a good pattern, one that is just sewing squares to squares, using the color of each piece to make the pattern, do a search for either [B]irish chain quilt /B]or trip around the world quilt, they are square to square patterns.
for tools, if you are hand piecing, basically all you really need is fabric, thread (god quality on both, doesn't have to be the most expensive out there, but if the fabric just feels gauzy and cheap stay away from it, and if the thread breaks with a gentle tug or is old and dry rotted don't use it. You will need hand sewing needles, some straight pins. A little pair of thread scissors is nice to have, something designed for embroidery. (A needle threader if you want, not a necessity, but they are usually inexpensive and can sometimes be bought included in a pack of sewing needles. For cutting the fabric, I really like a rotary cutter and a mat, along with that you should get an acrylic ruler, you can use scissors though just as eaily, many of my quilts are strip pieces on a machine so having the rotary cutter allows me to cut long strips of fabric, because you want to hand piece the quilts then your individual pieces of the quilt will be smaller because you won't be sewing a long seeam then cutting apart the pieces... I guess what I'm saying a pair of scissors, something to mark the cutting lines with - a regular old pencil or something fancy (and more expensive) designed for fabric from a fabric store
and a ruler, again either a regular one designed for school/office or one of the fancy acrylic ones. a thimble if you use one, if you have never sewn before start learning with a thimble, it is easier to use one from the get go rather than trying to retrain your hands to use one.
Later on once you get your top pieced, you will need backing fabric and the batting, the fluffy stuff that goes in between the 2 layers. You will need some of the cheap cheap dry rotted thread I told you to avoid previously not to use, you will be basting with that thread pulling it out, using it only temporary, so don't spend loads of $ on it. You may want to invest in a quilt frame or a hoop to do your actual quilting with or you can do like I do and not use anything at all, (I will admit my quilting isn't the most uniform or pretty, part of that has to do with my experience level part of it has to do with not using a frame/hoop.
An iron for the fabric and either an ironing board or a towel on a table.
I'm not for certain on the airline rules, contact the particular airline you are flying and ask about the rules. If you have your pieces already cut apart you won't need your fabric scissors with you and possibly they may allow the little thread scissors for carry on. If they won't allow the little scissors then you can always thread up a bunch of sewing needles beforehand. If they allow little fingernail clippers you can always cut your thread with those.
