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I am also self-taught and get many ideas and inspiration from the many members and links from this very board. The doll swaps were a wonderful way to learn new techniques and to try different things. What a blessing this board has been.

Self taught from piecing to needle turn applique. Have never learned how to manipulate large quilts through the sewing machine comfortably to quilt them so they are tied. I only machine stitch the smaller Linus quilts.
Tried teaching myself to hand quilt with some success but since it took so long to do 90 blocks, my fingers were so sore and punctured and bloody (bottle of peroxide my chair side companion) since I've not been able to get used to using a thimble, I've given that up.
Am hooked on simple quilting, however, and will continue for as long as I am able. Someone has to use up the mountain of fabric stash I have accumulated since no one else in my family sews at present. Hopefully one of the grandchildren will pick up the bug.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellie

Well, at last, I meet someone who has not been able to get comfortable with a thimble. I have had all kinds of advice and suggestions for different thimbles. The only one I haven't tried is the expensive one that has to be measured by a jeweler. I would love to have one of those but am afraid that if I can't use it, I will have wasted mega bucks.

So I continue to quilt until the fingers are too sore to go on.

Hi Ellie, I know what you mean about not being able to find a cmfortable thimble. My problem is arthritis. wierd shaped fingers don't seem to be able to find a thimble that fits.

I never taken a class, Lots of trial and error LOL!!! In school, I was so horrible on the sewing machine that I flunked that part of Home Ec. My mother never really did any sewing either, so it's a fluke, that I even took up this hobby.

Have you tried a leather thimble? It is the only kind I have found that works for me. I think they are deer skin. white with a blue elastic part at the bottom. They do wear out but work well for me. They also have some with a little metal disk in them but I find them to stiff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tippy

I have always stitched. Never took a "home ec" class until my senior year when I took Family Living. really ticked the teacher off as I was already sewing and cooking for the family without her help. Then I won the "Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow" award at the school which REALLY irked her. Nothing on the quilting front until about 12 years later when I decided I was going to make a quilt. I first bought a pattern and made a baby quilt on the machine for my nephew. That went ok..just following a pattern so I decided I was going to hand stitch one for myself.. I picked out fabrics and couldn't find a Grandmothers fan with the right number of spokes so I drafted it myself and sat down and stitched the top. I had lots of trims so I added those to each fan. LOL.. No one ever told me it was difficult or that I needed a class... and I've been doing it my way ever since.. the only classes I've attended are those I've taught, or helped teach.

Hay Tippy, I too won that award "Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow ". It was a charm and I still have it. That got me two marriage proposals, but I turned them both down and continued with my education. Wonder if the program still exsists. I was never offered the scholarship though.
Anyways, I have sewed all my life and helped my Mother make quilts, those were used for warmth when I was young. Later on we make the fancy stuff. I have made lots of quilts and never had a class.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard

Chrickett, That is a very beautiful
Cougar !!! I love, Love cats, all sizes. Right now we have a female tiger named Bunny due to the fact that she came to us on Easter a few years ago. ( not a real tiger, LOL

Thank you
I got it off the internet, but do not remember where. :-)

self taught, but the internet has opened up a lot of ideas. :D

Boy I am in the minority, my husband bought me my first sewing machine when I decided to retire/quit my job. The quilt shop/Bernina dealer had clubs that they offered free, learning to quilt and use the embroidery machine. I take classes and belong to sewing groups and guilds. It is a good social activity as well as a place to pick up many good tips for every aspect of quilting.