I started sewing at 7 or 8 making clothes for my doll. Learned to use a sewing machine in home economics in junior high school. My mother let me try her featherweight after I learned the basics in school. I made my summer clothes the year between the 7th and 8th grade. I made my first quilt from scraps from my garmet sewing between my junior and senior year in high school. It was just a scrap quilt made of 4 inch blocks of every kind of fabric. I handquilted it with double thread and huge knots which I didn't know to bury. My parents gave me a zig zag machine for my high school graduation present. I have not stopped sewing and quilting since. I didn't take a formal quilt class until at least ten years after I was married in 1977. I am mostly self taught. I watched shows like Simply Quilts, Georgia Bonesteel and Sewing with Nancy for years. After 40 years I have an awesome collection of quilt and sewing related books, magazines etc.