BabyCakes

I was more of a sewer than quilter for many yrs. Then in the 80's I found an old quilt rack in my basement. My mother-in-law told me what it was and we went to a sheep farm north of me and bought a bunch of wool had it cleaned/carded (at that time I was spinning) sized into twin size bedding(covered with cheese cloth) .My mother-in-law got a bunch of her friends together and we tied 6 quilts. That was fun.My first pieced quilt was a queen size sampler in the 90's.I have not looked back.I quilt for myself/sister-in-law/ friends who place orders for memory quilts and much more.

Dolphyngyrl

When I was about 13, I showed some interest in quilting, because my aunt quilted. I picked out a Star pattern because I liked stars. I cut out all the pieces, and attempted to hand piece, hadn't learned my sewing machine yet. needless to say, got bored, short attention span, aunt finished piecing it, it still has never been tied, maybe will one day and post. About 6 years later, I still wanted to quilt, but wanted to learn on my sewing machine, so my aunt took me to her quilting class at Joann's, and with the help of her and the instructor, I made my first, all done by me Basket weave( ie. rail fence quilt) I really enjoyed it, but with college and time constraints did not have the time. another 6 years later, I met my husband than boyfriend, and made him a quilt for his birthday, with my aunts help, and since then have never stopped. I haven't made that many quilts, only my irish chains of love, but have made a pot holder, 2 diaper bags, an apron, an organizer that goes over a coffee can, 1 tote bag, a couple abbey bags, also have a few UFO's unfinished backpack, table runner, one asian lap quilt, a patriotic rail fence for a friends son in the army, a paper pieced BOM star kit. been very busy, have fabric for a bow tucks, bella bag, lovers knot quilt, and a quilt kit from connecting threads for my daughter. Anyways, I now love it, wished i had gotten more practice in when i was younger and had more time, but me and my aunt have a shared hobby gives us time to spend together, and she has someone to hand down all her quilting stuff to so it doesn't get sold at estate sales as junk like some so I am glad I got into to it, just wish it wasn't such an expensive hobby. I have to wait for gift cards to be able to afford nice fabric for an actual quilt, which is why i don't make so many

GwynR

While my father was in vietnam we lived with my mothers parents. Grandma K loved to quilt and had quilting bees at her house. I was threading the needles for the ladies and they would let me make a few stitches, before someone else "needed" threading. I also got to help add to her braided rug made with scraps from old clothes. Grandma would point out old clothes she had made for my aunts and uncles and mom that were recycled into the rug. My Grandma P. made clothes and so did my mother. Grandma P's sister had a fabric shop and I used to beg to go in there and play with the fabric. I had my own little stash by age 5. As I got older and was away from extended family while we were stationed around the world, I lost (most) of my interest. It was always somewhat there. When I got married and became pregnant my interest in sewing came back bigger than ever. I made clothes for years. Just lately I started quilting and have not stopped! I think its built into me and will never go away. I still want to play with the fabric when I go shopping. Now its called petting though and the LQS all allow it! :-)

pheasantduster

When out of high school I had a job at a dress shop in Boston doing alterations and at that time the shop had sundresses with coulotte legs (full pant leg type) that were not selling. We cut the pant inner seam and stitched a straight seam down center back and center front to make plain skirt to make regular sundresses. I took all the cut pieces and made squares along with pieces of material that I had and made this quilt. Worn out - and is kept in our car for 'emergencies'. Needless to say I have come a long way from this "first quilt"

sandilee

I married into a family of quilters. They are all gone now except one and she has alzheimers.
So, I had a great bunch of teachers!

I wish my SIL who has the alzheimers was still able to function, she was fantastic! They did it all by hand, too.
Not me, I do it on my machine!

Hen3rietta

What a terrific story! Thanks for sharing.

