they had a quilting class at our church, I really enjoyed attending it and have kept on quilting since then

I don't ever remember not sewing. I was blessed with 2 grandmothers and a mom who were wonderful seamstresses. I learned by watching. Grandma started em sewing on buttons at 3 years old. I had sewing cards that I laced up perfectly. I made my first dress for school in 5th grade over Christmas vacation. I made my kids clothes and curtains. I made my first quilt when my oldest DD went from the crib to a big girl bed. She is now 42 and still has the quilt. I work in a bridal shop as a seamstress and quilt at home. I just can't get enough sewing time.

I'm too old to remember.

Now you went and made me cry. Good luck on making all those throws, and be sure to make the one for your dad. Then let your nieces and nephews know where that came from.

I saw a quilt pattern in a Family Circle magazine that I decided I wanted to make for my sister for Christmas. I'm pretty sure I had no idea what a quilt was at that point. I was in my 20's and had been sewing clothes so I didn't figure it would be hard. That first quilt was terrible, but I was extremely proud of myself at the time. My sister loves it and still uses it - it was about 1992 when I made it. Haven't stopped since!

Like many others, I've sewn clothes, and home dec for family and friends since I was 18. But it was after I retired and recovered from breast cancer that I decided to try quilting. That was about three years ago. I was surprised to find out it was an entirely different way of sewing. It required different tools, fabric, thread, etc than I was used to. But I joint a quilt group, bought Craftsy classes, and joined this board and learned to do it. I'm not fast and I still have a lot to learn, but I enjoy sewing and making something that I can give to others.

My journey to quilting began a long time ago. I started sewing as soon as I could see over the top of my DGM's white treadle ) -- that was over 60 years ago. That DGM only used the machine for mending, but my aunt made clothes (she was one of those who found something ready made and came home and made it without a pattern). My dad was overseas so we lived at Grandma's and my aunt taught me to make doll clothes. When we moved to Alaska, Santa brought me a crank machine -- I made more doll clothes and Mom made curtains, and all manner of home dec stuff that should have been impossible on a small machine. When we moved to the lower 48 (I was 8-9), Mom taught me to use her White electric (don't know what kind but it was gray and weighed a ton). I bought some patterns and some remnants and started making my skirts, blouses and dresses (couldn't wear pants to school) from remnants (was paying less than $5.00 for all the fabric I needed for a semester of school clothes. I continued to make clothes after I married (made DH wool shirts and pj's). My paternal Grandmother was a quilter, but unfortunately she did not live nearby, but when I saw her she showed me how to make templates and hand piece quilts -- I never picked it up because I liked my machine. When I had kids, I decided to try to make them quilts, but sew with the machine -- it worked. I still did more clothing construction than quilting, but I did make my first bed sized quilt -- whole cloth quilt embroidered through the entire sandwich (yeah -- through batting and backing as well as the top). I loved it but it was hard work (went to Goodwill when we moved). Somewhere in here I started watching Eleanor Burns when she was doing her show in the attic -- and I got her log cabin leaflet. When I started working full time, I could barely keep up with the clothes and Halloween costumes, then I quit sewing completely. I retired in 1999 and DD told me that I needed to make her a quilted Christmas tree skirt with no hole in the middle and she wanted it in about 2 years. I was watching Simply quilts and the shows that came on PBS (still watch them) and I said sure. Once started, I haven't stopped -- I have taken a few classes along the way but with some good books, EQ (1-7), grid paper and Quilter's Cache I pretty much draft my own patterns in whatever size I want. I give most of my quilts away to family and charity. I love to assemble fabric, cut and piece the tops but the for actual quilting, I pretty much stick to straight line -- after years in the computer industry my hands are a mess and I can't even seem to doodle like I used to.

I started sewing in about Jr. high school. I had pieced some quilt squares made from scraps from my dresses my mother had made when I was in elementary school. My grandmother was a quilter and I always watched her and had gone with her to quilting bees at the little country church she attended in southern Indiana. I always had those squares in my belongings as I grew up, married, had children, continued to sew over the years. After finally retiring, I knew I wanted to quilt. I used part of my retirement fund to purchase a better machine for quilting. It has been several years now and I love quilting and especially love hand quilting. Unfortunately, neither of my daughters have inherited this love but they will always have the quilts I make for them..

another "been sewing since i was 8" person. Made all my clothes as a young person up thru college. Eventually rolled into sewing curtains for my house and cross-stitch projects.

I've always wanted to learn to quilt, and a friend took me to her church where a bunch a ladies were forming a quilting group. It's 15 yrs later and i'm still quilting. Now it's my therapy after coming home from stressful days of teaching.

two of my sisters quilted as did my neighbor and several other ladies. They reserved the community room once a month to get together and quilt. I was invited but I didn't quilt-I cross stitched. After about 6-8 months of going and listening/watching etc. they decided they were going to do a mystery quilt- I didn't even have a decent sewing machine. Bought a Janome- and some fabric and learned how to do a block...haven't turned back. AND, I don't cross-stitch anymore!

