I have sewn since I was 4 - my grandmother was a professional seamstress- self taught- and as soon as she could put me in front of the machine I was off and sewing. I made actual wearable clothes at the age of 6. I didn't make my first quilt until I had my first child. I was in a needlepoint shop buying canvases and saw a sampler quilt on the wall. The saleswoman told me I could do that. So I spent $12 on the pattern and went home, and made it out of the fabric left over from sewing. Not all cotton- who knew- and no instructions. And even then, I put in my own touches and reworked things I didn't like from the pattern. But for a first attempt, it turned out great. I handquilted the whole thing- double bed sized.
Now I quilt for the pure enjoyment of it-- and the most important thing-- no need to apologize for the amount of fabric I have. I love the whole process- even those hst's.
Cheryl