I had always made my kids clothes until one day my son came home and said "Mom, can I have a pair of pants that say Lee on them?"..go figure...so I decided that it was time for them to wear something besides always homemade clothes...but what would I do...hummm....had seen quilts I loved...so when it was time for me to buy a new sewing machine I went to the LQS and told her I would buy the machine if she would teach me to quilt...boy did I get suckered...I bought the machine...she sold me Quilters Almanac book...I took one class..because I was a working single mom and didn't have time to go to classes...so I taught myself mostly...I do take classes sometimes now that I am no longer working and raising kids...I love it...that was oh about 10 years ago and sew many quilts...each one is a learning lesson....but still love it.