I'm new to sewing and need a few good quilting ideas. My step mom sews and loves it, she makes wedding dresses, clothes and quilts well just about anything she can sew. she helps teach me how to do this beautiful trade. but i just need some new ideas of quilt patterns.
2006-12-06 13:27:22 · 7 answers · asked by Whit 1 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
This is my favorite question to answer, because people are always surprised at how many great FREE patterns are out there.
As others have mentioned, Quilters Cache is a wonderful resource. It provides instructions for over 1500 blocks, absolutely free of charge. There are clear, step by step instructions, and at least one picture of a sewn sample block. It also shows an illustration of how the finished quilt might look. The site also has some great reference tools that a lot of people might not find. Although I love the site, it isn't all that easy to navigate. Also, it provides instructions for one block - it doesn't give cutting instructions for complete quilts. Click the drop down that says "Where do you want to go today?" If you want to look at blocks, choose "Quilt Blocks Galore." You'll have to use your back arrow to navigate back from any subsequent pages you go to. Be sure to check out the various lessons (found in that same drop down menu) - there's some great beginner stuff.
As far as complete quilt patterns - I admit I'm addicted to quilt books and magazines. I love looking through them for ideas. Unfortunately, it gets rather expensive. I discovered that most of the magazines, and nearly all of the major fabric makers, have websites with all sorts of free stuff, especially patterns. Some of the patterns are in PDF format, others are just web pages, but the great thing about these patterns is NO ADS. They want you to buy their fabric, and the pattern is all the advertisement they need. It's nice not to have to sort through a bunch of junk to find the good stuff.
If you don't mind searching through a little advertising, be sure to check out the HGTV website. Projects from all of the episodes of Alex Anderson's show, Simply Quilts, are available on that website. There's an amazing resource page, Quilting Basics, that includes projects as well as "fundamentals" like thread selection, tools, curved piecing, color choices, bindings, etc.
Finally, be sure to check out QNN - Quilters News Network. It's an online "tv station" that shows videos 24/7.
2006-12-07 15:45:19 · answer #1 · answered by swbiblio 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know any good quilting websites but I do know of some good books and patterns for beginners. I started quilting about 2 years ago, my first quilt was a turning 20 and it turned out perfect. Find a quilt store near you and ask them for good patterns. The quilt store by my house helped me pick out a pattern and tools that i needed. Many of the people who work there have been quilting for 20 to 30 years. I hope this helped.
2006-12-06 21:40:56 · answer #2 · answered by Aurora S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just put in a web search free quilt patterns, there are tons out there, and you can get quilting books at the library and xerox what ever pages you like. I made secret garden pillows for christmas gifts this year and they are so cute, once i got the hang of it it went fast, and i did prairie points the first time and they look great too.
2006-12-06 22:30:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
And there are also some good online quilters groups (free) that show all kinds of patterns, share ideas, and help each other with problems, etc., etc.:
One is at the hgtv website:
http://boards.hgtv.com/eve/forums
(scroll down to the Quilting and Needlework forum)
And there are probably many more in yahoogroups, and at through googlegroups at least.
Have fun!
Diane B.
2006-12-07 15:04:30 · answer #4 · answered by Diane B. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here are a few quilting sites:
http://blockcentral.com/coloringbook.sht...
http://www.qnm.com
http://quilting.about.com
http://www.quilterscache.com
http://quickquilts.com
http://www.quiltuniversity.com
http://www.quiltalliance.org
http://www.rjrfabrics.com/quilts/quilter...
2006-12-07 10:52:21 · answer #5 · answered by MyThought 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
www.quilterscache.com has gazillions of quilting patterns.
2006-12-06 21:47:49 · answer #6 · answered by freddie1157 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whit Your big news here...
:)! http://www.osoq.com/funstuff/extra/extra02.asp?strName=Whit
2006-12-06 21:42:32 · answer #7 · answered by eki g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