When we were little, our grandma taught us how to sew. The moment we’d caught on and learned how to sew a nice, straight line and create a neat, even seam, she guided us immediately through the process of advancing those basic sewing skills we’d learned into quilting! We’re pleased and proud to report that we’ve been quilting for many years now and have mastered several advanced techniques in order to create some really beautiful, intricate looking pieces, but every once in a while we like to go back to the basics and make sure we can still do the simple stuff. Now that we have crafty kids of our own, we’re very happy that we kept brushed up on the easiest steps and collected beginner patterns long after we’d advanced past that point, because it means we’re well equipped for teaching our kids how to quilt all these years later!
Just in case you or your little ones are as interested in putting your basic sewing skills to use in a simple quilting project as we were once upon a time or as our own kids are now, if not more, here are 15 of the best simple beginner quilting projects that we’ve discovered over the years.
1. Fast four-patch quilt
The beauty of a simple squared patched quilt is that your colour scheme and pattern organization is much simpler to remember than it is if you add more squares to the repeat or more combinations within each square. That’s why we love this simple four-patch quilt outlined step by step on
2. Basic t-shirt quilt
Are you actually a huge fan of upcycling to the point that you’ll take just about any opportunity you can find to turn basically any craft you try into a chance for repurposing old things? In that case, we’re all but convinced that you’ll get a huge kick out of the way
3. Big and little squares quilt
Are you very into the idea of making a square based quilt because you’ve always loved that sort of grid shaped finished product, particularly if you’re working with adorably patterned fabrics that you really like, but you’re just not sure you’re ready for things like repeating patterns and four-square combinations? Well, that doesn’t have to mean that you’re limited to solely rows of plain, equally sized squares! Check out how
4. Beginner’s arrowhead pattern
Are you actually browsing through the options and thinking about how you might be feeling ready to tackle a different shape, rather than just working with equally sides squares this time around? Well, we think you’ll be pleased to know that there are actually plenty of ways for you to make fantastic quilts from alternative shapes without taking on a project that’s too challenging for a beginner. We’d suggest taking a look at this beautiful patterned beginner’s arrowhead design on a white background, as outlined on
5. Make-in-a-day beginner quilt topper
Are you feeling pretty confident in your ability to piece together a combination of squares and rectangles in order to make a stunningly coloured and patterned quilt design, but you’re not actually quite so sure about how well you’ll do trying to tackle the tasks of filling and edging the pattern once you’ve sewn it? Then maybe you should try to make a quilt cover instead!
6. Pretty garden lap quilt
Perhaps you’ve been scrolling through our list and thinking about how you actually do really like the idea of making a square grid style quilt, but you might prefer to create one that looks more detailed by using smaller squares, even though that seems intimidating given the size of the average full quilt’s measurements? Well, no one ever said that you can’t make a quilt of a different size, right? We’d suggest checking out how
7. Simple stripes quilt
Did we actually really catch your attention when we started talking about ways to make quilts that involve some rectangular shaped stripes instead of just a grid of squares, but you think you might actually enjoy the trips so much that you want to make yours happen entirely in patterned stripes? In that case, we think perhaps we’ve found the perfect tutorial for you thanks to
8. Jaded chain baby quilt
Just in case you actually are feeling up to a slight challenge despite being a beginner, here’s a fantastic tutorial that will help you learn a standard quilted shape or pattern that you’ll see used in my different colour schemes and combinations throughout your experiences in quilting!
9. Beginner log cabin flower
Has all this talk about shapes, patterns, and designs really got you thinking about how the sky is the limit when it comes to quilting and what kinds of images you can make, even when you’r rather new to the art? Well, if you’ve ever loved flowers and floral designed pieces in your home, we have a feeling you’ll get along very well indeed with this “log cabin flower” pattern outlined in nice, clear steps for beginners just like you or your kids on
10. How to bind a quilt
Did we perhaps really catch your attention when we started talking about binding the outside of your quilt because that’s the part of the project that you’ve had the most trouble with so far? Well, don’t feel bad; this is a slightly difficult task that many beginners struggle with, since you’re working on such a small space. In order to help you work on it and improve, though, here’s a fantastic resource from
11. Ombre triangles quilt
Were you eyeing up the beginner’s arrowhead design for quite a while but you can’t help thinking that you might prefer to piece shapes together so that they sit right up against each other, rather than floating independently on a white background? Then we think you might get along a little better with something like this ombre triangles quilt outlined step by step on
12. Basic machine quilting stitches
When you were little, was the first quilt you were ever given actually the kind where the beauty and detail was added in the form of embroidery stitching, rather than in actual patchwork, so that’s think kind of quilting you’ve been hoping to learn? In that case, we definitely think you should take a look at how
13. Simple Lazy quilt
Did this idea by any chance catch your attention because it’s called a “lazy quilt”? We only ask because that’s precisely how it caught ours as well! We loved this design because the concept of piecing together a hodgepodge of themed fabrics and scrap pieces cut in all different shapes and sizes means that you can work with what you’ve already got in your sewing room rather than buying all new supplies, but still make something completely beautiful! Get the full details for making your own lazy quilt happen on
14. Ruffled rag quilt
So long as you’re sticking to standard cubed or square patterned quilting, have you actually been feeling a little bit more confident in your skills lately? Then we can definitely understand the urge to step your game up a little by adding some kind of new element or detail, but we know that you’ll still likely want to keep things quite easy, since you are only just starting out. That’s why we couldn’t want to show you this fantastic ruffled edges quilt by
15. Full horizontal chevrons quilt
Has part of the appeal of quilting for you always been the way that you can piece a large image together from all kinds of smaller shapes in order to create something beautiful no matter what angle or distance you’re looking at it from? Then we have every confidence that you’re going to adore this quilted chevron stripes idea outlined step by step on
Do you know another fellow DIY enthusiast or avid crafter who’s always yearning to learn new things and has expressed an interested in quilting, but who you think could use a little bit of inspiration or guidance? Share this post with them to help get them motivated and started!
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