I have been sewing all of my life - now in my early 60's - but only started quilting about 10 years ago. It all started when hubby decided that he was going to lose weight and I said that I would make him a shirt using an hawaiian print.

He lost the weight and I made the shirt - but this shirt did not turn out well. I have used the pattern before with no problem. It hung around for many weeks on a door while I tried to fix it but to no avail. So I had one of those light bulb moments in the middle of the night and decided to cut up the fabric into 42 little shirts and make a quilt out of it as I hate fabric waste.

I had never made a quilt before and just "did it". Since then I have been hooked and learnt sooooo much - especially from this Board.

It is interesting reading everyone story.

I initially began to learn a new skill. I grew up sitting next to my Momma and her treadle machine. My daddy bought her a very expensive machine when I was ten, and she made all of our clothes. She became our 4-H leader and taught many of us how to sew. Funny thing she never made quilts. I took it up to become more detail oriented and boy have I learned TONS!

I learned to sew when I was very young, my Grandmother used to make Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and sold them to make Christmas money. I traced her patterns one Summer vacation and brought them home. I must have learned to use a machine from her, although I don’t remember her teaching me. I can remember doing sewing projects now and again and learned to sew clothes in Home Ec in middle school. Mom had an old black Singer that I used and later she brought a Bernina. I have photos of myself in outfits I know my mother sewed for me but she must have done her sewing while I was in school because I don’t have memories of watching her do it!

When my kids were young I sewed for them, and made doll clothes, did mending or alterations for friends. Three years ago I offered to make a quilt square for a group project that was dog related and would be appliqued. I’ve always felt more comfortable with hand work, so I knew if I couldn’t handle it on my machine I could always stitch it by hand. I enjoyed making the square and also being a part of the group.

Then the vintage bug hit. I got really into finding, fixing and tinkering with vintage sewing machines. Dad still had mom’s Bernina and we found the old Singer in the garage! No one else wanted them, so I brought them both home. My dentist’s receptionist called when I got back from my visit and told me about a family that needed to get rid of some old sewing machines. The father had been into tinkering too and had recently passed. Long story short, I ended up with a lot of sewing machines. :p

I decided to learn to quilt because I felt guilty having so many sewing machines and not sewing anything! That was 2014. That year I made my first quilt from start to finish. Last year I made a few more tops and bought a quilting frame, also an unplanned move. I wasn’t even 100% sure exactly how you use one, but I was sure I needed it and it was a bargain lol! ;)

Having finished one quilt now on the frame I know I made a good choice and this year the plan is to get better at it!

well I've always sewn. made scarfs, then embroidered things. then made clothing for myself and my son. Then later on made aprons, coats and jackets and kitchen items and such. then tried quilts. first one was made of four patches sewn together and batting placed inside. Then put together with a zig zag stitch, sort of quilt as you go. Was a reversible queen size. put buttons on each side of the four patches too. Made a big puffy type quilt. Not my style now at all though.

I watched my Grandmother quilt when I was small, and oh how different it is today, but she was my inspiration.

My mother made a beautiful DWR top for me. We selected the fabric together and she worked on it for months. Her twin, my aunt, planned to quilt it for me but her husband became ill and died. Her health failed and the quilt top languished in a box in the closet.

About 3 years after mother died I took it out and decided to learn to piece and quilt so I could do justice to the top she had lovingly pieced. I took a class and got hooked. A couple years later I learned to hand quilt and became fairly proficient.

It is still a WIP, but I take it out and work on it occasionally. A queen size DWR requires lots of quilting! However I am enjoying the process and thinking about my wonderful mother as I quilt. The quilt is about done now and I will post pics when finished. My sister has learned to quilt, and we spend time together when we can quilting, sharing memories and having a great time!

I have sewn since I was 10. I was interested in quilting but did not think I had the time, I was working as an oncology nurse. We had a 40+ year old breast cancer patient, stage IV. She was going to make a quilt for her 3 kids and 2 stepchildren before he died. Once she had brain mets she needed help. I decided I should not wait and started, that was 2002. Her daughter, then a senior in high school is still a friend of mine.

What is DWR?

Double Wedding Ring

I started working at a job that was BORING in every way, shape or form. I honestly felt like my brain was not being exercised. I was discussing the situation with my mom who was a sewer earlier in her life. She recommended I look into sewing. I took a beginner's sewing class in which we made aprons. I hated it mainly because of having to trace the pattern and changing the seam allowances. Again, I was discussing with my Mom who mentioned she thought quilting only used one seam allowance and didn't require tracing anything. I walked into a quilt shop the next day, verified what my mom said was true and signed up for my first quilt class.

