How did you all learn quilting? Self-taught? Learned from mother, grandmother, auntie, friends? Workshops? Books?
I am really curious, please tell me... :-)

Books, online videos/tutorials, here on the board and tv shows :D:D:D
No one in my family is interested in quilting, nor in my group of friends. All of my family who quilted were deceased when I had the iterest to start learning to quilt.

My first quilt was made when I was in 7th grade. I tried to copy a quilt my grandmother had made (dresden plate with a ice cream cone border) No one in my family sewed! I finished the top and didn't quilt it. My older sister got it and took it to a group of women that got together and quilted for money, as my college graduation. What a surprise! Then when I was going to have my first child, I made him a quilt and then I made many after that. I watched PBS Nancy Zeman and Georgia Bonesteel to learn about quilting. Since then other quilting programs Simply Quilts and tons of books. I have taken classes at quilt festival, and a couple of classes at quilt shops.

Mostly self taught. A few classes but nothing I didn't already know. Took them more to meet people with similar interest. Then I met this board earlier this year and find all the info priceless.

I read, bought quilting books, started with a couple of huge whole quilts, one showing planets and one monster trucks going over rocks. I sewed around every planet, every truck and rock. Those took me about 2 years to finish. I learned what not to do, and two of my GC are enjoying those quilts now.

I have since bought more quilting magazines and just recently watched how-to videos and joined a couple of on-line forums. My knowledge and confidence have grown since then and I am looking forward to expanding my abilities.

I took one class and wasn't impressed with my teacher.. I knew I could do THIS! SO I started collecting patterns and I WAS OFF to the races. I have taken classes since and I continue to amaze myself with my abbilities! I SEW LOVE QUILTING!

I've sewen since I was 12 in school. Made clothes and home decor. Then a friend talked me into going to a quild meeting so I bought Fons and Porters Complete Guide to Quilting and read up on everything. I have taken 2 classes, one for hand-quilting - which was a total waste of time and one for watercolor quilts. If I was interested in a particular techinique, I bought the book or asked questions.

Totally self taught. No one in my family quilts or sews (or any other craft). I got my first sewing machine when I got married, 14 yrs ago. Started a log cabin quilt, learned by reading a book, then had a baby and it fell by the wayside. 14 yrs later and a new machine, I'm back in it. I do alot of reading on the internet, alot of "trial and error" and have bought a few quilting books. Started with small table runners and baby quilts, and am now on my first queen size quilt. Oh, and that 14 yr old log cabin top, still in a drawer. Its not very pretty :(

Took a series of 4 week beginner classes. Loved it, have since taken a fmq class and wish I could take more. It is in my genes though both my grandmothers quilted when they were alive. In fact I am working on 2 of theirs at the moment.

I watched my grandma quilt while growing up. When I was expecting, I made a baby quilt and I just fell in love with quilting! That was 35 years ago!

I started sewing at 7 or 8 making clothes for my doll. Learned to use a sewing machine in home economics in junior high school. My mother let me try her featherweight after I learned the basics in school. I made my summer clothes the year between the 7th and 8th grade. I made my first quilt from scraps from my garmet sewing between my junior and senior year in high school. It was just a scrap quilt made of 4 inch blocks of every kind of fabric. I handquilted it with double thread and huge knots which I didn't know to bury. My parents gave me a zig zag machine for my high school graduation present. I have not stopped sewing and quilting since. I didn't take a formal quilt class until at least ten years after I was married in 1977. I am mostly self taught. I watched shows like Simply Quilts, Georgia Bonesteel and Sewing with Nancy for years. After 40 years I have an awesome collection of quilt and sewing related books, magazines etc.

I always loved doing crafts....needlework, ect. I remember taking my allowance and walking to Ben Frankin with my friend to buy fabric and the pre stamped embrodery stuff. No one in my family is crafty either! (Except my Dad, he's a woodworker, though). When I got married, I got an awesome MIL, who sewed, quilted, canned, gardened...she taught me so much! When I was divorced I missed her way more than my Ex, LOL!

