If you go to craftsy I beleive they have a free class for sewing machine use and a free class for begginers.

Craftsy has a free class on sewing machines and a free class for begginers. Maybe she could watch those and learn the basics. I dont have links and am not affiliated with them. I would start with lap quilt or tabble runner.

I have taught a few ladies how to quilt and always start them off with a rail fence... It's a good beginner pattern!

There are lots of patterns with just squares or rectangles or both. Look around!

google "quilts made of just squares". You'll find lots of patterns. Some triangles slipped in the list, but just ignore them.

When I was learning, my teacher said to start with a simple log cabin. I learned from Eleanor Burns book. Quite easy.

I used to teach children to sew and quilt. Most had no experience with sewing or running a machine. We started with making scrunchies until they could sew a straight seam. Then we made a pillowcase and a fat quarter apron. Then we learned how to cut and sub cut fabric into squares using a rotary cutter and mat. You would be amazed at the masterpieces those little girls (9 to 15 years of age) made. I think it was because we started small and built their confidence through success.

Turning Twenty is a good pattern for beginners. So is Yellow Brick Road.

I started with a log cabin and it was really good to teach me about 1/4 inch seams and I've been quilting since

I think a 3 rail fence. Easy to square up, quick & no seams to match. Making the strips gives lots of practice for straight seams too & getting used to the sewing machine

I would teach her the basics of the machine first, and definitely how to change a needle. Then maybe start her with some scraps and learning to make a 1/4" seam, then maybe a simple strip or 4 patch quilt. Good luck to you both, I am sure you will have a new quilter in no time at all

Get Eleanor Burns "quilt in a day" book- Irish Chain Quilts. She not only shows you how to do it, she offers King, Queen, twin, couch, and baby size, how to organize, and best of all she encourages assembly line sewing. Taught me everything I needed to get started, and I enjoyed it.

My first quilt was from "Turning Twenty." I liked it because if you just bought twenty fat quarters, you knew that all the pieces you needed would come out of that fat quarter. Long pieces of fabric were intimidating for me so the different fat quarters seemed very "doable." I don't know if that book is still available but that's the one that lit my passion and I've never looked back :0)