Tracy - take a look at this pattern:  http://www.unitednotions.com/fp_sultry.pdf 

It comes from Moda fabric free patterns & uses jelly roll fabric (I love the precut stuff!!).  It was my first quilt & I found it simple & fun.  Welcome to quilter's world!!

Hi, Tracy.   What size quilt are you thinking of making?  I know some folks like to start out with a smaller project, maybe even a table runner or placemat, but then some jump right in and make a king sized quilt as their first one.

Since you mentioned that you are looking for free patterns, here's a link to the Jo-Ann quilting and patchwork projects.  http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat13853    Also, the Victoriana Quilt Designs site has links to lots of free patterns. http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/

Hi Tracy, I assume you know that quilting can be a very time consuming endeavor.  However, starting with a small project is an excellent idea.  Be sure you know and understand what "quilting" means and all that it entails.  Somethings I found out the hard way are:  your seams have to be consistently the same width AT ALL TIMES or your finished project will be lopsided and impossible to correct without a lot more work.  Secondly, if you are going to use whatever your project is on a daily basis, make sure your material is color fast.  My first quillting project was a Christmas Tree Skirt I made from a Joann class some 18years ago and I am still using it.  However it was not until I had to water our fresh tree that I found the binding I used (red in color) was starting to run.  Our instructor never told us about this possibility and even after using it every single Christmas since the first time, I know I can never wash my favorite quilting project without ruining it. A placemat is a good idea and so is a quilted case for your eyeglasses, or even just a quilted hot pad to use as a trivet.  Each will give you an idea of what quilting is all about.  Hope this helps.  I am proudest of my tree skirt even after my 20 or so years of quilting and sewing.  Hope you love it.

Hi Rosalie..   I just wanted to say that you may be able to wash your tree skirt without ruining it.  There is a detergent called Synthrapol that can be used to keep loose dye molecules (the ones that cause running or bleeding) suspended in wash water so they are not redeposited on fabrics where they are not wanted.  It is generally used by dyers but can be found in quilt shops as well.  It is used as an only detergent, not added to any other detergent in your washer and works best in hot water. 

A simple square pattern (such as checkerboard) would be a good "starter" quilt.  There are so many quilt patterns out there, sometimes deciding which to use is the hardest part!  lol 

One website I like for quilt pattern ideas is www.quilterscache.com.  It lists the blocks alphabetically, by size, and indicates the difficulty of the pattern as well.  It also gives instruction about other parts of quilting, besides making the blocks.  The woman who runs the website (although she's pretty busy!) will often email you back if you have questions.  Some of the blocks are traditional blocks, some are her original designs.  There are probalby over a thousand blocks on the site...so you'll never run out of ideas there!

Hope this helps, and good luck quilting!  (beware--it can be addicting!)

I am new to quilting, too...and learned over the summer by taking a class using a log cabin pattern by eleanor burns. It was a great way to learn some really basic techniques that you can apply to a variety of quilts, and her books are really designed with the beginner in mind - they have great instructions! Good luck! I'm totally hooked now

Quilting is a wonderful hobby, but takes time a precision.  Start small, but large enough to get the feel for what a large quilt would be like (wallhanging or baby quilt), and use a pattern that is made of mostly squares.  The more angles, the more precision is required.  Cut carefully and sew with consistant seam width.  And iron is an important tool too.  Pressed seams can help you be more accurate.  Also, if you make individual blocks that are joined together with strips, take time to trim up the blocks to a consistant size before sewing the whole quilt togther.  Just helps keep everything accurate.

Hi all, it's nice to have a forum that I can get tips and advice from.

My name is Nancy, it seems really friendly here.

I come from a long line of quilters and craftsmen/women.

My Autnt Howleen, showed me the extensive collection of her quilts and showed me this huge bed size frame which she uses to stretch out her finished quilt and the device pulls up to the ceiling when she's not stitching it.

This has really showed me how fun it can be. I am only on my third quilt so I'm no expert in fact, I still call myself a beginner.

My advice to anyone out there as  long as you're doing it for fun it will be fun and also most importantly know that this is not brain surgery.

Hi Tracy, I also am a beginning quilter. My church group makes comfort quilts for th sick. There are many free patterns if you do a search for "charity quilts", "lap quilts", or baby quilts. The basic qults are 25 9" squares of coordinating fabrics. We use fleece for the back, and tie them together with embroydery floss. These are very basic and great for beginners. Sometimes words can be added for more interest.

If you have a hard time sewing straight and do not have a sewing guide, place a stack of post-it-notes close to the sewing foot and run the fabric against the notes. It made a huge improvement for me. Good luck.

I would like to make a photo quilt for my grown children. Can anyone give some advice on resources and instructions for this? I use a computer and have been sewing for many years.

Thanks,

Jhyatt