| Did you know that more than 6 million beginner quilters | | | | Quilt Pattern 1: A simple nine-patch quilt block can be |
| decided to learn how to quilt during the last 3 years? | | | | used as an example of how different a block can look |
| That brings the total number of quilters to about 27 | | | | just by changing the placement of colors within the |
| million – that’s just in the United States. | | | | nine parts of one block. Using only two colors of fabric |
| And most of those quilters, just like me, are presented | | | | in alternating squares creates a checkerboard design. |
| with limited drawing and painting abilities. | | | | Quilt Pattern 2: With the same nine-patch of two |
| Quilting is a fantastic way to create a work of art with | | | | colors of fabric, using only square patches in each |
| fabric. It is well understood that the | | | | block, you can create a quilt pattern that looks like a |
| “painting” will not be perfect, and that | | | | big X. |
| colors and patterns are limited to what’s | | | | Quilt Patterns 3 and 4: Want more of a challenge? |
| available in a quilt shop or hand dyed fabric. | | | | Take some of the square patches in the blocks and |
| Here Are My Top Tips to Help You Get Started in | | | | divide them in half from corner to corner (commonly |
| Making Quilts for You, Your Children & Grandchildren: | | | | called half-square triangles in the quilting world), and |
| - Combine blocks of fabric to create your quilts. By | | | | create an Ohio Star or Pinwheel quilt block. |
| changing the shapes of the pieces within a block such | | | | Quilt Patterns 5,6,7,and 8: Change the placement of |
| as substituting triangles for squares and switching light | | | | your fabrics once again, and your block turns into a |
| fabric for dark fabric you can create a whole new quilt | | | | May Basket Quilt Block, a Maple Leaf Quilt Block, a |
| design. And, you will still keep the construction of your | | | | Bow Tie block, or even a series of diamonds, called |
| quilt the same. | | | | Slanted Diamonds. |
| - Simple is the name of the game for many quilters. As | | | | Increase the number of colors in your quilt, and your |
| a beginning quilter, focus on learning and practicing | | | | design changes once again. And, by using only two |
| basic quilt making techniques that you will need to | | | | basic shapes (squares and triangles) you can create all |
| develop your craft. | | | | of your design changes. |
| - Use one or two shapes for all of the quilt patches. | | | | Quilts are amazing works of art that have survived |
| This makes it easy to sew a quilt together. Squares | | | | the test of time, and will continue to do so as long as |
| and triangles offer many advantages in terms of | | | | there is fabric and quilting imagination. |
| simplicity. | | | | Happy Quilting! |
| - Remember, interesting variations in quilt blocks are | | | | This article courtesy of |
| achieved just by where you place the fabrics in your | | | | You may freely reprint this article on your website or in |
| quilt block, in addition to how each patch is divided in | | | | your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the |
| the quilt block pattern. | | | | author name and URL remain intact. |
| 8 Easy Quilting Patterns to Get You Started | | | | |