I made my first quilt after DD was born in 1972. Yeah -- scissors and cardboard from cereal boxes. I made a few quilts for my children and to give as gifts -- flannel with really poofy poly batting and I tied them. After DS was born I watched some VERY early Eleanor Burns on TV (she was in her attic, I believe). I learned a lot, but I was more interested in making clothes than quilts.
I came back to quilting in 1999 -- and thank goodness for rotary cutters!!!