I started out sewing on a Pfaff 130 that my dad had bought my grandmother. It was passed down to him after she died.
My mom didn't really sew except maybe an occasional mending job. She hates anything to do with sewing. Since my maternal grandma always wore aprons, I decided to make her aprons. I would always beg for fabric every time we went to town. Never used a pattern, just made them. I'm sure they weren't very good in the beginning but served their purpose I suppose, and taught me alot about sewing too.

I sewed in home ec, and then after I married made hubby's shirts, pants, and clothes for my kiddos and myself.
After years of sewing and not tossing scraps, I decided I needed to use them up, so I started quilting with them.

I've read a few magazines, looked at old quilts and just started doing my thing. It seemed to me the hardest part was sandwiching the layers together, trying to get them assembled without having puckers on the bottom. I bought one of those little square thingy's to use to hand quilt with. I hate hand quilting, I wish I could do better at it, but sewing by hand is just not my thing. I learned about free motion quilting and love doing that.

When I retired there were a few quilts that I wanted to do, just because. One was a crazy quilt, which I thought backing it with satin would just be a neat idea. What a pain! It was so very heavy, and the fabrics I used had alot of "stuff" on them that made free motion quilting a royal pain. I ended up having to quilt a lot of it by hand.
Someday, if I get brave I'll post a pic of it. It is beautiful, but the quilting leaves much to be desired because my spray didn't hold, and it shifted. But, it is was it is, and I dare not try to take out the stitches for fear of cutting the fabric.

Hubby decided after this that I needed a quilting frame and bought one for me. Then he saw the limitations of using a standard machine on the frame, and began trying to find a longer arm machine for me, which should arrive this week.
I still have much to learn, but am getting there. Am very excited about getting the longer arm machine.

Mostly self taught, I saw some ladies quilting at a center I went to, they wanted me to join them, but I was too afraid. I just watched, then I went home and started quilting pillows. That was back in the 80's. Didn't really make a pieced top untill 2002. But I have made many since.

I took a four week class. It was a sampler quilt with four blocks and it was handstitched. It did give me a chance to try applique and helped me to understand the basics, such as the 1/4" rule. But I am not patient and knew I was going to be making quilts by machine, so I bought a couple of books and jumped in on my own. I find I learn best when I have to reason my way through things.

I just never stopped learning on my own and now from all you guys.

In 1976, America celebrated the Bicentenniel. Since patchwork quilts are an authentic American art, they were in the news. I was fortunate to meet Beth Gutcheon, author of the Perfect Patchwork Primer. I invited her to speak to my art students and took a class.
I had worked in a fabric store in hs and love to sew. Beth was on tv a lot, sharing her love for quilts with the American public. Beth became a novelist, and I had 3 babies and a divorce. It took 30 years for me to get back into quilting. There are so many more resources now and it amazes me that I am buying fabric (and my groceries) online. I love to read quilting fiction and just discovered the historical notes that come with online AG doll quilt patterns!
Dotty in NYC/UWS

I grew up around my grandmothers and my mom sewing. I can't remember not sewing but I didn't begin quilting until my oldest DD went from a crib to her "big girl" bed. I made a quilt for her. I even used 5/8 seam allowances on it. After that I learnd from TV shows and from magazines. My DD is 36 so I have been quilting a long time.

have always made garments, but when I decided I wanted to quilt I went to library and ended reading every book in the OKC at least 2 or 3 times before I finally tried a simple quilt.

I started by making a quilt for each of my grandchildren (3) for their first child. (Oh, just in case I am not here for the great grandchildren I wanted to make something from me. The grandchildren now are 17. 9 and 7 and I made the first three quilts about 10 years ago (wanted to stay ahead of myself), I cut out 13" square pieces of muslin, ironed an Aunt Martha's transfer on 15 blocks. That started my coverlets. I embroidered each block, learned how to do the sashing and border, learned how to put the top, batting and backing on, pinned the whole thing down, got myself an 18" hoop and some Tiger Tape and went to town hand quilting them with 1/4" running stitch. Then I tied them down and put on the binding. I made a total of 8 of those and then I started on picking out fabric for the quilt blocks I sewed together. Mom gave me some fabric to start out on and I found a pattern I liked "Antique Tile" and it took over a year ;but I made my Memory Quilt. Since then I have made a lot more. I love the Samplers the best - have two in the works right now - quilt for granddaughter's graduation and the Cancer Quilt (Susan G Komen Three Day Breast Cancer Walk - raffled off at the end of the walk).

