I met a very nice lady at Hancock fabrics today, when I asked her if she quilted she said " no, but I quilt at". What does that meen? I have been confused ever since, and I can't stop wondering what she means by this.
By the way I was very disappointed in Hancock fabric by 1604 and 35 in SAn Antonio. They had very limited selection of fabric unless you wanted fleece and then there was a lot. At least I have a lot of places to buy fabric from around here.

Go to Joann's....it is huge!

she probably means she pieces- but does not *quilt* them.
or she may make quilted items- like placemats, table runners- totes...but not actual bed quilts.

I love the Hancock Fabrics in Anderson, SC. Their wall of absolute cotton is amazing! hmmm.. not sure what she meant by that phase - maybe she means she tries but doesn't consider herself good enough to refer to herself as a quilter?

Maybe she isn't very confindent in her quilting abiity. Just a thought...

Maybe she tries AT quilting but as mentioned before, maybe she is not very confident in her abilities.

I love the Hancock's store in our area, but I wish the powers that be would provide more quilting fabric.

that's what it would mean around here

Around here, too. Like if someone asks you if you play the piano, you could say, "No, but I play AT it," to indicate that you just dink around with it. :)

My guess, too.

Ditto ^^^

That's the lingo I grew up with, and what it meant. Very commonly used.

strange...never heard that before..

she meant she "dabbles at it".
just something she picks at

Lol - she must be one of them there hillbillys from these here parts!

No, I am not making fun of her. Just sounds like something folks around here would say.

She probably meant just that , she tries to but is not very good at it.

Okay, here's your answer, I quilt at, I sew at, I cross stitch at. I always start something, but never finish it. Just like Kyra is the "Closer", I am the "Starter" as a matter of fact that's what I'm known as in my office. I have it all, you name it, I bought it. I am still buying but never finishing it. The only thing I finshed was a quilt I started for my grandson and that was a year ago and if he had not bugged me until if felt like beating him to death, I would not have finished it. I am glad his sister is only 10 months and can't talk, maybe I will finish hers before she is aware that I started it. My count is about 6 different quilts in different stages and no finish in sight. Oh and my daughter asked me to please stop spending her inheritance on fabric. Says she going to have the biggest garage sale in history when I'm gone.

I bet the lady does better work than she is giving herself credit for. We are our own worst critic.

Thanks everyone, that makes sense that she works at something. -

I'm in this group too! Recently DH & I were at a shop in the mountains & the shopkeeper was painting a gourd. She said,"I'm an artist. Are you?" My reply was, "No, but I like to dabble at it occasionally"
When we got in the car DH said,"Why'd you tell her No? Your paintings are 1000 times better than hers"
So I'm an "At-er" too
:lol:

Around here, too. Like if someone asks you if you play the piano, you could say, "No, but I play AT it," to indicate that you just dink around with it. :)[/quote]

An expression I grew up with in Wisconsin.

Just made a trip to our Hancocks last week. They have cut back on quilt fabric. It is not on the wall now but on floor racks. The wall display made it so easy to step back and look at colors.

To me, it means she wants to turn out those beautiful original design masterpieces, but has not mastered the skills necessary to do what she sees in her mind as the best one ever. That being said, she pieces and maybe even quilts as much as possible. I understand that statement all too well.

I think she abreavated meaning she quilts all the time

I know when I take photos, I am trying to take good photos> I would say I try "At Photography" not saying that I am a photographer. I think I could say the same for my quilting come to think of it.

IT MEANS SHE TRIES BUT IS NOT VERY GOOD AT IT.

Our Hancock is the same way...Tons of fleece, year-round, fabric that would only be appropriate for a belly dancer costume. Their cotton, while a reasonable selection, has routinely disappointed me in quality. I only shop for sale patterns or notions, and then half the time they are out of what I want...And I go back there why??? I shop online...

I suspect that what she means is that her quilting is not 'perfect' I use a similar expression when asked if I play the piano; my response is usually, "no, I play with the piano." Both my mom and my daughter really play the piano, I just noodle around with it.

My intrepretation is that she feels she's not very good at quilting. Which I doubt.

I have heard phrases similar to that before. You asked her if she was a quilter and she said no, she quilts 'at it'. She was being very modest...she does not consider herself a quilter for whatever reason...maybe she does not feel she does a good job at it, maybe she does not spend that much time at it, maybe she is just learning, maybe she is implying that she does not put herself in the league of you women who are so very talented.

I have used that phrase before...for instance...when I know I don't do a good job at something or I am just kind of trying things out.

Been there, done that.

I've got a baby quilt in the works for a little lady born Sept. 25 which I'm now calling her Christmas present. Another baby girl on the way is supposed to be born in Jan. ----------so all's good. I've got the pieces cut and I've got time. THEN I GOT THE INVITE TO HER SHOWER--in two weeks. I'm chairing a dinner at church and can't get out of that anyway, so I have to miss the shower. I'm trying to decide if I want to hold out until Jan. for the quilt.

And then at least two for my own new granddaughter. Which will be Christmas, too.

It means having to many projects going at the same time but never finishing any of them.

I think she just meant she's not a very accomplished quilter. I've heard people use that same phrase here, as a joking way to deprecate their work.

I think some folks say that when they don't feel like they are very good at something, I have heard a lot of old timers refer to different things in that way.

maybe you should go back and ask her.

Ditto!

I think it's a play on the phrase 'I make a stab at it'.

My take on her statement means that she quilts but does not think her quilting would measure up to others' standards, so she denigrates her quilting so no one will make her feel bad with their comments about her long stitches, knots showing, etc.?

ROTFLOL, when I read the original post my first thought was "Why didn't you ask her to elaborate or clarify?" Then my husband pointed out that not everybody has worked 12 years in psychiarty and uses the same, direct techniques as I do! Was he implying I am nosey?

dont think he was but if I dont understand something no matter how stupid I sound I am going to ask

Maybe she dabbles at quilting.

This to me means, she is working at trying to quilt.