beginners quilt and I am in the process of making a queen size denim rag quilt...oh and I made the patchwork jacket from the tute on this site. Having a great time, folks on here are great and have tons of wisdom!
Happy I found this site!

welcome from Alabama-you have come to the right place for all the help and encouragement you can take! I have learned more from this site than any class could teach me-hands on is good, but these people are tried and true!

Welcome from NY :)

I'm in the same boat you are, didn't even know how to use a sewing machine. I bought a quilted throw on Etsy and loved it so I've decided to "copy" it in some fabrics that I love. This throw that I bought doesn't have a pattern, just random red, white and pink strips sewn together. The one I'm making is very similar. I thought this would be a good way to familiarize myself with not only my machine but with cutting and using rulers. I have decided that I prefer marking the fabric instead of using a rotary cutter, just can't seem to get the hang of it. Also, I'm getting used to making a 1/4" seam. This may seem like very basic stuff, but you have to walk before you run. And a big HOWDY & welcome from the Sooner state, Oklahoma!!!

Or try Amazon.com, I've found a ton of great books on there at a bargain price. I find a book I want & then check Amazon to see if they have a better price. I've bought many and have never been burned.

Welcome! from southern IL.

Hi Shelia, Welcome from your neighbor in Mass. If I can help, let me know. We can't be too far from each other. :-)

Welcome from Arkansas. The Rail Fence is a very simple pattern that makes a lovely quilt. And, it really doesn't require a pattern. For a lap size quilt I'd get at least a yard of three coordinating fabrics. (look good together) Cut them in 2 1/2 inch strips. Then sew one of each of them together . Then cut them in 6 inch blocks. Place one with ends up, the next one with ends side by side, the next one up and so on until you get it as wide as you want your quilt. Continue doing this until you have the size you want.This will be your top. Then you will take a piece of fabric the same size or a little larger and lay it facedown. Place a piece of batting on top of that and then put your top on top faceup and pin the three layers together with safety pins. Then it is ready to quilt. Come back for more lessons or PM me if you need advice. Thanks

Very True I have the same one! and with the tutorials on this blog, everything is so much easier!

Hello and welcome from Michigan!!!

I just purchased a couple of magazines complete with DVD from Fons and Porters website that tells you everything you need to know from beginning to end on how to make your first quilt. Very inexpensive and well worth the money.

Welcome from one of the guys on the forum. Quilting is easy. Buy some fabric, cut it into little tiny pieces and then sew them back together again. Easy.

WELCOME FROM Oklahoma, we love to help newbies here.

Hello!!! This site is great for tutorials and the people are wonderful. All you have to do is ask if you need anything. :)

Welcome from Maine! If you're ever bored take a trip up to Maine and visit Marden's for fabric. Most of it is $2.99 although the prices have been going up lately. The closest one to you is in Sanford. I love Marden's and never leave without buying at least one piece of fabric. You're going to love this board.

Take a class!!!!!!!!!!! I know that there are a lot of self-taught quilters on this board but you will so much QUICKLY by taking class. You will get basic and correct techniques (no quilt police) and then you can expand from there. I really believe in getting knowledge from others instead of learning by my mistakes.

You-tube is your friend. You will find tons of how-to videos on everything from cutting fabric to binding a quilt and all things in between. Have fun with the learning process !!

hi welcome from fl.self taught here

I would start small, something easy like I did. A basic block pattern like I do. I did make a quillo quilt as my first, but, I did it all by hand and it was quite a project.
Also remember to sew seams 1/4 inch, some prefer scant 1/4 but, it's difficult for some
and most importantly is to enjoy yourself and what your doing

Welcome fromt CT and keep reading the board. I am a newbee at quilting and have picked up some great tips. A lot of wonderful people here who are very generous in sharing!

You can find it on Amazon for $9.04! Bargain! Have fun quilting!

Hi from Natchez, Ms. Try strings, log cabins or 4 patch. Just jump in and do it. You will amaze yourself. There's always a lot of help here whatever you try. Happy Quilting!! :thumbup:

Hi and welcome from the Pacific Northwest.

Find an easy pattern buy the fabric recommended on pattern and start