WOW....girl, you are just a baby. I will be 67 in April and will quilt until I die. Have to...cause I have to much fabric to use up!

I started learning to sew and quilt at the same time eleven months ago, at the age of 64. Couldn't use a sewing machine, couldn't even wind a bobbin!Started with a table runner and since then I've made 4 single bed quilts(one completely hand pieced and hand quilted), 3 lap quilts, 12 small table runners for friends, a queen sized quilt(just starting to hand quilt this), and am now working on a hand appliqued lap quilt. I became obsessed and it's the most fun I ever had, but I couldn't do it if I wasn't retired!

Thanks Donna! Your grandmothers and aunt put me to shame, that is very encouraging. I guess I just need to relax and enjoy the process as so many have suggested. I just love this board!

Welcome to the board joygross!! Everyone is suggesting that I relax and have fun with it so I think that is what we need to do.

Sara I'm so glad you have recovered and still doing what you want to do! It sounds like you are going to be busy and enjoying every minute of it. Hugs to you too! Sue

Thanks so much for all the encouragment! You are all right, I just need to relax and have fun with it. And, as a few said, I will have a blast when I retire! That is what I'm living for....retirement! LOL. Love and hugs to all of you!

I understand how you feel...I started quilting at age 79 and will have my 80th in 2 months. I sew daily and just cant seem to get enough. Or do enough! I have so many pictures of quilts that I want to do - and there just doesnt seem to be enough time to get them all done. Poor eyesight, arthritis and confusion seem to get in the way....

enjoy the process and it will go more smoothly...i think you have plenty of time...i hope you make one for yourself, too;-)

Aren't we just the fortunate ones though? Having this wonderful hobby with endless possibilities to explore. Oh YES!

I remember a "Dear Abby" quote from years ago. Someone wrote because they thought it might not be worth going back to school at their age (over 50, I think.) and that it would take 4 years to finish. Abby responded by asking her old she would be in 4 years if she DIDN'T start school. Good question. I try to remember that, especially now that I'm over 50. I'm not dead yet, and neither are you! Keep quilting, not only for yourself, but for those who appreciate and treasure what you make for them.

I'm 56, I hated sewing when I was young, but, as I got older, and my daughter asked me if I would make a blanket, and curtains for a girl. I look at things I like and go home and make them. I made a blanket, curtains and a hanging diaper bag with no pattern. I got hooked on sewing. About a year later I got into quilts and I have made a few. Right now I am tying a queen sized bargello quilt for my niece. I have a list of family members to make quilts for. No rush times. My own pace, which is slow, but, I am enjoying what I do. Just take one day at a time and enjoy your work and have fun doing your quilts. You will see them coming together a little quicker

I too, was a late bloomer, I was 58 and still learning at 68. I may not be the fastest quilter or the best but I am having a great time. Just do what you can do, and enjoy. Jo

Same here, but look at all the fun we're going to have on the way! :thumbup:

For the grandkids at least, you might want to try making raggy flannel quilts. My husband and I made 24 in 14 months, and I work fulltime. The kids all loved them, and the adults loved theirs too. I posted pictures of some of the quilts on this board on March 19th if you care to check them out.

I was 19 when the bug bit. I was mournful that it would take so long to learn when others had been doing it their entire lives. That was 38 years ago and I still want to do more quilts than there will be time for, even if I live to be a 100.

I remember that Dear Abby question. At 34 I had the chance to finish college. That was the question I asked myself. Took me 5 years but I graduated.

Susan

I'm the same age as you. I started quilting about 7 years ago, but don't have a lot to show for it yet, partly because I'm a chronic non-finisher and partly because until 6 weeks ago I had to work fulltime. I used to get frustrated and upset about the lack of time available to do the things I wanted to do, including quilting, and shared your fear that there'd never be the time, so I do understand. I realised that I was spoiling my own enjoyment by pressurising myself. In the end I hid all my ufos away so that I didn't have to look at them, because it fed that pressure - I'm now doing a ufo challenge and focusing on one at a time. I looked very hard at how I was spending my free time to make sure none was wasted - eg mindless TV watching, too much time on the computer etc. I also resolved to get healthy and stay that way to make sure I get as many quilting years as possible. Am still working on that! Then 3 months ago I quite suddenly and unexpectedly got the opportunity to retire, and am now 6 weeks in, blissfully happy and spending my afternoons quilting. It will happen for you too. In the meantime, focus on enjoying each day, each session at your sewing machine. And don't let other people put pressure on you either - this is your hobby, you choose what you want to do, which should be whatever will give you most pleasure right now. Good luck!

