disaster. No, it was a string quilt. My MIL taught me how to do it. I made it from scrap flannel from the pj's I made for my boys. They loved it. Then I had to make one for the other boy. Made it out of blue jean patches like a sleeping bag. Used the top of the jeans to make a carry bag to roll it up in. Used the pockets for toothbrush, clean undies, etc, for sleep overs at Grandma's.

The first quilt I made was a doll quilt from a kit. The fabric squares were pre-cut, all I had to do was decide how I wanted them. It was all hand-pieced, and hand quilted. I had never attempted quilting of any sort before, and since my MIL was a superb quilter, I was very nervous. But it actually turned out quite well, although the backing fabric was way too red for me. My quilting stitches looked pretty good, over all, but I must have spooked myself, because it was a loooong time, (like 15 years), before I attempted quilting again. Now I love it, and look forward to time spent with my fabrics.
Julie

The first quilt I made was an anniversary quilt for my mom and dad.... I found a kit with 14 inch squares with an embroidery design on them... they all matched and I embroidered them in blue and brown....I placed these every other square and for the squares in between I made a square for each of us kids with our name and date of birth on it and in the very center square I did my mom and dads names and their anniversary date...also added some designs and a couple of poems on the extra squares...it was a large undertaking but thankfully I too had the help of my MIL who was an excellent quilter! She helped me put it together once I had all the squares emboridered and helped me put it up in the frames and we tied it.

My mom and dad loved it!! That was for their 40th anniversary way back in 1980!! they still have it and I am hopeful it is willed to me someday!! I just finished making them each a new quilt for their (now separate) beds! LOL They were again thrilled to get them...my mom never made quilts...but she sewed alot of our clothes.

Two of my friends are having a baby soon so my first quilt ended up being a baby quilt. It was made out of flannel...and I did not know how much flannel frayed until I put it in the wash. The edges came out a knotted, tangled mess. Making the top of the quilt was the easy part (though I did have a little trouble getting the pieces to line up right.) Sandwiching the top, batting, and back together...not so much. I had forgotten to buy fabric for the back of the quilt. I didn't know how to finish the edges of the quilt (with binding) so I folded the edges in and sewed on top of the quilt...with black thread. And once I gave the parents-to-be the quilt one of them found a pin (ten minutes after giving them the quilt) that I had forgotten to take out (I was so sure I had made sure ALL of them were out). Instead of taking the whole quilt apart to get it out I just took a pair of pliers and pulled the pin away from the little plastic ball it was attached to (figured the little ball being in the quilt won't do any harm). So it wasn't a complete disaster, but it was a rocky ride. And the quilt turned out pretty good (despite some of the rows not lining up exactly, sewing the edges with black thread that really shows up on the red and white parts of the quilt, and leaving a pin in there as well).

Here's the design layout I had come up for the quilt before making it.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...ltpattern2.jpg

Oh, gosh, a memory thread. lol lol My first quilt was a baby crib quilt. I bought flannel, filler, and tied it with yarn. Then I branched out to piecing and quilting designs in the middle of the blocks. I always did the coloring book for my hand quilting patterns, drums, birds, dolls, cradles, balloons, etc. It was a 15 year or so past time. Then I helped to teach a crafts class for Bible School. One of the classes was for the adult class to design a quilt block for a comfort quilt. The 'comfort' was to be their own comforting things drawn on unbleached muslin. I embroidered those things, then put quilt blocks in it as sashes (didn't know that's what they were at the time) put other blocks to make it balance, put an old mattress pad in for a filler, and then put the backing on and tied it. Whew, I was hooked, from there it's history. I've been trying to learn new things and experiment with my own designs and layouts.

Sharon

PS Adults don't listen to instructions any better than 8 year olds. I asked them to do the desings in a vertical field. Four of them did the design in a horizontal. go figure! lol lol

The first quilt I made was a queen sized log cabin! It was in 1980 and I had just found this new Quilt in a Day book by Eleanor Burns. This was before rotary cutters, but she had this neat ripping method back then. So I ripped strips and frantically sewed. Didn't get it done in a day, but I had no use for a baby quilt. Why bother making a quilt unless you can use it. So I had a queen sized bed, so made a queen sized quilt. LOL

Not caring for the tied version, I also tackled machine quilting. What a joke that was. I quilted in the ditch of all those logs, as sweat ran off me. But finally got it done and on the bed. My next two quilts were also the same pattern and size. One for my sister and one for my brother.

