Hey, I hope you don’t mind another guy in your ranks. I’m Steve (really!), a soon to be fifty-one year old who is just taking up quilting. My other interests are cooking and baking anything (except croissants), composing, playing classical guitar, lutes and the vihuela, reading, book collecting, writing both short stories and poetry, and of course the best hobby of all, friends and family. I pick up new things every few years to keep my mind going and quilting is the last to jump on board, though I’ve truly been interested since I was given my first quilt at 2 ½ years old.
I just got my new Janome and am learning to sew as I go. It seems fairly straight forward, but a lot is sinking in through trial and error. The first quilt top is nearing completion and already the ideas are forming for the next. What I’d like to do is add a few new things each time as I do the baby quilts so that by the time I get to the bigger projects I’ll be somewhat prepared. One funny sideline is I realized this morning that all the baby and smaller quilts are for boys. I had hoped to do something for a little girl’s room, but that will have to be a little larger since my niece is nearly as tall as I am!
Leslee (from the group) is a work buddy who has been kind enough to guide me along the way. She’s an ever-patient soul who seems most comfortable behind a needle and thread. Her ability to teach is nothing short of remarkable since we mostly just talk about the process and problems. Between her and my mother I’ve got instructions and inspiration a plenty. My grandmother on my father’s side was an expert seamstress, though my mom’s mother managed a needle well too.
I’ll probably be asking a lot of questions. The more the merrier I always figure and that includes opinions. If quilting is half as fun as it’s been already, I’ve a new hobby for life. Glad to have found the group (thanks Leslee).