I came across an article on a Gee’s Bend quilter’s exhibit in Knoxville and it just reminded me that easy quilt patterns do not have to equal a boring quilt. They can literally be art!

Black women in the tiny town of Gee’s Bend, Alabama had been making simple quilts from scraps for generations. Now these beautiful works hang in museums. There can be no greater testament of what you can achieve with easy quilt patterns.

So, if you are looking for some inspiration and happen to be in the Knoxville area, a trip to the Knoxville Museum of Art should definitely be on your to-do list. The museum’s new exhibit is called Mary Lee Bendolph: Gee’s Bend Quilts and Beyond.

I made my way to the Gee’s Bend exhibit when it came to Atlanta and was blown away. What these women were able to do with simple quilt patterns was amazing.

They used what they had. They added their personality. The end was art. Did you know that they used corduroy for some of their quilts? Who does that? But because they had corduroy scraps, that is what they used.

After seeing these beautiful quilts up close, the first thing you’ll want to do is dig through your easy quilt patterns and start a new project.

Check out the full article here – http://www.metropulse.com/news/2008/aug/06/around-bend/

Log Cabin

The Log Cabin is perhaps the best known of the easy quilt patterns. First, it is colorful. The pattern can use up to 13 different fabrics in a block. Next, it is easy. If you can sew a straight seam (and even if you can’t) you can still make a beautiful quilt from this block. Plus, it is quick. Using modern strip piecing techniques, you can easily complete the quilt top in a day. Use this pattern and folks will think you have been quilting for years.

Whole Cloth

A whole cloth quilt is just one big piece of fabric the same dimensions as a pieced quilt top. In fact, there are fabrics out there that look like pieced quilt tops. They are beautiful and excellent practice. Please do not think that a whole cloth quilt is not “real.” As long as the quilt has a top, batting and a backing stitched together, it is a quilt. Whole cloth quilts are wonderful ways to practice. They are definitely worth looking into for the beginning quilter.

Four-Patch

You can’t get much simpler than a Four-patch block alternating with a plain square. These simple patterns allow you finish a quilt quickly. This pattern also lends itself to novelty prints.

Denim Rag Quilt

Denim rag quilt patterns are all over the Internet for good reason — they are warm and sturdy. Plus, now you can recycle your old jeans into something useful! For beginning quilters who are scared of actually quilting the quilt sandwich or attaching the binding, this is a great first project. A denim rag quilt is rugged. It is simple.  It is the perfect quilt for picnics and watching fireworks.

Rail Fence

A rail fence is one of the easiest quilts to pull together. It requires only three coordinating fabrics and very minimal cutting. It is also very forgiving if your seam allowances are off.

Can a beginner make a beautiful quilt? Absolutely. You just need to choose a pattern that displays the fabric and not your stitching.

So, go ahead; choose one of the easy quilt patterns listed. You can’t go wrong. Be careful, though. Once your family members see your creation, you might have a quilt thief or two on your hands!