The advent of rotary cutters changed my life! now over 25 years later, I teach. Never thought that would happen. LOL

First quilt I made was a log cabin in a 2 day class. The first day I was surrounded by heaps of experienced quilters and a teacher who was an inaugeral member of the Quilt Police. Ended up with a migraine, ruined the first days work, which I eventually turned into an ironing board cover and cushion covers. Bought new fabric, did all the first days work at home and finished the whole queen sized top on the second day lesson a week later.

Still love that first quilt after all the blood sweat and tears. :? Bette

My very first quilt was a yo-yo quilt started by my great aunt and finished by me when I was 16. I made some small quilts for my daughters about 15 years later. (One 45 inch square of fabric with lace edges!) Then I retired 6 years ago and the rest is history! I have the stash! I've got the tools! I am a quilter! Don't get between me and my rotary cutter! I've got quilts to build!!! :D

First quilt I ever made used a friendship block that I found online. I had taken a total of 3 quilting lessons and did not know what I was getting myself into when I started it. The top took several months to finish; I ran out of fabric and had to get something else to finish it. Instead of a double bed size, it came out a lap quilt. LOL. Then I din't know how to put a border on it or to bind it.

It sat for almost 6 months before I learned to quilt it - by hand. That took forever.

But like everybody else, I am very proud of that quilt and it still keeps me warm on cold winter evenings - both outside and inside.

Connie

I sewed clothes for myself and family when the kids were young. I hadn't sewn much since. I made curtains for my bed room and wanted a cover for the bed and I couldn't find one to match my green walls. I had seen the ones my grandmother had made so I had a general idea. Got some books from the library and looked things up on line and just did it. Not perfect but looks good on my bed. that was one year ago this month. :roll:

No way, Ruthie! I thought you had been quilting a long time. Now, I really am impressed!

The first quilt I made was from Alex Anderson's book that teaches kids to quilt. It had 4 blocks and is about a 36 x 36. I machine pieced the top and hand quilted it. The only thing I have hand quilted. That was Spring 2004. I hated sewing machines prior to that.. had no confidence at all in my ability.. but some friends encouraged me to try a quilt as I have always wanted to make one. I figured instructions for a kid would be best for me... LOL! I was hooked immediately and haven't slowed down since!

In fact, the next quilt I made was a large one... between a twin and full.. for my son from McCall's Quilting Magazine called Perky Patches.

Barb C.

I made my first quilt when I was in my early twentys. I thought it looked so easy, hah. I made a triple irish chain in amish fashion solid red white and blue standard bed size. I thought the 2" squares were too big so I made mine 1" and didn't allow for the seams. At the time I didn't know about sewing in strips and then cutting and I also didn't know about rotary cutting. It took me 4 years to cut and sew all those little tiny squares. By the time I was done I was so sick of looking at it. I sent it to my mother for her to quilt and she sent it to her mother to quilt. She in turn gave it to a woman that does quilting professionally. She did a wonderfull job on it. I had forgotten all about it cuz it took years of passing it along cuz nobody wanting to do all that quilting on little 1/2" squares. About 3 years later on a christmas my grandmother presented me with a beautifull quilt. I hadn't realized that it was my old quilt top I made 7 years before. After I saw the quilting workmanship I was hooked. I vowed to learn to hand quilt cuz when I tell someone "I made this" I wanted the pride in knowing I really did make this all by myself. I did quit for about 25 years. Raising kids, going back to school, then entering the work force. I'm now retired and luckily don't have to work anymore so I spend almost all my time on learning to sew again. And this website. I've learned so much from you guys

Debbie, you got a pic of that? I would love to see. :-)

Unfortunatly no. I gave it to my son who had it for years. One day when he was moving he used it as padding for a mirrowed headboard. While they were driving someone threw a cigarette out the window and it landed on the quilt. They didn't notice till they saw smoke coming from the back of the truck. Burned a huge hole about 3 ft wide in it. He was heartbroken cuz he loved that quilt. He's always asking me to make him another just like it. I will someday. Hopefully it won't take quite as long this time now that I've learned a few tricks.

And you didn't hang him? I get irritated when people don't use the quilts, but I also get irritated when they mistreat all of that hard work. Most have no idea how much work goes into a quilt. I told my sis once it took about 300 hours to do hers, and she finally appreciated the work involved. She thought it took a few days....... still al long time.

