The first steps.

The first step of making a quilt is deciding that you want to make one. Now, I'm not opposed to making a table runner or something small as your first project, but this is where I think it's important to evaluate your personal interests and goals in quilting. While I have at this point made oodles of table runners, I don't really like making table runners. Why, you ask? Don't I like tables to be pretty and no longer naked? Of course. Except that my table is about 4' square and covered in junk at all times. Where would the runner go? Anyway, I like making them as gifts because most people have real tables that they eat on. But for myself personally I just really like quilts, the big fabric monsters you can curl up under on your couch or bed.

On the flip side, I know many quilters who just like to make smaller projects like table runners and wall-hangings because they don't need a bunch of big quilts laying around. So, you decide according to your tastes. I will tell you in quilting that there isn't a whole lot of right and wrong, just your taste and other people's. So don't be scared of the quilt police: instead, just tell them they're wrong, see how they like it.

So, let us pick a pattern. Here are some guidelines for the beginner:

1. Don't pick something that consists entirely of triangles or any triangle relatives (like diamonds). The reason will become clear when I show you how fabric behaves.

2. Don't pick something with itty bitty pieces. No real reason except that usually when someone starts quilting accuracy is a little bit more loosey goosey than it is once you get your feet wet. If you really want to do itty bitty pieces, that's fine, but you might have to rip more. But hey, everyone has to learn to rip at some point.

3. A classic beginner project is a sampler quilt. In case you're just raising your eyebrows at that, it just means making several different block patterns and putting them together, rather than a bunch of one block pattern.

4. If you find something that you absolutely love, don't obey any of the above rules. Just dive in. You like curves? Well, everyone who's ever made a quilt with curves sews their first curve sometimes, so you go ahead. The real key to quilting is just like anything else, with practice you will improve, and if you choose to start practicing with something hard, you may face more speed bumps along the way, but that's half the fun, right?

So, go to your local quilt shop or hop online and start perusing. It is nice to look at the patterns or books in the flesh sometimes because then you can see what kind of yardage you need, if it's fat-quarter friendly, whether you can make different sizes, etc...But as with everything in quilting, do what works for you and your budget. Pick your pattern and Tuesday I'll start with the basics of fabric picking (all of which you can throw out the window if you so choose ;).

Until then, happy quilting!