Do any of you guys know where I can find extremely easy quilt patterns. I am looking for patterns that are beginner level, but have shortcuts or something as my time is limited with 3 little ones at home. I look through quilt magazines and I've been to just a few sites, but it all looks so daunting. The only patterns I've done are four patches and rail fence. Do you guys have any ideas??

Thanks in advance,

Melissa

Quilters Cache has tons of blocks and shows you step by step and shows you what they look like as quilts also...many different sized blocks ..be prepared to spend an hour or two browsing! :)

http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html
Quilt Blocks Galore!

I've lost count of places you can find free patterns online. Here's where I usually start.

http://mccallsquilting.com/

They rate the level of experience recommended for each block.

Look in the left column. Not only links to lots of free info on the McCall's pages ... links to affiliated magazine pages and more free stuff.

Can't beat it with a stick!
:wink:

Gosh...I just looked at my bookmarks...here's another good one...some of them are beyond me even so it depends on your skill level but theres some good patterns here to print out!

http://pbtex.com/html/free_patterns.html
free patterns

Here is another good site!

http://www.freequilt.com/
Free Quilt Patterns from FreeQuilt.com.

I found some quick and easy patterns when I searched for quilts for kids to make

http://www.quilterscache.com/K/KidsCat.html

this is one I bookmarked

Thanks everyone!

I am familiar with Marcia's quilter's cache site. I go there often. Her pin system confuses me. Some have one pin because there's only one form of piecing, but the piecing used is difficult. I wish there was just beginner, intermediate, expert stuff.

The others I can't wait to try. I found a few sites searching today, but I want to try them all out and get rid of the bogus ones before I share with you.

Thanks again!!

Melissa

I love the Mccalls quilting site too. There are just so many out there and the patterns are free. Here is another one that I was given just the other day. It's a lot like the Turning Twenty done with fqs bu this one is free!! LOL I just made my first Turning Twenty though and wow did it go fast!! I got my fabric on Friday, cut it out on Sat and made it on Sunday and Monday.
http://www.byannie.com/free_patterns.html
Let us know what you decide to do.
Gay

Melissa, someone suggested Warm Wishes to me for an animal quilt I'm doing, I don't think it can get any easier than that one and it is going to be beautiful. Can wait to get it together so I can post pictures.
kathy

Melissa, while your kids are little, trace their hand on a piece of paper. I made a hand quilt where I machine appliqued the handprints in different fabrics with their names on them. I had my whole family, including my parents, my children and husband and even me, siblings, their spouses and their children. I made it for my sister out of fabric from her childhood outfits. It was a big hit, but my favorite part was looking at the very personalized handprints and remembering that person.

Rail Fence is a really easy pattern (you can find it at Quilters Cache)... this pattern is sort of a twist on Rail Fence and is super easy and fun!

http://www.quilters-world.com/pages/features1.php?_id=92&subcat=In%20the%20quilting%20 world

Also, check out www.quiltville.com She has lots of great patterns and she includes tips and short cuts. Some are more time consuming than others. She tells how to make string quilts, which are really easy and quick!

If you want to purchase a pattern that is quick and easy, check into Yellow Brick Road, Turn Twenty and Turn Twenty Again.

Barb C.

Wow everybody!!

It will take a while for me to look into all these websites. Thank you so much. I think that I own Yellow Brick Road. It was a gift for Christmas, I just haven't looked real hard at it yet. I don't know what Warm Wishes, Turn Twenty or String quilting is. I did find a quilt that had handprints on it that I want to make for my grandmother with all her great grandchildren's hand prints on it.

Thanks again.

melissa

warm wishes
http://www.quiltmaker.com/patterns/patt83/

YBR is really easy and goes together quickly! I have made 4 of them. 1 for my family.. the other 3 were gifts.

Barb C.

Hi, Melissa.

I know how it feels to be a beginner. That was 16 years ago. Now I teach quilting lessons. I created a site especially for beginners. My students love my easy-to-follow lessons and ample supply of graphics.

I think you'll really have a ball making the beginner's sampler quilt. Check it out for yourself at http://www.sewaquilt.com

Hope to see you there!

Gloria

Melissa,
I re-discovered this website today in my favorites while searching quilting designs..............lots and lots of choices. Have fun with it.

www.quiltingpassion.com/projects.html#wall

I'm gonna go play now..........

It's going to take me forever to get through all these sites. But I'm pretty sure I'm gonna love every minute of it. Thank you thank you thank you to every body. I also enjoy the newsletters I get. They are informative, but more importantly explained so a person as "beginner" as I can understand them. I can't wait to see all these. I googled "free quilt patterns" and only kept the first 20 of thousands to look at. I was wading through those when I started compiling a list of the website responses here. I now have almost 20 more. It'll take me a while.

Thanks again!! I have ideas a plenty.

Melissa

Gloria,

I just wanted to tell you I went to your site today. It was wonderful for beginners. I have made almost all the blocks already for the sampler quilt in a class I took a couple years ago. I've bookmarked it and done that RSS thing. I have also sent it to a couple friends of mine that are just beginning their quilting journey. It is a really lovely site.

Melissa

All,

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you that responded with sites so quickly. I have now looked at all of them and bookmarked them as well. They are quite informative. On some, I had a hard time interpreting the directions, but I'm sure experience will help to some degree. The only one I did not bookmark was http://www.freequilt.com/ as I couldn't open it.

Thanks again

Melissa

Melissa,

Glad you enjoyed my site. If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm here to help. That goes for anyone who wants to make the quilt sampler. Have a great weekend everybody!