I pick out my own colors. I do NOT color coordinate the samplers. I pick out the pattern, pick out the colors, pick out the fabric and away I go. People say that they know my quilts by the way I do the coloring of the blocks. Each individual block matches, but does not match the rest of the blocks in the quilt. Each block has its own story and I don't want it confused with another block.

Anyhow, after making six or seven of these quilts, I think I will try a patterned quilt. Maybe Tumbling Blocks. Edie

I started by making a quilt for each of my grandchildren (3) for their first child. (Oh, just in case I am not here for the great grandchildren I wanted to make something from me. The grandchildren now are 17. 9 and 7 and I made the first three quilts about 10 years ago (wanted to stay ahead of myself), I cut out 13" square pieces of muslin, ironed an Aunt Martha's transfer on 15 blocks. That started my coverlets. I embroidered each block, learned how to do the sashing and border, learned how to put the top, batting and backing on, pinned the whole thing down, got myself an 18" hoop and some Tiger Tape and went to town hand quilting them with 1/4" running stitch. Then I tied them down and put on the binding. I made a total of 8 of those and then I started on picking out fabric for the quilt blocks I sewed together. Mom gave me some fabric to start out on and I found a pattern I liked "Antique Tile" and it took over a year ;but I made my Memory Quilt. Since then I have made a lot more. I love the Samplers the best - have two in the works right now - quilt for granddaughter's graduation and the Cancer Quilt (Susan G Komen Three Day Breast Cancer Walk - raffled off at the end of the walk).

I pick out my own colors. I do NOT color coordinate the samplers. I pick out the pattern, pick out the colors, pick out the fabric and away I go. People say that they know my quilts by the way I do the coloring of the blocks. Each individual block matches, but does not match the rest of the blocks in the quilt. Each block has its own story and I don't want it confused with another block.

Anyhow, after making six or seven of these quilts, I think I will try a patterned quilt. Maybe Tumbling Blocks. Edie

OOPS! Edie

I have sewed since I was 14 self taught. Started out out doll clothes and dolls.Then started making quilts. I am in my 50's and just past yr I have taken two classes at a quilt shop. I was not impressed at all and thought it was a waste of money , The teacher in one class wasn't even back in the class room much to help mainly gave me the pattern and left went back to front of her shop and checked on us few times. I thought this was a waste. The other class I took , again was not impressed. I feel like there is good classes to be taken out there but I have not had much luck finding one though. I have several quilt friends we share and help each other that is worth more then any two classes I have attended in my life.

OSMOSIS. From watching my mother, 4-H sewing, boredom when living away from home (homesickness).

I taught myself for the most part. After stumbling with the process for weeks, I talked another quilter (secretary of one of my husband's colleagues) into evaluating my work. At first, she was reluctant but finally relented. She gave me lots of help, loaned me books, let me watch her, etc. All this helped me tremendously.

The best way to learn is just do it! If it isn't correct, rip it out and do it over. Eventually, you will catch on.

This website is marvellous for beginning quilters. So many tips - even for us experienced quilters.

I come from a quilting family. My grandmother was a master, I also have quilts from my great-aunts and my mother. I started putting together patches at a very early age. My first actual quilt was at 17. I have had mentors all my life, anything new I want to try I get of the internet and just go for it.

I tried to learn myself, but no patience ... so I put my dreams and quilting goals away and when I moved to OH, I found a LQS that taught classes ... I've had six classes (two top making/learning quilting classes, applique and paper piecing class, machine quilting and binding class).

