Things to do · Arts and crafts
Make your first patchwork quilt
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
A patchwork quilt is a set of simple steps, cutting, sewing blocks, layering, quilting and binding, that add up to something you will use for years. A six-week beginners' course takes you through every stage, so you finish knowing how the whole thing goes together.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
These are real people who did this, as reported by the outlets named. We opened each one before linking it. None of them is connected with this site.
What it's really like
A first quilt goes in stages. Bristol Folk House's six-week beginners' course covers cutting fabric and sewing it into blocks of different designs, machine and hand applique, then layering, quilting and binding the finished piece. A-B Tech in North Carolina teaches colour and design, cutting with rotary equipment and matching points.
Do not expect to finish a big bed quilt in a short course. A-B Tech says students complete most of a small sample quilt over six sessions. Bristol asks for backing fabric and wadding of about 1.5 m (5 ft) square, needed only in the last two sessions.
Fabric matters more than pattern at first. Bristol asks for cotton or linen, new or secondhand, of similar thickness and not stretchy. It provides the rotary cutter and mat, templates, pins and thread.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Course/format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol Folk House | How to Make a Patchwork Quilt (Beginners): six Tuesday mornings, three hours each | £196, or £176.40 over-65s and £156.80 on benefits |
| A-B Tech Community College, Asheville, North Carolina | Quilting, Beginning: six Wednesday afternoons; supply list given at the first class | $80 |
| North Seattle College Continuing Education | Quilting Basics: colour, a quilt block, piecing, sandwiching layers and binding; fabrics provided, bring a machine | $270, plus a $45 cash supply fee |
| The Quilters' Guild (UK) and The Modern Quilt Guild (US) | Local groups: the Quilters' Guild has 17 regions and a directory of affiliated groups; the MQG has a map of member guilds | See each guild's website |
How to start
- Book a beginners' patchwork course that covers the whole process, from cutting and piecing to layering, quilting and binding.
- Ask what is provided; some courses lend rotary cutters and mats, and some need you to bring a sewing machine.
- Gather cotton fabrics of a similar weight that do not stretch, and keep backing and wadding for the last stage.
Where to go
- The Quilters' Guild: communities, regions and affiliated groups UK
- Bristol Folk House: How to Make a Patchwork Quilt (Beginners) UK
- A-B Tech Community College: Quilting, Beginning (North Carolina) US
- The Modern Quilt Guild: guild directory US
We opened these links on 7 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Projects run over months and stall without a rhythm, so the plan sets milestones you can see.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to make a first quilt?
Beginners' courses run over about six weeks. A-B Tech says students finish most of a small sample quilt in that time.
What do I need to start quilting?
Cotton fabric of a similar weight, fabric scissors, and backing and wadding for the final layers. Bristol Folk House provides the rotary cutter, mat and templates for its course.
Do I need a sewing machine to make a quilt?
Check with the course. North Seattle College asks students to bring a machine in good working order; Bristol Folk House teaches both machine and hand applique, so ask the office whether to bring a machine.
How do I find a quilting group near me?
In the UK, the Quilters' Guild has a directory of affiliated groups and 17 regions. In the US, The Modern Quilt Guild's directory maps its member guilds.
Where this comes from: The Quilters' Guild, Communities & Groups; The Modern Quilt Guild, Guild Directory; Bristol Folk House, How to Make a Patchwork Quilt (Beginners); A-B Tech Community College, Quilting, Beginning; North Seattle College Continuing Education, Quilting Basics. Opened 7 November 2026.
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