I started back in 1979 the only thing i knew was how to make tops and then tieing them i once made 34 quilts for my DS one year to give as Christmas gifts that year i tell you that really help me out since my son was only 6yrs.old and hubby was out of work.Then i thought if i can make those kind of quilts i should be able to learn how to hand quilt so after many quilts of sandwiching and tieing those quilts i gave it a shot may have not been the prettiest quilt but boy was i so proud of it.So since then i have learn a lot more but no i have never enter a quilt into any fairs or anything but i sure do enjoy going out to the fabric stores and finding pretty colors to start another quilt.My Mom that is now no longer with us she sure try to teach me but guess i thought i didn't have the time to sit still long enough to learn Boy was i wrong.But now i love to sit down and start a quilt top i'm 52 now and wish i had started a whole lot younger.