Skip to main content

Browse our latest recommendations

Billionbooks Logo
BILLIONBOOKSMore Than A Bookstore

8 Best Quilting Books for Beginners (2026)

Start quilting with these beginner-friendly books. Learn piecing, patchwork, and binding techniques with step-by-step guides trusted by new quilters.

Starting your quilting journey can feel overwhelming—there's fabric selection, rotary cutting, seam allowances, pressing techniques, and that intimidating first binding to navigate. The books we've selected break these skills into manageable steps with clear photography and projects designed to build your confidence. Whether you learn best through detailed diagrams, prefer a chatty encouraging voice, or want to dive straight into simple projects, there's an approach here that fits your learning style.

Books & Affiliate Links

#TitleBest ForPriceISBN/ASINAmazon Link
1First-Time Quiltmaking by Landauer PublishingAbsolute beginners$151947163078Buy on Amazon
2The Beginner's Guide to Quilting by Elizabeth BettsComprehensive learning$201446302547Buy on Amazon
3Quilting 101: Master Basic Skills and TechniquesWorkshop-style learning$181589235738Buy on Amazon
4Charm School by Vanessa GoertzenUsing precut fabrics$221617452718Buy on Amazon
5Quilting Modern by Jacquie Gering and Katie PedersenContemporary aesthetics$251596683872Buy on Amazon
6Quilts for Beginners by Felicity WalkerComplete photo guidance$151494764768Buy on Amazon
7All Things Quilting with Alex AndersonLong-term reference$251607058561Buy on Amazon
8Rag Quilting Made Easy by Teresa BurnsForgiving technique$16B0991C9M23Buy on Amazon

Book Details

1. First-Time Quiltmaking by Landauer Publishing

This updated edition earns its place at the top of beginner lists for good reason—it assumes you know nothing and teaches everything. Each step includes multiple photographs showing exactly what your fabric should look like, and the six starter projects progress from simple to slightly more challenging. Quilting teachers consistently recommend this as homework before students' first class because the foundational skills are taught so clearly.

2. The Beginner's Guide to Quilting by Elizabeth Betts

Elizabeth Betts packs an impressive range of techniques into this beginner-focused guide, covering not just piecing basics but also hand quilting, machine quilting, and even some appliqué. The 12 projects grow in complexity, and the technique sections serve as a reference you'll return to as you advance. It's a book that grows with you rather than something you'll outgrow in six months.

3. Quilting 101: Master Basic Skills and Techniques

Published by Creative Publishing International, this book reads like a well-organized quilting workshop in print form. It methodically covers tools, fabric preparation, cutting, piecing, and finishing, with callout boxes highlighting common mistakes beginners make. The workshop format means you're guided through each skill with practice exercises before tackling complete projects.

4. Charm School by Vanessa Goertzen

Vanessa Goertzen's approach solves one of beginners' biggest headaches: fabric selection and cutting. By using precut 5-inch charm squares (available at any quilt shop), you skip the most intimidating steps and jump straight into sewing. The 18 quilt patterns teach piecing skills progressively, and the coordinated precuts guarantee your colors work together. It's quilting with training wheels—in the best possible way.

5. Quilting Modern by Jacquie Gering and Katie Pedersen

If traditional quilt patterns don't excite you, this book proves modern quilting is accessible to beginners. Gering and Pedersen's designs emphasize bold colors, negative space, and improvisational techniques that are actually more forgiving than precise traditional piecing. You'll learn to make intentional design choices while building fundamental skills, creating quilts that look distinctly contemporary.

6. Quilts for Beginners by Felicity Walker

Felicity Walker's budget-friendly guide uses extensive photography to walk you through every single step—and we mean every step. Where other books might show three photos for a technique, Walker shows eight. It's particularly helpful for visual learners who need to see exactly what "press seams to the dark side" looks like in practice. The straightforward projects prioritize learning over complexity.

7. All Things Quilting with Alex Anderson

Alex Anderson wrote this as the one quilting book you'd keep if you could only keep one. It covers beginner basics thoroughly, but also includes intermediate and advanced techniques you'll grow into. The organization makes it easy to find specific information later, functioning as both a learning guide and a reference book. It's an investment in your entire quilting journey, not just your first project.

8. Rag Quilting Made Easy by Teresa Burns

Rag quilting offers the most forgiving entry point into quilting because imperfect seams are hidden, no binding is required, and the exposed seams create a cozy, textured finish that looks intentionally rustic. Teresa Burns's guide teaches this beginner-friendly technique with projects that come together quickly, giving you the satisfaction of a completed quilt without the precision pressure. It's a confidence-builder that hooks many people on quilting.

Share this article

Back to All Articles