I have learned a ton of information on this site ... as most of these folks show their quilts, share patterns (when free), give great directions, etc ...

I believe the best thing that has happened to me this year is I found this quilting board :D

I learned to sew 38 years ago from my mom. She and I made a few quilts, she would do the hand quilting. I don't like to hand quilt. About 6 years ago I was unemployed and started hanging around two older women that quilted. One had a machine which I taught myself to use. We would meet every Tuesday and Saturday. Taking turns I did't get many finished. Then my brother bought me a machine on a 14' frame, Flo, she and I have been quilting since Oct 06 and I have finished dozens. The problem is I have tons of them left. Most of my family really don't care about the quilts. Each has one or two. My daughter loves them.
I give away plenty. I don't think I'll ever give it up unless my health gets bad. I quilted this morning before going to work.

Mostly self taught but with help from my mother. Actually, we are constantly teaching each other new found skills at quilting.

One class, and then self-taught.

My mother taught me to embroider when I was very young. Maybe 7 or8 . I still have the hoop she taught me on. Other than that she didn't sew. I remember making a bag when I was in homeec when I was about 9 or 10. It was on a treadle machine. But thats it. I made a quilt when my son was young and didn't know thats what I was doing.It was a copy of a hot air balloon shade he had. machine appliqued and outline machine quilted. lol
I always made my own clothes in middle school and high school. Circumstances changed then and I had to go live with my grandparents. Who were still living back in the 30's. So it was survival that I learned to sew. Other than a couple of homeec classes I taught my self.
Took one class back in the 80's from a lady named Ruth Brill in FL at the middle school at night. It was all hand done and hand quilted a sampler quilt. Let my daughter borrow it and never saw it again.
I have taken one machine quilting class but for health and money reasons have not been able to take anymore. There are no quilt guilds big enough to have teachers near enough to me for me to go. And traveling for classes is out right now.
Most of the classes they have at the quilt shops around me I am just not interested in. Sooo I use books the internet and this group to see new things. Others I just make up as I go along. lol

Watching my Grams, my DM sewed as well as my DS and I, old boss is an excellent quilter and she taught me alot. So, more or less self-taught.

took a 6wk course, also lots and lots of different classes held within 50 miles. And lastly through great friends who have been quilting forever

my grandmother and my mother both quilted; my grandmother got me hooked.

i watched t.v. shows, read books and went for it!

Self taught (20 years ago). Saw an article for Quilt in a weekend in the womans day magazine. It was trip around the world. Since then I have taken classes at local quilt shows to learn new skills.

Have sewn for a long time off and on but got into quilting a few years ago and love it. I did take a few classes and have a few books and magazines that I use too. There's a ton of information out there and this site has been very, very educational too.

I read everything I could on the internet,& still do, bought tons of books & magazines, read alot & just started practicing.

Learned to sew as a child, started making some of my own clothes when I was 10 or 11. Then, when I was about 16, I decided I wanted to make a quilt using my grandmother's quilting frame (had never pieced or quilted) so I set out to make a Lone Star quilt with clam shell all over quilting - obviously I had no idea!!!!

Got it pieced, got it quilted all but about 6" - guess I should find it and see if it's worth finishing :shock:

Then got interested again a couple of years ago. This time I've taken some classes, joined sites like this, going to MQS in May - only one class there but I'm sure there will lots of shopping and dreaming, shopping and dreaming. :-D

My best friend and I became best friends as she was teaching me to quilt. That was 4 years ago. We love quilting together whenever we can, but that's not often due to our work and grandkids schedules.

both Grandmothers sewed one sewd clothes for entire family even grandbabiesan other one sew more quilts in her life time than i'll ever dream about getting sewn even if I just sew plain block squares together.I have inhearated the ones my dad had since he's passed now an I will cherish an use them like they're
to be used an sew as many as I can up till the day I die an then let the kids fight over the one's I have gotten made.Ionly have two kids an so far two grandsons.Hoping to have a granddaughter some day cause i have some of them really cute dress's that I would love to make.HAPPY STITCHING