Very good advice annesthread! Thank you! And Welcome to the Board!

But you are still going at it!! That's what I hope for! Happy birthday janb!!!

Great Idea!

I've been sewing since I was 8 years old, and quilting for the past 25 years or so (age 64). I don't worry so much about getting quilts done for everybody.... I make what I like and when I'm gone....hopefully many years away..... they will lay all my quilts out and pick which ones they want, taking turns one at a time. We've already discussed this and even though it upsets my only daughter to think about me passing, I know they'll enjoy the work I left behind.
I just hope I can finish a few of the ones I have half done..... or they're going to have one big job figuring out what to do with all the stuff that's left. Ha Ha Ha ... I want to watch that sight from up above.

Just worry about one quilt @ a time. I am trying to make quilts for all our nieces and nephews (19) in between all my other quilting projects so I hope I live long enough to complete them all. I might start sending them to a LAQ for the quilting. That should save some time. :thumbup:

It's just like eating an elephant. "Take one bite at a time"
Life isn't a race, it's a journey.

i started 20 years ago and still feel that way! and, I'd wanted to quilt since the age of 7 and mom said no, what if you waste fabric? so, fast forward 30 years, I started quilting and after quilt #2, turned my mom onto quilting. She asked about a year after, why did we wait so long? We laughed about that for many years

I'm 72 and the list of quilts I want to make just keeps getting longer and longer, doubt that I will ever get them all done but then I dont worry about it. Sewing relaxes me so I spend a lot of time in my sewing room, will get more sewing done when my DH and get back out to play golf lol

So, where did you get the pattern? Thanks, Libber

Thanks so mush everyone! I do feel more relaxed.

Hey I started quilting in 04 - I know how you feel. Just let the joy of quilting make you happy. I know it's hard because when I started I was totally overwhelmed - now I take my time and totally enjoy it - it will come to you too. Enjoy life! :-)

I started quilting at the same age you did. I am now 67. I have made a quilt for each one of my children (5), each of my grandkids (10), my great grandson, both of my sisters, my wonderful husband, and lots of baby quilts for anybody that I hear is having a baby.
You've got plenty of time. Don't sweat it though or it makes it not fun.

Thanks stchen! I do enjoy making quilts, so it should be easy.

Wow! That is alot of quilts. Thanks juliea! You have inspired me. I know I can do this!

In my book, you're just a baby! You've got lots of time. There are some speedy techniques you can learn to speed things along. Just wait 'til you're my age! Had busy, busy career, while, all the time, collecting fabrics....Just have fun!

When I get my squares made how do I put them together without butting them up each other. I want too use red beween the blocks. Thanks for any help

I sure am glad I'm not the only one who feels like I can't get enough time. I'm 64 soon to be 65 and life just seems to be slipping away. I used to do so much and just can't seem to keep up now. So your not alone join the wonderful senior quilter's good theirs more than one person.

I use strips between, called sashing, between the blocks. I use about 2 1/2 strips or 3 wide.

Do you cut each strip the length of each of your squares and when you do that just sew all the squares together? Thanks for your help!!!

Take it one quilt at a time and one day you will look up and everyone in your family will have one and you will find you have time to spare to make more. God Bless.

You add the sashing between the squares the lengh of the sqaures one way,( use the across sqaayares ibe way) after you press the squares, measure and make one long sashing to connect the other direction. It helps to measure three times and get the average so they are sqaured up. Hope that helps

If you can understand the directions you are doing great because my typing stinks. LOL

Just take one day one quilt at a time. The one I made my second daughter when she was about 12, (now 26)was very well loved and washed. She gave it back to me a couple months ago and asked that I patch a few places before it wears out completly. Sorry to say, my first daughter's quilt has never been finished. She outgrew the color scheme. I think I will finish it and she can just live with a pink and black rose quilt. The trouble with making baby quilts is everyone in the family expects one. So make your own grandkids one first. Tell others that they will have to wait. People don't relize how much time quilting takes and think you can just whip one up anytime. I am 56 and hopefully will live to be 100 as long as I can keep quilting. Work gets in the way!