terrrified Quilting newbie

Hi there and welcome!

Start where you like! If you have sewed before, ie clothing I believe
quilting will be a snap, changing from 5/8" seam alllowance to 1/4" is hard
to accept but that's the way its done.....I admire you for not being afraid
to try SNW....but I think you need to start with say a trip around the world
baby quilt, just to work out the bugs of the machine, how to use the cutter
safely and accurately, find your 1/4" seam allowance(the most critical thing
in piecing other than acurate cutting)....these will insure your SNW project
will go much smoother.
My beginning quilting class starts with a simple nine patch called shoo
fly, which is made into a mini quilt and then transformed into a pilllow by
some or more blocks are made that become a table runner, or sofa quilt....I
think you need the practice especially if you have not used your machine a
lot and need to learn how to use the rotary cutter both as important as any
aspect of quilting.
The biggest obstacles in beginning quilting classes a operating the
machine, the rotary cutter, the cutting board(almost everyone starts too
small, buy minimum of 17x 24, full width of fabric will fit folded
IMPORTANT! and a 6 x 24 ruler preferably Omnigrid all others can be
difficult to see on certain fabrics) , and marking a good 1/4" mark on your
machine so that you have a consistent 1/4" seam allowance.
Otherwise jump in anywhere, put perfection aside for first couple of blocks
and just have fun with the fabric and the whole quilty idea. You will find
your own level of perfection/comfort.
By the way, my first quilt was a queen sized Trip Aound the World cut with
scissors! DON'T use a scissors, Yikes! it was way harder than it needed to
be.
Great first books are any of the Quilt in a Day by Eleanor Burns, Quilts for
people who don't have time to quilt by Marti Mitchell, and Porter and Fons
Complete book of quilting(really probably would not need to buy another book
ever) .....all are clear concise, with good illustrations.
Again, Welcome and ask any thing you want even if you think you will sound
stupid we have all been there!

--
Mauvice in Central WI USA