I've been sewing since forever and resisted getting into quilting because I knew I would start collecting stash, but after a while, I stopped garment sewing and itched to work with fabric again. So now I quilt and have an unruly stash. :-D

DeneK

Back in the middle 80's, in the early days of computer BBS's, I stumbled onto a quilting group on the old GEnie bulletin board. I found them to be caring, generous, helpful, non-judgmental, and diverse; all qualities I aspire to. I wanted to learn to quilt just so I could belong. I was amazed to learn that quilting was not necessarily what my grandmother did. The depth and breadth of the craft seems unlimited. When GE sold the BBS the group broke up and I didn't touch quilting again until a few years ago. So I still count myself as a semi-novice. Quilting is more amazing than ever and quilty people are still caring, generous, helpful, non-judgmental, and diverse.

cheryl rearick

YOur first quilt is a beauty.. great job. :)

My intrest in quilts started in the early 1970's, Spent a lot of time at my grannies.. My son and I went there everyweek end for months to go to church with her. I would watch her quilt and son would play with wooden spools on the floor, building things. Granny had a treadle machine didn't like the fancy one her daughter bought. and would not use it. Granny shared her hand paper cut out templates and showed me how to use them. I still have many she gave me as well as some quilt blocks she made and a quilt block her granny made.(from mid 1800's) I was hooked and made a few then, naturally all hand cut and tied. Then life took it's turns and I got out of sewing till recently. I will always remember the fun with granny and sleeping under her warm flannel backed hand tied quilts. I have one I made back when....? it is in storage, need to get it out and tie it up. The colors are oh so bright in orange, (monkey wrench) oh well. with flannel it will be warm.... said my granny so many years ago.

kittykatz2001

Everyone has such wonderful stories. Here's mine. I began sewing when I was 13, making my own clothes. That's the only way I could have new clothes. Dad would give me my $1 allowance and we would go to the five and dime and I would pick out fabric and pattern. Fast forward,,,,got married had a baby......got divorced, married again, had another baby, well...life got in the way. I married again for the 3rd time to the most wonderful man in the world. Anyway after 19 years in the same house we had to downsize. Moved to the country where the only soul I knew was my best friend of many years but she still worked and I was retired. Spent 3 years gardening. First year met a gal that grew organic veggies. She became a good friend. She invited me to the yearly Jubilee that had a Quilt Show and she had one entered! My mouth opened wide and I could not believe all the beautiful quilts. I bought a little iron from a vendor that had a quilt store one town over (about 19 miles), they were out of the iron but were taking orders. She called me when they came in. I went to pick it up, signed up for a class, bought a machine on layaway but could go and sew with it at the shop anytime!! Well, you all know what happened. Almost 6 years and $20,000 later I'm still at it. I am 67 and all you ladies that started younger....I envy you for having so much time to learn more and more. I love learning new things. My DH has never said a word about my fabricholicism. All he says is "if you're happy, I'm happy." What a guy, cause I could go on a serious guilt trip. Here's hoping I outlive my fabric. I don't buy so much anymore. My NY's resolution was to finish the things I've started. So far I've spent 2 months cleaning and organizing. I could just go on and on..........OH, MY....seems as tho I have.Bye, katie

Homemother

I got started quilting because a good friend of mine bought a Husqvarna Viking embroidery machine. She wanted to make wall hangings and quilts, but she had no idea how to use the machine. She asked me to go to a class for instructions on how to use the machine. Then, she and I went to Joann's and my friend fabric for me to get started on my quilt. I sat at her machine and embroidered my blocks. Next came the sashing and boarder. I was really nervous because accuracy is so important. Lastly came the binding, which took me two years to put on.

The binding took two years to do because (1) I changed the color (2) I didn't know what I was doing and (3) it was so borrrrrrrrrrring. The reason the binding became completed was simple. A new project was on the horizon and I wanted to finish this one first before I went onto the next quilt project. The same friend asked me to come over and learn applique with her last August. Her friend showed us the technique by having us prepare and sew hearts onto fabric. Well, in the allotted time we learned everything except the applique sewing technique. I went on youtube and watched about a dozen demos and finally did what worked for me. I decided I couldn't applique dozens of hearts, i.e., doing the same over and over again, so I found a teapot pattern by Sindy Rodenmayer. It's hand appliqued, hand quilted, and everything is done but the boarder. Hopefully it won't take two years to do because I am part of the encouraging board of quilters!!!

I will post my second quilt once I get the boarder on. That will be the motivation to get this last step done! Look for it. The title will be something like Hand Applique, Hand Quilted Teapots!

Thanks for listening!