My first quilts were an exercise in patience! I learned to sew back when the only patterns required a template for every piece, no matter how tiny. I remember having a sore hand with what looked like a permanent scissors-handle shaped dent at the end of a cutting session. Those tiny pieces never wanted to behave, either. They sewed up all wonky! So my first quilts were basic patterns, simple squares and stars. Years later, I'm so grateful for both paper-piecing and the rotary cutter. Who knew there'd ever come a day when I could make more mistakes than ever--but in record time!!!??? :lol:

Leslee, my sentiments, EXACTLY. :lol:

Quote from Norah: I get irritated when people don't use the quilts, but I also get irritated when they mistreat all of that hard work. Most have no idea how much work goes into a quilt.

I recently took my sister to a consignment shop just to see what they had. I had no money at the time, we were just browsing. They had alot of antiques there and I could not believe the prices, so low. Had a couple of shelves just full of old handmade quilts selling from #10 to $100. Lady there told me alot of the stuff was from estate sales. They have no idea how much work goes into a quilt. Not just the cost but the time, energy and heart. It saddens me to see that such a work of art is not prized as it should be.

I've been toying with this one for awhile now to make for my son. It's not exactly an irish chain but similar and he likes the color black. I changed the excel format to a website. Maybe it won't take so long to download.

NEVER MIND IT DIDN'T WORK EITHER

TRY THIS ONE

It came up in my office software. That is gonna be pretty. With the grid like that, it is much easier to picture the construction. Thanks.

I started with "cheater panels". Once we moved to NC in "87, I took a class at the community college and did a Dresden plate. Mchine pieced and hand quilted. By that time I was hooked :lol: Sisters and brothers kept producing nieces and nephews so of course baby quilts were required. It took me 10 years to finnish quilting it and it is on a bed in our mountain house soon to be our only house. (2 years and counting backwards ):!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:

Ya'll are soooo smart! I have used a piece ot this pattern and a piece of that, but never ever designed my own. Very smart people :lol:

I looked Debbie. it came up on mine...........I would get confused but thats going to be fabulous with the black. I can't wait to see it

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo. me like. :P
me like lots and lots and lots



i assume it has a pink back? :mrgreen:

simple irish chain. Twin size for my son's bed. It's full of mismatched seams but I think it's the best work I've done. Made a trip around the world for my other son. He doesn't want to use it because it's too nice. I try to experiment and learn something new on each so the 2nd one has a chain border. I've made numerous baby quilts, usually Irish chain as they go together so quickly. I make 3 quilts a year for our family reunions to raise funds- usually twin size. Quilting is cetainly an addiction.

My first quilt was for my sister-in-law. It was of her kids hand and foot prints. The whole quilt was was sad and lop-sided. But she loved it and proudly hanges in her beautiful designer house...if it wasn't for the fact it's her kids hands and feet I don't think it'd be hung at all, lol. I loved the design and the theme, but man I wish I could redo that quilt.

I'm making a baby quilt for my daughter. I have 5 sisters and a sister-in-law and my Mom. We are each doing our hand. I took a tracing of their hand, appliqued it to a block and gave them each it back with fabric markers. I did mine to look like my left hand, as I am left handed and it has my wedding rings on it. I signed it Gramma (what a weird feeling!). Waiting for them to give them back so I can put it together. The blocks in between are a variation of a log cabin with the starting square 4" with a heart appliqued. I'm going to satin stitch around the hands when I get them back. I can't wait to see it when it's done.

....set of 3 quilt mini-minis that I made for my sister. They were posted on here. :D

Somehow or other, I missed this the first time around.

My first quilt was something I called a bedspread. I wanted to make something for a standard size bed, and also make window treatment to match. Boy was I ignorant. This was in 1992. And I did not start to make quilts until 2000. Someone advertised quilting supplies in the newspaper. I went to look and could not even decide what to buy.

I just looked at that bedspread, and saw that I had made square blocks with 4 triangles. (huh??) there were 3 companion colors, which I alternated in rows and put the blocks on point. Also used borders, so I must have had some idea from somewhere.

I make a reversed sandwich and turned it right side out. I stitched in the ditch along the border and some in the blocks. I must have surprised myself.

