I am one of the quilters that started in 1976. And you are right, no fancy tools. We cut our templates from stiff cardboard and long strips were torn. I think I was born wanting to quilt. When I was a child all the covers were quilts. We would visit relatives and I would spend time "playing" with their quilts. My mother wasn't interested in making quilts. In 1976 my boss anounced all the "girls" under her would be taking a quilting class, she didn't want to go if she didn't know anyone in class. Out of 8 gals I was the only one it really took with. All finished the first quilt and that was it for them, not me. Before the first was finished I was planning the next one. Hello Jean, was I the one to teach you to quilt?? Mabel