Greetings from San Diego, CA!

I just read your newsletter asking for experienced quilters' opinions about good projects for beginners. I have only made 4 quilts, so I am very new to quilting.  But, that makes it easy to remember my first project!  It was the Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day Log Cabin pattern. It was such a good beginner quilt. Here's why I think its great:

1. It is very forgiving - you can have a 5/8" difference between the finished blocks and it will still come together just fine.

2. It is quick. The pattern teaches assembly line sewing.

3. Its easily repeatable. Once you have made one, the next one will go together soooo fast. You also now have the understanding you need to choose fabrics that are complementary to the pattern. It uses 3 lights and 3 darks and a center square color (usually red).

4. My first quilt turned out beautiful! The pattern book is so complete and takes you step by step through the process.

5. There are so many different ways to organize the blocks into beautiful patterns. The book shows you a lot of those different ways for the various size quilts. I am sure that many quilters know about this pattern, but I was so impressed with it that I just had to write.  I think it is a pattern that I will continue to make throughout the years.

Sincerely,

Liz Thompson

Editor's note: To find the Log Cabin pattern Liz recommends, go to Eleanor's site: www.quiltinaday.com