PISHAW!! I put my pants on one leg at a time, just like you!

Margo, you are NOT an expert. You are getting very close to being a 'Quilt Goddess'!!

I appreciate the moniker of "expert", but trust me....there is sooooo much that I don't know!!

However....if there is something that I see and want to make, I will often learn what I can about it, then just jump in and give it a try. Sometimes, I'm thrilled with the outcome, and sometimes I consider that I have learned a good lesson and go on to something else. I do know that with all the many mistakes that I've made, I have amassed a wealth of information that may save someone else from wasting their time, so I try to share what I can.
I don't have all the answers, but I usually know what direction to head in search of them!

My best advice is to never stop learning!!

As for the Civil War Bride. I've never made a quilt with Civil War reproduction fabrics, but this is a very folksy design with lots of room for personal interpretation. It will go together just like any other appliqué quilt....one stitch at a time. There just may be a few more of them!

We all know that Margo is an expert! Her quilts are already OVER THE TOP! That CWB quilt truly is a monster! There is a Blog that calls themselves INSANE because of it. I made a cathedral window 'throw' (that was king-size bedspread size!) for my DB several years ago that took me 7 years to make. I made it with printed fabric scraps and plain, then I coordinated the fabrics with the surrounding blocks (if the scrap had red in it, the plain would be red next to it, or if it had red and orange, there would be orange on the other side). It damn near had me in an institution with a straight jacket on! I kept having to put it away for a while and work on other things, then pull it out and give it a go again. I'll never do another of those (although I saw a "Mock cathedral window" in a video last month I might give a go. My DH wants one. GRRRR!!

i started 4 years ago, not on the traditional way, i just looked at the amish quilt site and decided that i like the logo and i am going to make it! it was my first quilt. my message to you is dont fix your mind on 'it is too hard, i am only a beginner' - fix your mind on - i love it, i will do that. through this attitude i have a very little UFO's, i do make mistakes while i learn from them- i assume it will never change.
good luck!
becky, the Netherlands

A 9 patch is one of the most basic blocks, and it is just about the most versatile. It is easy, but can look so awesome when you get the right layout. The Alternating 9 patch would be so easy and look like you are way beyond a beginner. Another 9 patch that I like is the Disappearing 9 patch.

Thank you, Nancy!

To add to my earlier comment, I have just finished and uploaded my 'Summer Table Mat' in the contest section. I went for a very simple pattern that I would very happily do on a full bedsize quilt.

So, Katie, have you made any decisions yet??

Lorchen wrote: I agree with Lorchen. The "Warm Wishes" pattern that I suggested is basically a rail fence block alternating with a feature fabric square.

polokatie wrote:
Hi Katie,

You may like the "Warm Wishes" quilt pattern. It's very simple, but with the right fabric choices and placement it will look very complex. The downloadable pattern is free at http://www.quiltmaker.com/patterns/details.html?idx=5185_. You can see lots of examples of this quilt online.

Also, you can see a photo of the one I made under "My Photos" on my profile--it's the rightmost one on the top row with the pink border.

Enjoy!

I started with a sampler quilt, and learned all sorts of neat skills, some of which I am still perfecting. (That means I still make mistakes after 20 years!) I would look for a class that involves color and contrast, different types of blocks so that you can try all those techniques. If you don't have a good quilt shop or local guild, try http://www.quiltuniversity.com. And above all, have fun!

ccvis,
You've surely accomplished a lot in a short time!!

I am certainly still a beginner so here's what I've done so far. My first top, still not finished, is a nine patch pattern. I was completely new to sewing so getting it right was hard but comparing my first ever nine patches to the more recent ones it's amazing how much better I got. My second quilt, actually the first one finished, was from StrataVarious Quilts: 9 Fabulous Strip Quilts from Fat Quarters, it was the Sweet and Sour Pattern. You can see my quilt on the site, in my photos. It was a great lesson in color and really quite easy. It went together very quickly. I say either the nine patch or a strata quilt is a great choice. Since then I've done curved piecing, half square triangles and 60% angles- all as workshops with the local quilt guild! I certainly think both of my first quilts gave me a good basic skills to improve upon.

My most favorite pieced block of all time is the 9-Patch!! Luv, luv, luv it!!!

Rolling eyes........ Some quilters just have to go where angels fear to tread! A quilt like that monster would take me 10 years and I'd definitely give up somewhere along the way.

Katie, Alex did some great little videos for us about selecting fabrics and colours. I would watch those. If you pick a really cool and attractive colour/pattern combo for your fabrics, then even the humble 9-patch would look stunning. I think it's very important that you enjoy making this quilt for your friends because then you'll also enjoy giving it to them. One of the first quilts I ever made was a 9-patch with alternating blocks in a feature fabric. The friends who got it liked it so much that they re-decorated their bedroom to go with the quilt.



Lorchen