I haven't looked back.

I have been making my own clothes for 55 years, but I never had any desire or intent to make a quilt. Six years ago my sister moved from California to Texas, mainly to be near me. She is a quilter and I went to a few guild meetings with her, just to be a supportive sister. I knew I didn't have enough patience to quilt and didn't want to mess with it.

She teaches quilt workshops, and I signed up for her first workshop here, a Learn to Quilt class, again to be supportive. She was still new to town, and I wanted her to have a full workshop. Within months I was hooked and have been happily hooked ever since. Guess I am more patient that I thought I was. :)

Dina

Dina,
I've never understood the remark when people say "I don't have enough patience to quilt." :confused:
They probably go to work don't they? They cook? They pay the bills? Make the bed? Watch series on TV?
Lands I hardly do any of those things unless I'm required to (;)) and have always thought I was ONE of the least patient people in the world! Yet I quilt.

It has never been about patience for me: I quilt because I HAVE to!! To play with color; to be happy; to feel the creative juices flow; to still my soul. It's wonderful, as you're finding out! :cool:

Jan in VA

this is almost my exact story except in the 80s I learned to make quilt blocks for pillows. (That was what our teacher sold.). In 2000 my last two children left for college and I looked at all the hobby classes I took and decided I liked quilting the best. Dived in and have not looked back. Retired in 2013 and have many friends from quilting!!! Running out of family to give quilts too.

I started sewing when I was a child. I made clothes for years. I got married switched careers and went from wearing a uniform to having to have office type clothes. It was the 80's, suits were in, we were broke. I started making things to wear to work. I did a lot of tailoring. Then we started our own business. No more suits. I had joined an American Sewing Guild neighborhood group and was introduced to wearable art. I took some classes and realized how much piecing could transfer to wearable art. Eventually, I made the leap and made a quilt. Or 2. Now I do wearable art and quilts both.

I have been a counted cross stitcher since I was 18 but have mixed in other crafts through out the years. My mother-in-law got into quilting and I asked her to make a quilt for my step-mom. She insisted that I make at least one block on the quilt. After that I was hooked. I still try and cross stitch by as my eyesight has gotten worse, I find myself quilting more and more. My husband said I am no longer allowed to "play with his mom." :)

I've been sewing since I was around 10. I learned on my Mom's Singer threadle making doll clothes.(Oh, I wish I still had it) I remember as a young girl my Dad sawed off all the side drawers and it upset me so much, they were carved and the cabinet was beautiful. WHY ? Don't remember sewing much until High School and took Home Ec. (my favorite class) . I remember making a tailored riding jacket that a friend wore in shows. Quilting starting in the mid 70's when I made my husband (then just dating) a quilt with 4" sq's on front & back. Basted batting and then sewed it right sides together, turned it right side out and tied it. And I used cotton/poly fabric and many old cut up dresses from my grandmother, which ended up tearing apart. Had no clue with I was doing. Made a few more in same fashion. Then years went by with life (marriage, kids..etc). I've always made valances and made dresses for my daughter. Then had my surprise baby at 40 and when he was little I did some babysitting of neighborhood kids. When he was in Pre-K one friends asked me if I wanted to "help" her make a queen size quilt for our schools fundraiser. I said OK. It ended up my job. She helped some, but worked and didn't have much time. It was a disaster...we had the wrong measurements, didn't have enough fabric, then realized it was way too large. I had to remove part of it and then she said...Oh, we're going to hand quilt it. I said what ?? Are you on drugs ?? It was a Grandma's fan and came out beautiful. Well, anyways the next 4 years I made the Octoberfest donation quilt all by myself. The school raffled them and made around $1000-$1500 on each of them. And yes..I hand quilted them all. Over the years I've made more and many baby quilts. I also have done alterations for almost 25 years, so quilting sometimes goes on the back burner.I also have 3 grandkids. We are downsizing from a 3000 sq. ft. house to a twin villa with under 1500 sq. ft. so I should have more time. I love quilting & sewing in general. Hope this isn't too long....LOL

I love reading all the stories. I am still in my first year or two of quilting.

I learned to sew with my mom when I was little. As an adult, I bought my 1st "good" sewing machine 2 years ago with the intention of making clothes, and got super frustrated (I'm a plus size and I have to draft/alter all my patterns to fit). In the meantime, a quilt store I drove by had lots of really adorable fabric and I thought, "What can I do with this?" I made some purses and bags and really enjoyed the process.

Then I picked up some Amy Butler and liked it so much I made a quilt out of it, which I gave to my grandmother. I liked making the quilt for her because she lives far away, and it was like giving her a hug. That is the first quilt I ever made (started in 2014) and I have made 5 more since! This year I joined one of those "fabric of the month" clubs and I hope to make some charity quilts.