help for a first time quilter!!!

[Mihelinka]

I just started doing sewing again a few months ago and I'd like to make quilts for my two boys for their birthdays. I have until Next november to complete them LOl. I figured i needed to give myself enough time.

WEll I'm not sure where to start. I've gotten a few books from the library but they seem so advanced & well, too fancy for a beginner. I just want to do simple blocks. I'll be doing it by machine, I don't think i can handle hand sewing two quilts for a first time.

Anyhow any advice, a good pattern or book to start out with????
I'm a bit overwhelmed. I don't want to give up. I need a starting point though.
TIA
Michele

[dis]

My first quilt was a strip-pieced Trip Around the World, which was a great introduction to quilting. I was using a book that I think it out of print now, but here's some websites with instructions:

http://www.quiltville.com/tatw.shtml
http://www.ehow.com/how_2343553_trip...rld-quilt.html
http://lisatutmanoglesby.typepad.com...round-the.html

Do you have a rotary cutter and mat? quilting is MUCH easier if you have those, it makes cutting out the pieces so much faster and easier!

[19spitfire]

subbing. I could have posted this exact question.

[Queen of Cups]

That's the first quilt I made! Its a great beginner's pattern. I second the recommendation for a rotary cutter and mat. And, strip quilting (the technique used in the linked-to patterns above) is actually much easier and faster than cutting individual blocks and sewing them together one at a time.

[Mihelinka]

It still looks so intimidating, I must admit.
I appreciate the replies, how did your quilts come out? How long did it take you?

[Queen of Cups]

Here's a gallery of the quilts I've made, you can see that the first several were using that pattern.

[Mihelinka]

Thanks for sharing. Such beautiful quilts you've made. i LOVE Katie's quilt

[Stone Fence]

Get the book Amish Quiltmaker by Bettina Havig . I got it from the library and ordered it on Half.com because I thought it was so useful.

It has templates, patterns and really great instructions. I was amazed at how quick my first project went together (12x12 pillow top). I think you could get really creative just building up from the small pillow blocks in the book. Check my blog link in siggy to see my first block. I just started quilting it last night.

[Mihelinka]

Originally Posted by Stone Fence

Get the book Amish Quiltmaker by Bettina Havig . I got it from the library and ordered it on Half.com because I thought it was so useful.

It has templates, patterns and really great instructions. I was amazed at how quick my first project went together (12x12 pillow top). I think you could get really creative just building up from the small pillow blocks in the book. Check my blog link in siggy to see my first block. I just started quilting it last night.

Thank you! our library doesnt have it but I am going to request they buy it

[Queen of Cups]

Originally Posted by Mihelinka

Thanks for sharing. Such beautiful quilts you've made. i LOVE Katie's quilt

Thank you! My MIL designed that one using all the t-shirts my SIL collected through her childhood and teen years for a high school graduation present.. I did all the sewing for her because she hasn't done much sewing since she had a stroke. I think it turned out really neat, I may end up doing something like that for my kids when they graduate from high school.

[Mihelinka]

That is the best idea. Makes me think i will save some of my boys favorite shirts to do a quilt like that for them when they get older.

I also saw (can't remember who posted the link) a womans quilt design with photos printed on the fabric. I'm thinking of maybe doing a grandchildren quilt (eventually) for my mom like this

[wbd221]

double post - sorry!

[wbd221]

The Thimbleberries Guide for Weekend Quilters by Lynette Jensen is excellent (ISBN # 0-87596-812-0), as are the Learn to Quilt pamphlets produced by Wrights (85 South St. West Warren MA 01092).

[mamavegan]

bumping for more replies! Our library doen't have the amish book either.

[churndash]

Nowadays, fabric makers have all sorts of precut fabrics: Layer cakes, which are precut 10" squares, charm packs, precut 5" squares, Jelly Rolls, which are 2 1/2" wide, 40" long strips of fabric, and "turnovers" which are precut triangles.

And there are lots of books that feature quilts you can make with these precuts. I love, love, love the precuts. It saves so much time and my kids love to help me design by arranging the pieces, etc.

[Mihelinka]

Originally Posted by churndash

Nowadays, fabric makers have all sorts of precut fabrics: Layer cakes, which are precut 10" squares, charm packs, precut 5" squares, Jelly Rolls, which are 2 1/2" wide, 40" long strips of fabric, and "turnovers" which are precut triangles.

And there are lots of books that feature quilts you can make with these precuts. I love, love, love the precuts. It saves so much time and my kids love to help me design by arranging the pieces, etc.

I saw the jelly rolls in the fabric store & wondered what the heck it was
Now i know thanks

[Porcelain Interior]

Try the pattern called "Turning 20".

It takes 20 fat quarters and makes a nice twin sized quilt.

If you want something smaller, you can easily use fewer fat quarters.

I've made dozens of these quilts, and once you know what you're doing the top can be pieced easily in a day or two.

[NikonMama]

When I first learned I found it easier just to buy a kit with fat quarters or cut fabric and just wing it. Patterns were too hard for me to follow as I was trying to figure everything else out also. My first was just a basic 4x4 block quilt, my second was all 3" stripes. At that point I understood the basics, and I was able to then follow a pattern. Even now, I like to look at a pattern and adjust it and make something similar but not exactly from the pattern.

Here are my first two quilts

30x30"
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...9_0010copy.jpg

I can't find the picture with the binding of this one, but you get the idea
36x45
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...9_0016copy.jpg

It even had a fun back
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...9_0020copy.jpg

[Mihelinka]

Thanks ladies. The big squares quilt the pp posted looks like my speed for quilting. I get confused with patterns as it is, I need to ease into quilting.

one other question... Do you really need to get a special foot for your machine to piece things together??? I remember reading that in one of the many quilting books i took out at the library.

[Porcelain Interior]

Originally Posted by Mihelinka

Thanks ladies. The big squares quilt the pp posted looks like my speed for quilting. I get confused with patterns as it is, I need to ease into quilting.

one other question... Do you really need to get a special foot for your machine to piece things together??? I remember reading that in one of the many quilting books i took out at the library.

No, just put a clear acrylic ruler under your machine needle- carefully lowering it and measure 1/4 inch over to the right from where the needle comes down. You can place a piece of flourescent tape down, or use a sharpie, to mark your seam guide.

On most machines the outer edge of the feed dogs on the right side is about 1/4 of an inch.