With one year of "home ec" and encouragement from my grandmother I began by sewing dollclothes/stuffed animals and my own/my husband and my kids clothes. By the time the late 1970s arrived I was starting to quilt, as well. I have never taken a quilting class, I've just read a lot of books, watch quilting shows on TV and was of the belief that practice can make perfect (actually more like... good enough for me not to feel embarrassed by others knowing I created it). Yes, I admit over the years I've had my share of disasters (in all areas of sewing) but still I never gave up on sewing... and I'm so thankful I didn't!