For those still learning the craft of quilting, it is best to start with small projects that are easier and faster to complete. Some simple items perfect for beginner quilting are pillow covers, table runners, or wall hangings.

Most quilters choose 100% cotton for their quilting fabric because it is easier to quilt, strong, and maintains its shape and color. For your batting, it will be easier to use a thin material. Batting is the fabric of layer in between the top and back layers of a quilt. You can use cotton, silk, wool, polyester or blends. When stitching the seams, always keep it ¼ inch and do your best to make them even all around.

When picking out the color of your quilt, consider who will be using the quilted item and the mood you want to set when that person uses the quilt. Warm colors such as red, yellow and orange create a feeling of alertness while cool colors like blue and earth tones are soothing and calming. Use cool colors for bedroom quilts and brighter or warmer colors for quilted wall hangings in areas where you receive guests. One important tip in choosing your quilting fabric is to make sure that it is colorfast.

Comprehensive Business Guide Shows You How To Start, Run, And Market A Successful Quilt

Once you have a design in mind and have your fabrics ready, it is time to cut them. A helpful tool for beginner quilting is a quilting template, which is a material usually made of cardboard or paper pre-cut in a particular shape. These templates allow quick cutting of several pieces for easy quilting. They are ideal if you want to cut fabrics in other shapes besides the regular rectangle or square. Using easy blocks for beginner quilting is great to get familiar with the basic ideas and techniques of quilting including how colors work together. When cutting, make sure to use sharp scissors for easy cutting and to avoid ruining the edges of the fabric.

Another thing to consider in beginner quilting is whether you will choose hand quilting or machine quilting. Quilting by hand will of course take more time than using a quilting machine or a sewing machine. Hand quilters, however, argue that hand-quilted items are more special because of the time and attention given to them. In this regard, the choice is up to the person. Whichever you choose, the important thing is to enjoy what you are doing.

Certainly, there are other considerations in quilting especially for beginner quilting. There are many resources available out there and many expert quilters are more than willing to give you more tips and advice. Learn as much as you can about quilting and in no time, you will be quilting just like any pro.

Quilting Resources For Beginners:

Equilters

Mcall's Quilting Always A great Place to Start

Some Great Examples of Quilts:

Quilt Block Samples

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I Spy A Snowball Block

Kid Friendly Snowball Blocks

It's March, and at About's Quilting Forum that means it's time for a brand new Block Lotto block. If you're not familiar with the Block Lotto, it's a popular activity that takes place every month in About's General Quilting Forum. Quick piecing makes these kid-friendly Snowball blocks go together quickly and easily, and the I Spy theme for this month is a favorite for both baby quilts and quilts for older children. For complete instructions to make a quilt of your own, visit the quilt section at About.com.

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Quilt artist Colleen Wise shares her unique discharge technique that magically casts shadows on quilts for a remarkable appearance. Then Alex Anderson explains her method for organizing her components prior to quilting. This video is not for beginners, but, it is a good tutorial and something to look forward to. This quilt is beautiful, and gives way to thoughts on many other ways to incorporate the discharge technique.

Click here to see how this quilt is made!

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ERIN WILSON, is a designer and quiltmaker, and lives and works in Brooklyn, creating one-of-a-kind quilts and home accessories. Erin has been a dancer for 22 years, and translates her intuition for movement and musicality into textile art constructed with the traditional techniques of quiltmaking. Erin's work is available online, at a few special shops in New York City and Boulder, and at high-end craft and design shows including the annual Brooklyn Designs. Erin also does extensive custom sewing work for the interior design industry.

Each of Erin's quilts begin in the dyeing room, where Erin hand-dyes all of her fabrics using fiber-reactive dyes, about 50 buckets, and a well-used washing machine. Using this broad color palette of cottons, the work continues with an often spontaneous design process that happens as the piece is assembled with a constant rhythm of cutting and sewing until forms emerge. Erin assembles her quilts with a sewing machine and adds the final touches by hand.

Erin's learned to sew from her mother, at home in Indiana. If sewing was an intense hobby, then dancing was an extreme passion and brought her to The Juilliard School, where she received a BFA in 1998. Upon graduation, Erin worked as a modern dancer and began taking commissions as a quilt artist. She is a member of the Manhattan Quilters Guild.

For more information on Erin's work, or to contact her about a quilt, visit her site: Erin Wilson Quilts

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