Hi,
I started sewing doll clothes by hand when I was 8 or 9. By the time I was 12 I made myself clothes. When I was a junior in high school I made my first quilt out of 4 inch blocks from all the clothes I had made for myself before that time. I didn't know anyone else who quilted and it took me years to find out real information. My parents gave me a sewing machine for a high school graduation present. I had been crocheting for years before I took up quilting. I have only taken about 4 formal classes in my life but I now belong to two guilds and have seen at least 100 quilt professionals give presentations etc. I now do handquilting for other people when they are willing to pay me for my time.