quiltingcandy

For the most part I am self-taught. My mother taught me to sew, starting with doll clothes and graduating to clothes for me and my sisters. I fell in love with the patchwork quilts and started so decided I could do that and just started sewing them. Then I got an encyclopedia of sewing book and it had a section in it on quilting. That introduced me to the world of quilts and another friend told me about a class at the local adult school she was taking. She shared her information and I found some classes at the LQS. I am not sure if there is anything that holds with me because I have been doing it for so long now and can't remember specifically who taught me what. I do have a "Go For It" attitude - if I like it and there are written instructions I can pretty much figure out how to to do it. Some times even do it a bit easier than the instructions.

tessagin

I started out knitting and crocheting at a very young age and did some embroidery. Mom got me an embroidery kit and I tried to practice stitches then work on a small hanky. Wasn't the best but was pretty good for a 10 year old. Wanted to take home ec in high school but was told no. Won't get into the why not. One day after school before my dad picked me up I went to a Woolworth's store and found a sewing book. I had $1.00 and it cost $.75. Hurried back to school and read the book on the way home. Got into my mother's sewing box for some extra needle and thread and made little things for my sisters' dolls. Found some old shirts of my Dad's and practiced stitching small tears and the 3 corner tears were the death of me. I saved babysitting money and birthday money until I was able to buy a god pair of scissors. I had to put everything into a bag in the back of our closet so my siblings wouldn't get into them and hurt themselves. I also had old shirts and blouses cut into shapes for different things. My scissors were in the bottom. One day my sister saw the old shirts and blouses in the bag and threw the whole bag away. After that it was a long time before I even touched a needle. My book and embroidery were also in the bag. After I had my first boy, I tried to crochet again, it was a disaster. My DH (current and last, lol) supports and encourages everything I choose to do. I guess it was about 12 years ago, I took up sewing and quilting. Basically self taught by watching videos and neighbors and the members on this board. A lot of emotional memories keep me from being as motivated as I would truly like to be but I do get some things done. I have started some things and finished some but lately barely starting.

Peckish

My mom taught me to sew clothing items as a child, but I am self-taught as a quilter, so I never say "I was taught to" as a reason for doing something. I always have a good explanation for WHY I do WHAT I do. An example: I never press my bindings in half before sewing them to the quilt. I was never "taught" to, and I think they look much better and feel fuller than ironed bindings.

bearisgray

I have always done better with a reason for doing - or not doing - something, too.

Daffy Daphne

One of the best things I was taught (from a book) is to cut and sew pieces for only one block, to test and see if they fit together properly and to be sure it was a block I wanted to make multiples of. Several times this advice has stood me in good stead.

Daffy

adamae

I learned from watching my Mennonite mother and two older sisters. I was about 12 when I was allowed to sit by the quilt frame and quilt. I learned to chain piece by machine that I still use today and the use of templates, grain of fabric, how to straighten fabric that was uneven when folded shelvedge to shelvedge, judging a yard of fabric from nose to arm extended, learned the names of fabrics, how to make my own quilt frames, baptist fan quilt marker from cardboard, and so much more.
At 80 years old I have learned there is always more to learn.

sandy l

Oh, yeah. The several times I have not done this, "make one before cutting every thing" rule, I've been sorry about it.

Aurora

When I was 15, my aunt taught me a brief lesson in hand piecing. Fifty years later when I took up quilting -- no lessons. I have learned the same way I have learned everything else, books, lots of books, and now the internet. I find I learn more using this method.

GingerK

My mother always sewed. I did not have a 'store bought' dress until I was 16. My sisters remember learning to sew clothing at home--I don't. But I must have absorbed a lot of knowledge by osmosis because I feel I have always known how to use 2 or3 patterns to make a piece of clothing. My mother did not 'quilt' but did make whole cloth bed spread type quilts for my sisters and brother as part of their Hope Chests. It was my middle sister who got me into quilting about 10 years ago and I cannot thank her enough. She encouraged me to take a class from a LQS. My first instructor was wonderful and we made a 6 block sampler, starting with a basic nine patch then going on to HST's, paper piecing and applique. She taught us about safe rotary cutting, 1/4 inch seams, pressing NOT ironing, pressing to one side--which was hard for me to grasp since I really had only sewn clothing.

I felt so honoured a few years ago, when my 20-something year old niece asked me to teach her to sew. My own DD refuses to have anything to do with a sewing machine but my two DGD's WILL sew and quilt because Nana is going to teach them. They love to sit on my lap and watch me chain piece or mend or just do anything with the magical machine.

sewbizgirl

I'm a self-taught sewer who transitioned into quilting. I have never had a quilting lesson so I guess I wasn't "taught" by anyone specifically. I feel like I learn continuously from info online and others in my quilting group and from experience. Isn't it fun that we never stop learning?