subject: Beginner Quilting Quilt Block Patterns When You Are Learning To Quilt [print this page] Quilt blocks can be simple or complex, traditional or modern, but they all have one thing in common: they are your stepping stones on the path of beginner quilting leading you to that heirloom quilt that you want to make.
Quilt block patterns are generally subdivided depending on the number of patches used to make the quilt blocks: four patch, five patch and nine patch are undoubtedly the most common quilt block patterns. The point to note is that a nine patch block is not necessarily more complicated than a four patch block. It is possible to have a nine patch block made using nine plain squares sewn together in three rows of three which is common in beginner quilting projects, while a four patch block could have several triangles of different sizes within each of the four patches. This would obviously be a far more complex block to sew.
Once you have chosen your quilt design, made the blocks and sewn them together you still have several design choices to make. Traditional quilts were hand quilted simply because they predated sewing machines, but even after sewing machines became widely available quilts were still generally hand quilted for many years
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Machine quilting has become widely used over the last few decades as there has been a renewed interest in crafting and quilts have been made for pleasure as a hobby rather than as a necessity to keep warm using recycled clothing fabrics. While a hand quilted project could take months and even years to complete, a machine quilted project can be completed in a matter of days. This obviously makes it far more attractive to todays quilter who has so many other demands on her time.
Another major factor that has had a great impact on which method of quilting to use is the explosion of sewing machines either designed specifically for quilting or with attachments that are designed to help quilters. Buying a longarm quilting machine is an expensive step that only a serious quilter would consider, but buying a sewing machine that gave you more room to the right of the needle to accommodate a large quilting project and that comes with a walking foot quilt attachment is within the financial reach of most amateur quilters.
Whatever choices you make in the design of your quilt or in the method of finishing the quilt that you use, theres no denying that quilting is a satisfying and rewarding hobby to choose.
