Looking for a pre-cut quilt for a beginner

Hi Jacqueline--The very first quilt I ever did was a pre-cut kit. I bought it from a seller on e-bay. I wish I could remember her name--it was very accurate and went together like a breeze. Just what I needed to get enough confidence to cut my own for the next one. You might check e-bay and see what's out there. Or maybe you could check with your local quilt shop, maybe they'll know some quilting ladies who would take on the project of cutting for you. Good luck! Cutting is one of my favorite things now.

Sherry

Sherry I have checked ebay and there are several there but I too dumb to know which kind to get. Also, I live in a very small town and would have to drive 3 hours to a quilting shop. We only have one grocery store in our town. A few whiskey stores, 2 dollar stores, a florist, 3 funeral homes 5 gas stations, and I think maybe 3 furniture stores. Very small coal mining town.

I appreciate you letting me know this. I asked one ebayer about her quilts and she said they were all small pieces and not good for a newbie.

I doubt that I will ever be able to cut my own, because of my hands but some day I may try. Then I have very poor vision too so that would be a problem I believe. I use to post to this group back years ago, at the time there was a lady that had her house to burn and she lost all her scrap material she had saved and almost everyone on the group sent her one yard of material. I can remember going out to buy that yard of material. Had to drive an hour to get it but I did.

Jacqueline

Jacqueline

and other fun things

Welcome Jacqueline. I hope that, this time, you will be able to make some progress towards making your first quilt. Can't help you with places to find pre-cut quilts, I'm afraid (I presume you have tried all the usual search engines?). I have seen advertisements (I think) that mention accurate laser cut kits. However, I did just want to suggest that, even if the pieces will be cut for you, you choose a fairly simple pattern. . In message , Jacqueline writes

Something else to consider: why not a pre-marked whole cloth quilt? They range from the small and simple to the huge and horrendously complex, so you may well find something you like.

Another consideration would be charm squares, along the lines of my Electric Leftovers quilt in the quilt gallery on my web site, or the quilt my son James did. These were pre-cut 6" squares. Quite a few sites sell sets of charms in various sizes.

Yes, that's a great idea! Buying sets of charm squares and sewing them together. I did see one that was beautiful, and slightly different from other 'simply squares' that I had seen, and that was: just squares, but set on point instead of straight. Maybe, if you find a place for buying the charm packs from, that could be your second quilt >g< I always like to think one quilt ahead!!

(I think a pre-marked wholecloth might be a bit tricky to machine quilt. The ones I have seen are geared towards hand quilting. Other than that it is a lovely idea. Using a variegated thread on the plain quilt is a little different and very pretty.) . In message , Kate Dicey writes

I was also going to suggest a wholecloth quilt. Depending on how good your hands are you could trace small designs onto 6" or 12" blocks, quilt them, and then piece them together.

Charm squares are also a great idea. I am afraid I don't know any good online stores for kits, but I wish you luck!

Rowena , Australian in London

Here's your solution!

They sell pre-cut quilt kits. Now, I haven't tried any of them personally, but this may just be what you are hoping for. They have beginner quilts and all sizes.

My mom made my double-wedding ring quilt from a pre-cut quilt kit. But I don't know if that store is still in business or exactly the name of it. I know it was almost across the street from the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, but that's not exactly useful when locating a quilt shop that may have closed in the 10 years since she finished it, and probably 18 or so years since she bought the kit. The last time I drove by the shop and remember it being there was 15 years ago.

-georg

What is a charm quilt?

I appreciate all the great advice I have received and am thinking about them all. Oh I have had quilts planned for years, just never figured out how to do them or had the time.

Jacqueline

and other fun things

Hearthside Quilts has been selling pre-cut quilt kits for years.

Charm squares are smallish squares (usually around 5" square or so) cut from a bunch of different fabrics, often for the purposes of swapping. I think a lot of quilt stores also sell charm square packs as well. So a charm quilt is one made up out of charm squares. Pretty straightforward, and I think simple quilts can look very effective. I love checking out all the different prints especially in scrappy charm quilts.

I am afraid I can't recommend a good supplier. The only quilt fabric shop I have bought from is

They don't sell kits or charm squares but if you ever want to buy yards or fat quarters, their service is excellent and friendly and they ship promptly. Their range is good and prices reasonable. Not affiliated, just a very happy customer. Good luck with your quilts. Post pictures! :o)

Rowena, Australian in London

The Fat Quarter Shop does some lovely charm packs:

Nice ones here too: site also has some nice beginners kits, but I'm not certain they are pre cut.

I love the patterns for charm squares that the Fat Qtr Shop stocks. They have become very popular over here. I am sure other shops have them too.

Why not start with a cheater printed baby quilt. I still use these. You can add borders and/or embelishments to make it more personally handmade looking and it will give you a chance to find what you physically can do and what part you enjoy, piecing, sandwiching, machine quilting, binding etc. Kay

Quilted Quickies is a shop here in Arizona. (Actually a studio that has patterns and fabrics for sale.) she mostly sells on line and at shows. Jeree specializes in Charm packs and has lots of them. She also has a line of patterns out called Charm School which focus on using charm packs. I am working on charm pack patterns, and there is also a book by someone else I know that will be coming out in the fall using charm packs.

Love those things. Charm packs can be addictive.

Pati, > I love the patterns for charm squares that the Fat Qtr Shop

there are several on e-bay that sell 2 inch charms as well as the 4 inch size. You can bid or buy, you can also select a theme or color range. I had to quit looking as it was rather addictive. good luck Audrey

You do have to be careful though. I bought 4 or 5 inch charms on ebay and I had to toss them all out...really trash fabrics. Another set were fine.

" > there are several on e-bay that sell 2 inch charms as well as the 4 inch

If you decide that you'd like to start with a charm quilt (sewing together, say, 5 inch squares of all different fabric), consider posting a request here with your color and size preference. Most of us have more fabric scraps than we'll ever use and quilters are a generous breed. (Don't post your address here - provide it by email to those of us who offer to send you scraps, IF you're comfortable sharing your address).

Lynn

Audrey wrote: