I was fortunate in that my grandmother and mother both sew. My grandmother made what I thought were the most amazing quilts. I still have a pic of my grandmother and one of her quilts that was in the paper way back in the 50's. I wanted to learn, so my GM showed me, and I sewed and she ripped, and ripped and made me do it over until I got it right. I have a antique chest in my living room now and it is covered with part of a crazy quilt my GM was working on when she passed. It's only a little bigger than a runner but it is a prized possession. Now, my mom recently moved in with me, in a separate apartment area, and we both quilt. I am enjoying all the time we get to spend together with our passion.

My grandmother didnt quilt,she crocheted and knitted,which she taught me to do.took basic sewing in Home Ec classes.then when I was around 40, I decided I really wanted to make quilts,My Mom said"Kathleen,Your intelligent,go get a book and figure it out" So I did, and I made my son a black,gray quilt,And I was hooked!that was 12 years ago,and still love it!

A co-worker and very good friend got me into quilting. One day at work about a year ago she was telling me about quilting and brought in one that she was working on and I said it was pretty but I didn't think I could do that, she laughed and said you should just go to a quilt store with me just once. Well a couple weeks later I went to the LQS that is about 50 miles away with her and I have been hooked every since. I think I made 11 quilts last year taking all sorts of classes and so far this year I am a member of Thimbleberries, making the queen size border blast quilt, also making the civil war quilt this year because the class is the same afternoon as the Thimbleberries meeting, took a hand quilting class and am just about finished with my second hand quilted project that is going to be a wedding gift and have numerous other projects on the list. Now if that pesky thing called work didn't get in the way I could do even more quilting. lol
I have to say that this group has amazing members that are so eager to help when a question is asked even if it might be a silly on by a newbie and they are so generous with their comments on projects that you show. So glad I found this site. Thanks everyone

I had a surgery that was taking me "out of commission" for a while. My husband suggested I take a quilting class. At first I didn't like the idea of cutting fabric into tiny scraps and putting them all back together. But, since I really needed something to occupy my mind and keep me stationary I decided to give it a try.

Found a local quilt shop that was having a class called Quilting 101. Right up my alley! I signed up, over the phone, bought the kit. The shop even had a machine for me to use for the class! Good thing because I wasn't able to carry my machine at the time.

I am an accomplished seamstress so sewing is not foreign to me. I used to make all of my family's clothing. Needless to say my eyes are always drawn to fabrics.

The day of my class was the first time ever for me to be in an actual quilt shop. I stepped in the door and my jaw hit the floor! WOW! So much beautiful, gorgeous fabric was everywhere! I couldn't open my eyes big enough to take in all the beauty! I literally stood in the doorway spellbound! This very sweet, YOUNG, girl came up to me and asked, "Are you Debbie?" "Yes, I am." "I'm so glad you came early! My name is Shawneen. I own the shop. I spoke with you on the phone. Let me help you to the class room and put down your things and then I'll show you around my shop." So, we did. We talked and she asked if I had ever sewn before so I told her of my past experience. She asked me if I would be interested in teaching garment making in the store. KEWL, I would love too. But that is another story.

Shawneen introduced me Ann, the teacher. Class wasn't due to start for another hour, so Ann and I had a wonderful chat before class.

Since I was on the disabled list, Ann did all of my cutting. But I was watching so close, quite often Ann had to move me back a bit. I was firing so many questions at Ann I was afraid she was going to kick me out of class. But she happily answered every question. I was so anxious to get started making that first block, my hands were shaking! When I finished that first block you would have thought I had made a wedding dress because I was so happy with myself. I was giggling like a little girl! Ann leaned over and said in my ear, "I regret to inform you but you are now addicted to making quilts."

I completed my class sampler. Ann was so proud of it she asked if she could use the sampler in her future classes! WOW, fine by me! But needless to say, I was really hooked!

Shawneen and I developed a beautiful friendship as well as a strong business relationship. I taught garment construction and Shawneen was my best student. Shawneen taught me more about quilting and I became her best customer!

Unfortunately, due to personal problems, Shawneen had to close her shop but we continue to be friends.

I saw Ann just a few weeks ago. She came to my house. We had coffee and few good laughs and wonderful conversation.

Well, that's my story and I'm stickin to it!

My Ex MIL quilted, and I loved her quilts. She taught me. She is a great lady, taught me how to be frugal, garden, can and freeze, sew and quilt. She grew up during the depression, and thought everyone should at leat have these skills. Its really paying off now!

I was working at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC in the mid-70s. A colleague and close friend and I admired a textile professor's vest - Cathedral Windows pattern.
Marilyn and I both began a CW quilt. She finished hers, I gave all I'd done away years later.
Always have though it a miracle I continued quilting after a Cathedral Window start.
I've slept under Marilyn's - like lying under lead with no give.

My first quilt was sort-of made in self-defense :) My step-mom gave me a huge box of all sorts of fabric scraps. I thought, I have to do something with these to get them out of the way! So, I cut them up into blocks & hand-sewed them all together. When that one was done, still had a lot of little scraps, so made up a bunch of crazy quilt blocks. While shopping for the binding, I saw my first Bargello quilt. Very pretty. I said to my step-mom, I can do that. She made a rather rude snorting noise. Hmm. Must prove her wrong. And I did ;) Been hooked ever since.

I love doing crafts, croceting, needlepoint, I did macrame way back when it was popular. Made a table lamp from it. Made a frame around a mirror with florist foam and shells. Made pine cone wreaths and x mas trees. I just love to dabble.
I was interested in the wedding ring quilt that I remember my parents having on their bed when I was a child.
Present.. I was visiting a John Wayne museum, and came across a beautiful puff/quillo quilt. Since I just look at something, and go home and create it. That is what I did. Never made a quilt, but, looked online and saw how they were made. Purchased a cutting board and all I felt I needed. I had DH draw me out my size and nbr of blocks needed.
My avitar is the first quilt I ever made. I have made a basic fabric blanket for my first granddaughter, complete with curtains and a diaper hanging bag without a pattern.

For my baby shower, a friend of mine gave me a baby quilt (with some cross stitch as blocks), and I LOVED it. No one in my family quilts, or really sews. My experience with sewing was making a tote bag and a pillow during home ec in junior high school.
I had been begging my hubby and mom for a sewing machine for quite a while because I had cross stitched a stocking, and I wanted to finish it for my first baby. So last year for christmas (2009), I got a pretty basic Kenmore sewing machine (Black Friday deal) from my Mom. She was pretty convinced that it would just sit in a closet and not get used. Well, it didn't. I headed out to the store and found a pretty cute baby quilt kit with dogs on it and a bunch of minkee fabric. It had GREAT instructions included about pressing seams and such. That was it, putting together basic 6" blocks and adding minkee borders, and I LOVED it. I DVR'd all the Sewing with Nancy episodes (I now have 42 episodes saved on my TV!), and learned a lot from there.
A neat story that has happened recently I want to share with you. I read so many stories on QB about people who give quilts and the recipients don't appreciate them and I just finished a baby quilt for my hubby's cousin and I kept thinking "I REALLY hope she likes this and uses it" because it took so much work and care to do it, so I decided to email the lady who made me the baby quilt for my shower. She was so excited that I emailed her, that we have been talking sewing/quilting/embroidery ever since. We now have dogs AND sewing to talk about!

I love hearing all these stories - we all share the same pioneering spirit in our quilting stories.
My grandmothers quilted, crochet, tattted, and everything else. I always remember one of my grandmothers always had her quilt frame loaded with a quilt -it would take up the whole room in her apt - when she was older and couldn't see well - she made quilts out of sheets and tied them -she always had a tote bag filled with sewing or crochet - she kept her hands busy this way. My other Granny - she made beautiful quilts and I loved the stories about the quilting bees - and met some of the women who belonged - I didn't get to participate but still loved the stories.
My mom made some of our clothes when we were young - my granny would take some of the clothes and turn them into quilt blocks - so it was fun to see the quilt with our old clothes.
Anyway, fast forward - I was married for about one year(25 yrs ago) and decided I wanted to make a quilt - I bought some fabric and tried like heck - I was not successful and did not have alot of money to spend - just put it all aside until about 1 1/2 yrs ago - the I went full out - bought a sewing machine - then wore it out - my hubby bought me a Viking Sapphire 875Q - I was afraid of it - but have mastered it since - now I am addicted to fabric - and my hubby supports my habit. Bought a longarm about one year ago - that is still tough to master - but I take my time and rip tons of stitces out - one day I will conquer the longarm. Like everyone else I am self taught - never had a class - never sewed clothes or anything - now I can't imagine living without my sewing machine. I have made quilts for charity, friends, and family and I love it and don't have enough time in the day to complete all my projects - but love waking up every day to sew and quilt. Really helped pull me out of a depression that I was experiencing and gave me more confidence in myself. It has been a lifesaver for me and I love completing my projects and trying new blocks. That is my story so far.