What pattern did you use for your first-ever quilt? I have some suggestions for new quilters. These are my picks for the Top 5 beginner-friendly quilts.

This video describes my choices.

The race is on

My #1 recommendation is the Jelly Roll Race quilt. Pre-cut fabric strips are a good choice for beginners who may not be comfortable with rotary cutting and matching seams.  For this quilt, you sew all the strips into one long piece, then fold it in half and sew again. Repeat these steps as the quilt gets shorter and wider.

Turn on the charm

Another pre-cut option is a package of charm squares, which are cut 5″. These sets may only have two identical pieces, so your quilt will have a very random layout.If you don’t like the completely scrappy look, some charm packs have a controlled color palette which can be arranged in diagonal rows.

Beginner Friendly Quilt Blocks

Rotary cutting is an essential skill for quilters. The Rail Fence block is a great place to start, and can easily be made from jelly roll strips.

The ever-popular Turning Twenty

Turning Twenty, a pattern by Tricia Cribb, has been popular for over a decade. There are several blocks in the pattern, which calls for 20 fat quarters. Many quilters return to this pattern over and over again because it is a quick finish.

Versatile Nine Patch

The nine patch block is one of my favorites. It can be made in any size, so play with those jelly roll strips and charm squares.

I share lots of options for nine patch blocks and introduce half square triangles in my 9-patch challenge email course.

Have you seen a Dancing Nine Patch? This is a fun improvisational technique that gives your quilt blocks a playful twist. I walk you through this method in these YouTube tutorials. Download the pattern from my shop today!