I think she just meant she's not a very accomplished quilter. I've heard people use that same phrase here, as a joking way to deprecate their work.

I think some folks say that when they don't feel like they are very good at something, I have heard a lot of old timers refer to different things in that way.

maybe you should go back and ask her.

Ditto!

I think it's a play on the phrase 'I make a stab at it'.

My take on her statement means that she quilts but does not think her quilting would measure up to others' standards, so she denigrates her quilting so no one will make her feel bad with their comments about her long stitches, knots showing, etc.?

ROTFLOL, when I read the original post my first thought was "Why didn't you ask her to elaborate or clarify?" Then my husband pointed out that not everybody has worked 12 years in psychiarty and uses the same, direct techniques as I do! Was he implying I am nosey?

dont think he was but if I dont understand something no matter how stupid I sound I am going to ask

Maybe she dabbles at quilting.

This to me means, she is working at trying to quilt.