It took until 2000 when I bought a garbage bag full of fabric at the Flea Market for $5. to get me started. Then I made only 9 patch blocks. Oh my goodness, now that I think back, I had absolutely no creativeness when it came to quilting.

Since I have owned a computer (4 years) I have learned a lot. My thanks to all of you who share your work and inspiration with others.

Thinking back was fun. thanks for suggesting it.

June

The first quilt I made was a sunbonnet Sue. the arms and bonnets were attached so there was a lot of hand sewing. I started it when I was in college in '79 and finished it when I was pregnant in '86 and had to take the last few months off from work. I was told that a great quilt took 7 years to make so I felt good. Denise M

My first was a big Trip around the World in blues, extra large because my ex was a covers thief, and we heated with wood, so if the stove burned out, it cooled off quickly. I used thick, thick batting because I wanted it to be warm, and handquilted that bad boy for months.

When my Great Dane, was a puppy, we left him home with the other housepets (he was a mama's boy even then) and he circled and dug a 3" hole through the quilt, a blanket underneath, 2 sheets and stopped short of the mattress pad. Came home to find Max sleeping comfortably in his "nest".

If I'm ever in a position to get another dog, I think it would have to be a Dane again. I loved that big guy more than my ex husband.

The first quilt I ever made was the baby blanket quilt for my son. I took his receiving blankets and made a twin sized quilt from them. I used a sheet blanket to back it, no batting because he was always throwing off the heavy covers. years later, I made some for my niece and nephew, I used a kid print sheet to back it, using a sheet blanket instead of batting due to heavy washing I knew it would get. I used blanket binding, and had to replace my nephews three times, since he liked to rub it between his fingers and wore it out in spots. all the kids loved them, I just made my grandkids theirs. They are not fancy, but they love knowing they were their blankets. I sewed their name on a blanket at the top. :mrgreen:

My first quilt was made out of mens old flannel shirts from the goodwill. I was too poor to buy 'whole' yards of anything, so waited until they had stuff a bag for a buck sale. Wahoo for me :) The quilt was a queen sized patchwork quilt for my husband that I backed with a sheet that I'd thrown in the bag from goodwill. Not the fanciest or the prettiest but it had lots of hugs and love in it for him. We've been married 30 years and finally threw it out 2 years ago as it was in very sad shape.

My first quilt that I finished was a wall hanging I designed for a challenge with the theme "Oh, My Stars!" It had two girls sitting on an Irish chain quilt spread out on the grass, gazing up at the stars. I embroidered a passage from James Agee's novel, A Death in the Family, in the border: "The stars are wide and alive, they seem each like a smile of great sweetness, and they seem very near....and who shall ever tell the sorrow of being on this earth, lying, on quilts, on the grass, in a summer evening, among the sounds of the night." On the back I embroidered a large star and finished the quote: " May God bless my people, my uncle, my aunt, my mother, my good father, remember them kindly in their time of trouble; and in the hour of their taking away."
My own father passed away during the making of this quilt and I did not finish it by the challenge deadline, but did finish it in time to enter it in the show under the "my first quilt" category. I took second place, out of two!

Norah
My first quilt I remeber so well. It was 30 yrs ago. In 1977. I made it FOR MY BABY SON AT THE TIME, WHO IS NOW 30. It was a very plain 10" block, using different colors, with alternating 10" sqs of Bible scripture, embroidered on them, by hand. It was a twin size. He carried that quilt every where he went, would not go to sleep with out it. Thus he got the pet name of Linus. He carried that thing untill it was a rag. I promise that is the truth. That quilt was loved to death by him. That was the start for me and him. I had to make quilts for him ever since. He stopped caring his blankets around at the age of 6. But I have to still to this day, keep him in quilts. The latest I made him was last year. My own design, and I appliqued moon and starts on the back side of the quilt, with a Bible scripture. I told him when I gave it to him, that he would alway be covered by the moon and stars, and the Lords word for direction. He really surprised me, He won't use it, but proudly displays it at the foot of his bed. He said it was his all time favorite. I think he likes the quilt, And then states he needs another that he can use every day.

My first quilt was just done about 3 months ago. It was for my dog. It was a regular block quilt. I cheated on the binding and bought the pre done stuff and I tied it. The dog didn't care. But what is funny is my hubby uses it just as much as the dog does. It turned out great, even with the few flaws.... :D