I started out on a dresden plate and I would not recommend it to any new quilter. I was just to stubborn to give it up. I would say a good nine block would be best. Go to www.quilterscache.com for oodles of patterns.

Hello & Welcome from Ontario
If there is a fabric or quilt store close by go have a look to see whats out there. This is a great site and everyone is great. Someone will always be able to answer any questions you might have. Enjoy your new hobby it's a great one.

Welcome from Michigan! I think you should start on a simple project like squares or a rail fence. Maybe buy a beginners book or search online. I have never taken a class but I'm sure if you could it would help. Also this group is the best & you can ask questions & someone will always help you out. Have fun!

Welcome, you will learn a lot from here I have. Whatever you decide to start with, have fun.

I have been quilting since 1980 and never done a paper pieced - although I know how to. I'm thinking of doing a Judy Mathieson quilt this year, and will do the foundation (paper piecing) method so that it is super - accurate. However, I am going to print it onto the 151 material that will dissolve once I wash the quilt. I don't think I would be bothered pulling out all of the paper. Any method is good to start. Some people only do Baltimore - which is a lot of applique.

I agree - Rail Fence or Patience Corner would be a good beginner block.

When I started it was by accident. I wanted a spread for my daughter's bed and decided to make one. I used lg blocks of fabric and used strips to divide them and when it covered the bed(twin) I added a ruffle. Before I finished it I had a quilted bedspread.But i've been sewing since I was a kid and I guess that was the next step to take to be creative. But if your new to sewing lessons would be a good way to go.

Hello, welcome and sending a few rays of sunshine from sunny south Florida.

Hi! and welcome! If you want to try this on your own, I would suggest you try some of Eleaner Burns books. The one that I start my students out on is Hearts Delight. Her books have really good instructions and this is an easy wall hanging or baby quilt. It is small and can be finished before you lose interest. You will learn a lot by making this one quilt. Another book is rail fence. It is just strips sewn together.
The most important thing to learn is to make a consistent 1/4 inch seam. I was a seamtress before I started quilting and it took me awhile to get my 1/4 seam consistent.
Community or Senior centers in our area (So.Cal.)have classes and some of them are free. It doesn't matter how old you are, they are not allowed to discriminate because of your age. Good luck and have fun!

Do you know of a web site that will show you how to pp?

Welcome from southern New York. I found that taking a class at the local quilt store gave me a good foundation. Try it.
Good luck

Welcome from SoEastern Pa. You'll love this board.

I started with paper piecing and thought that was all I'd ever do, and low and behold, it has now been 5 years since I made another that way. I loved starting that way because my points were pretty much right one, a far cry better than if I had tried it the conventional way.

I did realize that quilting was no more difficult than baking cookies. If you can follow a recipe, you definitely will have no problenm with the construction part of this wonderful art.

Purchasing fabric...well, that's another sotry.

;) ;)

There are a number of books out now with very simple quilts but beautiful. Most are fairly large pieces, such as 4 patch and rectangles and large squares. Use of colors is what makes these sparkle. But starting with something like that will teach you cutting, perfecting our 1/4 " seams, etc. All things you need to know to progress into other quilts that are progressively more complicated. I would suggest starting with a lap robe or a twin size first so your not overwhelmed.

My first quilt was a sampler quilt. I learned a lot of techniques by making a different block. My quilt teacher was so good. She taught us how to cut and how to piece. It was so much fun I have done this for 24 years.

Welcome from Southern Arkansas. I have never paperpieced so I can't answer your question. I would just suggest you get a pretty simple pattern and start there. Something like Jacob's ladder or a nine patch or some of the ones that use half squares. There are so many beautiful yet simple paterns to choose from!!! Look at some tutorials or find a quilting buddy. You can P.M. me if you'd like to be adopted. I'll try to help you all I can. I do mostly hand piecing and hand quilting although I do some on the machine too. Anyway, would be all to glad to try and help you get started. Good luck

And you can meet new quilting friends that will be happy to help you with questions!

No better way to go.

Seems like about 50% of quilters love paper piecing and the other half hate it. So you won't know until you try. I'd recommend learning to quilt the regular way, starting with a simple block or two. Find an easy pattern (all squares, like a 9-patch)learn to accurately cut with a rotary cutter, master your 1/4" seams, press accurately without stretching or distorting your seams -- and then, when you've earned some confidence, you can try paper piecing. I've done both but vastly prefer quilting the old fashioned way!

Hello from northern NY. I agree with Gale, I would start with a simple patch work quilt. Unless your crazy like me and start with a quilt pattern that most people wouldn't even bother with because of all the piecing.

Hi and welcome from ND. I am for going to a beginning quilting class and you will learn many things that will help you become a fantastic quilter that will have fun at what they are doing. Try everything that strikes your interest and you will find the type of project that you like.

I learned a lot from You Tube videos, other quilting sights, and magazines.
Keep it simple at first.

Hello from NJ, My first quilt wss a log cabin, a quilt in a day was the book used. Your gunna love it here I do

Thanks to a generous quilter on this board I watched a You Tube production about a book entitled "The 10 Minute Block." It is published by DBA Originals, www.d.originals.com/main.sc and sells for $16.99. After watching the demonstration I placed my order for the book, can't wait for it to get here as the process is just so easy and produces such a beautiful block. For a beginning quilter it would be a great starter.

Hi and welcome! I love to paper piece. I'm not sure whether it's where I would start out though. I'm not sure it matters. Maybe try a small quilt first or a table runner or placemats. Just to get the "feel" for quilting. :D

Went to this site and made one of the blocks. It really would make a quick quilt. Not sure that I would need the book after watching the video. Thanks for the fun project.

Agree with you, the basic block is pretty straightforward. I liked the glimpse of the other projects in the book too so decided to spring for the entire book.