My Grandmother and mother taught me to sew and quilt. One of the easiest patterns I've done is "courthouse steps". Nine patch or 4 patch are easy too.

I took a class at Hobby Lobby. Only two people signed up, so the instructor taught us at her house. Then the other lady dropped out, but not before I learned the basics. Then I met some gals that quilted and I picked their brains.

I have sewed since my daughter was 1 and I took up quilting when my granddaughter was born. Now I am in a group that goes to the quilt shop every week to sew. I also belong to a strip club. Can't seem to stop.

Self taught.

I learned to sew from my mom and in 4-H when I was a kid. Then I made my first quilt. I cut all the pieces using cardboard templates (just scraps, 5" squares around 4 big machine appliqued blocks with fish) and started sewing them together, using a 1/4" seam because my mom told me that's what you used in quilting (otherwise I'd have made it 5/8"). She walked me through backing and tying it, then binding by bringing the back to the front.

My next quilt, I wasn't at nearby my mom anymore, so I used books from the library and occasional advice from a woman at church.

I'd say most specific techniques I learn from books and the internet, anymore.

I think a good beginner quilt is just plain squares, get a couple of charm packs from fabric lines you like and sew them in 4 patches and then into rows, sew the rows together to make the top.

My mother started making quilts and had made my older son one and I absolutely loved it. I decided I could do that so I looked at the one she made him with a tape measure and came up with my own. It was horsehead blocks with log cabin type design around them It was cut out with scissors length of grain, seams pressed open(that's how regular sewing was)and matched every thread to the actual material being used.((giggle giggle)) To think of it now the "Quilt Police" would have had a Hay day..
Since then,I have had one friend show me how to paper piece and other than that, ask lots of questions, read and trial and error.

I would start with a 5 yard quilt. They are relatively easy.
The nine-patch is fun and if you have the direction by Eleanor Burns, she makes it really easy.

Cindy
Monee, IL

Went to the library and checked out many books on quilting.
Read, read, and read all about quilting. I watched Fons and Porter and Simply Quilts and then bought a block of the month at Joanns.
My first quilt is sitting in a landfill somewhere and I wish I didn't throw it away but oh boy it was a mess. That was back in 2001 and I'm still quilting all the time.
I'm addicted and want to stay that way! lol

I could say the same.
I didn't know there were so many ways of quilting
. The first one I made was a pattern I found in a craft mag. Made from old jeans, warm but heavy.
The more I learn the more I love the art of quilting.

Google directions for a nine patch. They are easy and fun and can be quite lovely. Or Google directions for a string quilt. They are fast and colorful. You can use paper for a base for string quilts. Google telephone book quilts. They look like fun.

froggyintexas