Gloria, your site is fantastic. I'm going to start today!! :D

http://www.sewaquilt.com/index.html

I was surprised not to see log cabin listed. My first three quilts where queen size log cabins, using Eleanor Burns book. I recommend this book to many new quilters, as it has excellent directions and pictures of every step. She also is specific in sizes and amounts of fabric needed.

I did what is referred to as a "log cabin " quilt block and made enough blocks for a King size plus at least a twin within a weekend. still haven't quiled it bu thats mainly from indecision about what to do with that an I"ve been moving alot. Now I'm back in my own home and plan to stay for a bit. I' get it done as soon as I find it!

I am a big fan of applique. Above all else its my favorite. Kids coloring books are a good place to look too. Smple shapes can be used in a 9 patch or more setting. Just trace around the shape in th coloring book and start cutting out! Also, keep in mind that you can use used dryer sheets instead of trying to turn under a raw edge. Just sew the dryer sheet to the right side and when done, cut a slit in the dryer sheet to turn everything right side out again and press. Then you can either slip stitch it to the background fabric or machine stitch it. I am sorry to go on so long, but if you are just starting out, maybe this will help. :D

I have used this method also, but prefer to use 911FF a lightweight fusible interfacing. You trace the applique shape on the backside, the non fusible side, and place the fusible side against the right side of fabric. Sew on the line and cut out leaving a scant seam allowance. Cut a small slit in middle and turn. This way the fusible will hold the applique while you are stitching either by hand or machine. :D

What a great idea! Thaks :D

WOW! a recycle tip for used dryer sheets. I like it! gauranteed I'll use that one. I allways have thought throwing them away after one use was wasteful.

I would recommend "256 Fat Quarter Quilt Patterns". Great book with lots of patterns AND step-by-step directions. Found it on Amazon for $14 which is much less than other sites.
Retired 2 years ago and hooked on quilting and sewing for my home.
Drapes, duvets, dust ruffles, slip covers. LOVE my time with my sewing machine.

Hi Melissa,

I have found wonderfully simple yet beautiful free quilt patterns @ www.quilterscache.com. I am always looking for free patterns and have found many by typing in the search area, "Free Quilt Patterns" You will find many great sites.
I grew up playing under the quilt frames that hung from my grandmother's ceiling and quilts have always had a special place in my heart. I started pieceing seriously about 2 years ago when I took a class on "quilt as you go". WoW! I love this method. If you haven't tried this method, do it. It is simple, fun and fast. You don't have to pay someone else to quilt it for you either. I hope you find the pattern you are looking for.

Grammie of Twins, Beth

If you go to FreeQuiltPatterns.com, you can go forever with quilt patterns. I get lost there every time I go there. There are so many beautiful patterns you can pick and choose. I hope you give it a try.
[email protected]

I have been bombarded with so many websites and patterns to chose from that I couldn't decide which one to make into a quilt so I made my own using microsoft excel. You have to play with it awhile to get the right size and it's kinda fun creating your own. I'm attaching an irish chain that I did. I hope it goes thru. There are two pages. One is the complete pattern. The other shows how to group your blocks. You can also make a life size template and copy it to stock paper. Have fun with this. I have more if anyone is interested. E-mail me at [email protected] if you want me to send you some.

Sorry guys I couldn't get it to attach. Does anyone know how to do this? If not just send me an e-mail I'll send it to you that way.

I'll try it again.

I just made a very easy beginner level quilt called The Yellow Brick Road
by Atkinson Designs. You just take a bunch of fat quarters and following instructions cut rectangles and squares then reassemble them into 9 inch blocks. Arrange in a pleasing pattern and add a border. I wish this had been my first quilt but it is great tio have in the repertoire when you need a gift quilt on short notice.
Rita

Dear Melissa

Try patterns from www.cottontales.net. They often use fat quarters or you can modify that to 1/4 yards of fabric that pleases you as opposed to lots of fat quarters. But the company seems to have simple patterns and I've completed a few already and have had good results. Go for the lap size projects, since you can finish them faster , and when young kids take up so much of our time and concentration, that is important.

Good luck.

Hi Melissa!

A coupe of questions first...

What is your purpose in quilting? Do you want quilts quickly for the families beds? What sizes? for what age groups?
Do you want to increase your skills?
Both?
The suggestion about the Yellow Brick Road pattern is excellent - it comes in many suizes and uses a strip piecing method that is super fast. I have an Amish ffiend who recently pieced a queen size YBR & said that it was confusing to her because it was "TOO EASY"!

Sound like my kinda pattern!

Keep us posted on your progress...

Marsha

"QUick Quilts" on line or the magazine has easy patterns

Also, for more easy quilt patterns, the Hancock's of Padukah catalogue has some great patterns from fat jellyrolls, that are stitched together and just cut across into big blocks and then sewn together with a 3 inch strip sash to finish. You rotate every other big block of strips and it makes a great and easy look. The catalogue is a wonderful wish book to browse through and drool over the gorgeous patterns.
Call 1-800-845-8723 for the catalogue.

As for what I don with my lap quilts and double size quilts, I like to throw them over the back of my sofa to enjoy the colors. I fell in love with a loud print collection by a guy named Kaffee Fassett. Look it up. It's terrific.

Have fun everyone. that's what it's about.

JM

Debbie, instructions for attaching photos is the first line of the pictures page. Please read it and try to post pictures in that section. We would all like to see your photos. :D

The hand print design is a great idea. Another one that our family made was for our fourth chid. Each of her big brothers drew 2 pictures on transfer paper.... I ironed it onto plain fabric, outlined their drawings wth embroidery thread and made their designs into a baby quilt. Each brother made 2 pictures and also wrote a message to their little sister. I sewed them all together to make her quilt. Her dad and I also each made a square. She is 22 years old now and still treasures that quilt.