Welcome, Susan! No questions are too basic to ask. We were all new to quilting at one time.

Off white fabric for background: I like to use unbleached muslin; it is a soft off-white color, soft in feel, and it is not expensive, found at any good quilt shop. Others use bleached muslin which is white; I also like Moda's Snow and Chanteclair's Vintage White which is a softer white and sometimes hard to find. No - all whites are not alike! Some are grayer, some are blue-tinged, some are bright white and some are a soft white. But most all unbleached muslins are close to each other in shade.

Quilters use quilt books, quilt magazines, purchased patterns, traditional blocks found on the internet, and other blocks not-so-traditional that can be printed off internet web sites.

This quilt I call my $350.00 quilt - NOT! I saw the queen size in a home decor catalog for $350 and loved the soft pinks and faded roses. When I looked at the photo more closely, I saw it was nothing but pinwheel blocks (very easy) with a border of plain unbl. muslin, then a row of Flying Geese blocks. So I made my own copy - and it didn't cost me nearly $350!

Here is a link that might be useful: fantastic web site for blocks and quilt ideas

Susan,
I agree with teresa about the using the unbleached muslin for the off white background because it is cheaper. But I have used the white tone on tone fabric that you can get at quilt stores. As far as patterns, I have purchased several and copied off the internet too. But I have soooo many patterns now I don't know which one I want to do next. So I try to do something different. I started out making log cabin quilts and made about 4 of them. I haven't made a log cabin quilt in 4 years. I have also taken some quilt classes to learn shortcuts and how to get out of my comfort zone.

also...another very good site for using and organizing scraps....

Enjoy!
Gwen

Here is a link that might be useful: Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville.com

It also helps to join a local guild so you can see what others are doing and become a part of a "family" of people doing the same as you.

This GW forum site has posts from all of us - shares blocks, projects and ideas from all over so just watch along and you'll get all sorts of project tips.

Welcome Susan! All questions are welcome.

I love muslin for backgrounds and backings. Remember all muslin is not created equal so don't get the thin types. Get one that has nice body to it so it will hold up better.

I agree with toolgranny about joining a guild. You can learn so much from just talking to the members and seeing their work.

I find patterns everywhere, not just quilt books. I get some applique patterns from coloring books, and geometric patterns from floor tile patterns. You will start looking at the world differently now.

beverly

Welcome, Everyone has offered great ideas which are endless. If you choose a good muslin you still might be wise to wash it as muslin I have uses has a tendency to shrink a bit but it is a great fabric.
A wonderful source for patterns is Quilters Cache. They are free and offer good instructions and examples. I am always on the look out for new ideas and many come from the people on this forum.
Jayne

Hi Susan,
For me, quilt patterns are kind of like recipes. I may use them for ideas but rarely follow them exactly. I don't buy patterns, but I do look at quilts on-line, in magazines and at shows to get ideas. I have graph paper and colored pencils sitting by my favorite chair in the family room and have dozens of quilts sketched out; more than I'll ever be able to make! I find it pretty easy to look at a block and know how to cut it out and put it together; if that's not something you are comfortable with, then using patterns is great. This is supposed to be fun, so do whatever feels good to you!

I've really enjoyed the monthly lotto blocks and the birthday blocks because they force me to try some things I might not have tried on my own.

Like others have mentioned here, I love using unbleached muslin as the background in some quilt blocks. It has that farmhouse look that seems so old-timey and inviting. However, I've make a birthday block recently with a white-on-white background and loved it so now I'll have to try that too! LOL, it never ends!

I don't belong to the local guild although I keep thinking about going. I guess this website is my guild.

Kate

Hope I'm not hijaking your thread Susan - since we are both new, I thought this would be the place to ask this.
Do any of you use the unbleached muslin sold at JoAnns? I was thinking that might be a good use for my 40% off coupon if the quality is good. I find you have to be very selective in what you buy there. I like to support the locally owned quilt shop for most of my fabric, but also like to take advantage of that coupon.
I'm sure you all know this - you can google Joanns coupon & a list of current in store coupons and online promo codes are available for your use.
So, yes or no on Joanns' muslin?

There is one brand that I usually avoid - Roc-Lon? or something like that. Look at all the muslins at Joann's, unroll the bolt to see the quality, weight, tightness of weave, imperfections, etc.

I would keep the entire piece uncut and unwashed until you need some. Then, cut a few yards for your project and wash in warm water, dry and iron smooth with a hot iron. Then you should have no problems with shrinkage in your quilt.

note: I can't talk muslin without remembering the reference to a poster (on another forum) complaining that her "muslim" shrunk in the dryer and the comment that "he probably had a rough time of it being tossed around like that!" LOL!

Thanks teresa -I am going to try to get to Joanns today - I really dislike the store - so it becomes a chore to go there. It may be Roc -Lon - they carry alot of Roc Lon lining - and you are right - its not the same Roc - Lon quality of years ago.
Funny comment - makes you wonder if she / he was serious.

The comment was made by another poster - rather "tongue-in-cheek" - who just cracked up at the misuse spelling of the word "muslin." The poster who misspelled the word was serious and the other person commenting was not serious.

I know what you mean about disliking Joann's. While our store now has some very good employees, they never have enough people cutting fabric and only one person checking people out at the register.

Hey Mago,

A reminder, this is supposed to be a FUN & PLEASANT thing (at least I feel this way). Just my opinion, but if going to a particular store is unpleasant, then pls. don't go there; unpleasant vibes do not make for good & happy hobbies. They can make for unpleasant/negative memories & associations.

I get that savings are at issue here, but speaking personally, to save money buying something which will give me bad reminders is NOT the way to go.

I'm so sorry you don't like your local Joann's! Going there is always a treat for me and I have one only 2 miles from my house so I'm there a lot. Of course, my local quilt shop is even more fun and I wish I could use that quality of fabric in all my projects, but I can't and I'm thrilled to have Joann's. If you get a chance, tell the manager about your experience - they may not be able to add personnel but at least she/he could talk to the employees about being more helpful and pleasant.

Just a note here re: thin muslin. I inadvertantly bought some of that stuff not realizing it til I got home...bought quite a bit, in fact! Sometimes it happens, but don't throw it away....there's a use for it somewhere down the road. I've been using it for quilt patterns that call for a foundation. @:)

Teresa, That gave me my first big LOL of the day!!!!

SharonG/FL