The Worst Patterns for Beginning Quilters

How did you first catch the quilting bug? Was it a beautiful quilt in a magazine that caught your eye? Did you watch your grandmother quilt when you visited her over Thanksgiving as a child? Maybe you attended a museum exhibit and knew right then that you wanted to make something as gorgeous as what was hanging on those walls.

In any case, you probably took up the art with excitement. Then maybe you unintentionally made the mistake of choosing the wrong pattern as a first project. Your beautiful masterpiece ends up unfinished, buried in a closet.

This article will outline three common quilt patterns that will kill or at the very least dampen the beginning quilter's love of the art.

1. Wedding Ring
The Wedding Ring pattern is responsible for more frustration of beginning quilters than any other. It starts innocent enough. There is a family or friend's wedding coming up. What better way to celebrate this occasion than to give the couple a Wedding Ring quilt? It would be symbolic. You can sew a straight line. How hard could it be?

Just say no. This pattern requires curves and templates. By the time you cut out all the pieces you will wonder why you thought it was a good idea. Believe me, it will wind up as an unfinished project. You probably will go back to sewing clothes, as a skirt is a whole lot easier.

Admire Wedding Ring quilts. Until you have worked with templates, though, admire them for afar. If you want to give the happy couple a quilt from the Wedding Ring pattern, make it a wall hanging.

Also consider making a Log Cabin quilt. It has symbolism, but is a whole lot more manageable for a beginning quilter.

2. Grandmother's Flower Garden
I actually own a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. I love it. I take it out every so often. I trace my finger along the stitching. Then I smile and put it back in my linen closet, grateful that I can own a treasure without having to stitch it.

There is no getting around that you will be sewing hexagons for days with this pattern. Beginning quilters tend to underestimate the time it takes to piece a quilt top. For your first quilt, this would take too long to finish and keep that love of quilting alive.

If you love flowers, choose a pattern will show off floral fabric. If you are absolutely in love with this pattern, however, do a miniature quilt first. After that, you can always upgrade to a throw size.

3. Radiant Star
Oh, now one look at a beautiful Radiant Star quilt can convert anyone into a quilter inside fifteen seconds. Just do not try to make one. This quilt is all points. Plus, it takes a long time to complete. Anything that makes you catch your breath when you see it is not for beginners. The Radiant Star quilt is one of those.

Quilting can be an enjoyable hobby if you stay away from the pitfalls of certain patterns. The Wedding Ring, Grandmother's Flower Garden and Radiant Star patterns are all lovely and all deadly.

The fact is that beginners of any field do not know what they do not know. In the case of quilting, this ignorance can lead to choosing a difficult pattern, which can lead to frustration. Frustration, unfortunately, may lead to quitting quilting before even haven gotten started.

For your first few quilts, choose a pattern that lends itself to big blocks, straight lines and strip-piecing techniques. The gorgeous patterns will always be there. If you quit before you have the skills and the patience to tackle them, though, you will never get there.