Beginner's Guide to Patchwork Quilting: a list of hub pages to help you start
A list of all my beginning quilter hubs, sprinkled liberally with student quilt photos.
Start making patchwork quilts using some of my easy techniques by visiting the hubs below.
I love teaching people how to quilt!
Begin your first patchwork adventure by visiting some of my patchwork and quilting How-to hubs.
Tell your friends.
Have a 'block' party!
Patchwork and quilting is alive and well
You can be a quilter, too
Let me show you how easy it is to make patchwork quilts.
I have taught many, many people in person throughout Australia. I have taught many people across the world through my books.
My favourite pastime can be yours too.
I love to teach and, best of all...
I love to teach people how to make quilts!
My philosophy as a tutor is:
"You have to have fun or
you have to go home!"
— Jan T Urquhart Baillie
Mary's version of the blue quilt
At the top of the hub
Mary was a beginner at paper foundation piecing when she made this lovely quilt.
You can do it too.
Margaret made this one - when she was still a beginner
1. Gather your fabrics
You need lights, mediums, and darks
First, the fabrics
- You don't need to wash your fabrics before you make ...
Fabrics have sizing which protects them while they are handled, and if you wash that away before you use the fabric, you may have unexpected results. I never wash my patchwork quilting fabrics first, - Recipe for a quilt fabric palette
Can't decide which fabric goes with what to make your first quilt? Let me give you some tips on how to get the palette right for your patchwork quilts. - Choosing fabric for patchwork
How do you pick from the thousands of fabrics that are out there? Isn't it scary when you first go into a patchwork shop? Let Jan T help you get more confident to choose
Catherine made a wonderful quilt
Featuring this fabulous floral print
Catherine bought this beautifil floral fabric and was unsure how to use it.
We simply played around with co-ordinating fabrics and produced a beautiful star block.
The floral was used in a large border to show it off.
Detail of centre
Brenda Gael Smith made this as a beginner - Now she's an art quilter of note!
Brenda took a class with me in Listen With Your Eyes about ten years ago
2. Tools you need
Cutting tools and equipment
Sewing tools and equipment
My favourite patchwork tools
- Best patchwork tools, ever!
Let me tell you about my favourite tools for patchwork quiltmaking. Every cook has a favourite knife, every photographer a favourite camera, quilters are no exception. - What Patchwork Quilters Need in a Sewing Machine
Not sure which one is best? Everyone you ask will tell you a different brand, but I am going to tell you what the essential features are that mean you can make great quilts in the easiest way.
3. The cutting is next
You need to cut straight strips
You must use the tools correctly
Give yourself a gift - to get you started
Buy a fabric pack from Amazon
No more bendy strips
4. Seams perfect
Sewing the patches together
Pressing the seams for success
Perfect quarter inch seams Easy!
- Beginning patchwork: perfect quarter inch seams
This is a lesson on how to achieve a perfect ¼ inch seam with no fuss. In addition, you will learn how to press the Jan T way — for success
5. Ready to make a block
Easy block, Four Patch
Made in no time
Your first (really easy) patchwork block
- Make your first patchwork block
How to make a Four Patch quilt block with Jan T. Step by step, I'll take you through the easy process for making a simple patchwork block: Four Patch
What's a 'stash'
in quilter's terms
A stash is the fabrics you have in your collection.
Believe it or not, mine is not big.
I come from a long line of Scots, so I'm 'ikey'!
When I want to make a quilt, I buy what I need. I do have lots of left-overs, but no big quantities.
Margaret's table runner
Quick quiz
view quiz statistics© 2010 Jan T Urquhart Baillie
