For me, it was attending my cousin Shirley's funeral (ovarian cancer at age 51) and seeing all of her beautiful handwork that was on display around the room. She left so many beautiful heirlooms for her children. I asked her sister/my cousin to teach me how, since she was also a quilter, and we met weekly throughout the next few months and I learned the basics of hand piecing and hand quilting as I did a table runner.

In 2007 I started to practice piecing nine-patches and my daughter asked me to make them into a quilt, and I started working on that. I got my own cancer diagnosis in dec of 08 and I couldn't bring myself to work on the quilt. Can't explain it, but I felt kind of like working on it was admitting I was dying. I know ... doesn't make sense. Anyway, after my surgery and getting good lab reports back, I picked it up again and didn't put it down until I finished and gave it to her for Christmas.

Now I'm working on a quilt (ordered the fabric last week), warm wishes, to make and give to a first-time chemo patient through the sunshine box project (www.fightingcancerinc.org). I'm going to machine piece and either do simple hand quilting or tie it, since I want to be able to make it quickly so I can make MORE for other patients. I'm really excited about it and my goal is to do six this year ... which may be insane but that's my goal and I'm sticking to it! :roll:

(((HUGS))) You are awesome to think of others going through this!!! :D:D:D

I had to quit doing so much handwork, I always loved quilts and one day I came across some gorgeous patterns online, and haven't looked back since!!! :D:D:D

For me it was two things, One my grandmother has always given us quilts, so I have always wanted to quilt. She is the one who turned me on to this board! Two, My son was very sick as a baby and was int he hospital and had surgery at 5 months old to remove a web that was in the jejunum of his intestine. During that stay he was given two quilts that were donated to the hospital along with books and so many volunteers who read to him at the hospital, so I wanted to be able to give back to those who had helped us when we were going through a rough time.

I'm so sorry to hear about your son. Is he doing better now?

Quilts are pretty. I've always liked to sew. The kids are big enough so I have tons of free time. It just all came together. then I found the board and now I have to quilt so I can stay!

I slept under antique quilts as a child and loved the comfy feel even then - I wish I had them now!!! I just love sewing and started quilting!!

I tried to make a quilt for my upcoming wedding when I was 19. The pattern was flawed, and so was my sewing. It was a wedding ring pattern with curved seams (which was WAY to advanced for me.) I ended up not getting married and the quilt was stashed away. (I still have it in pieces.) Then, my senior year in college, I had to give an informative speech, so I talked about quilting traditions and where blocks got their origins. (I still have that speech on VHS.) Through the research, I really got bit by the quilting bug. My mom gave me an old Montgomery Wards machine - that I still use occasionally) - and away I went. I have been quilting ever since.

I have an aunt that has always been very crafty - but not really my style. She is big into buttons and Fairy's (SP?) Then my husband's grandmother - who he lost touch with - came to our wedding 5 years ago and gave us a king sized quilt. I think the squares are maybe 3x3 and each is tied so a lot of work went into it. It is the best wedding gift I have (well a close second to my husband!) and I sleep with it every night. I only meet her once and she just passed away 2 weeks ago - but I think of her every night. That quilt got me interested in quilting.

I have always had quilts in my life, my grandmother and mother-in-law made lots of them over the years, but the thing that really got me into it was the fact that Mom always made every new baby in the family a flannel tie quilt, she believed that every newborn deserved this gift. Mom was taken from our family by cancer, but I wanted the tradition of baby quilts to family members to live on so I became the one who goes to every baby shower with a flannel tie quilt as a gift. But I just couldn't stop there so many fabrics and patterns and so little time :lol:

I'm very sorry to read about your Mom. I am glad that the tradition she started remains. It will make it all the more special as time goes by.

I too come from a home where homemade items were a norm. We always had "homemade" quilts on our beds. Mom made each of us a quilt as we got married & then made each grandchild an animal quilt as they came along. The first one I did, I sewed the top & paid my twin sister to quilt it. Then as more grandchildren came along I decided I needed to be able to do the whole process. Now I am in the process of making a quilt for each grandchild so they can watch tv or wrap up in on cold nights.
Because I grew up with homemade items, I want my quilts used & worn out. My thought is you can always make another. Hopefully someday my daughter &/or daughters-in-law will get the bug. I do have one 6 year old granddaughter that always asks to sew when she comes over. Maybe if the other granddaughters were closer they would want to sew also.

I had ordered a book in 1986 with an afgan in it that I wanted to crochet. In the same book was a quilt pattern that I fell in love with! So, being a total non quilter, I set about getting fabric to make it with. I found some beautiful pieces, and all the wrong type of fabric( as I years-later learned); it was silky!! But it was my favorite colors, lilac and green. So I proceeded, and finished the hand quilting the night my granddaughter was born. in May of '87. It was a queen, Grandmothers Fan block. I even did embroidery work on the fan pieces. It was lovely and I used it on my bed for many years, even tho the bedspread was always on the floor the next morning!
But then I went back to work, and had no time, with a job and 5 kids at home. But they all eventually left and I once again had time. So 10 years later I applied at a quilt shop and was hired, not because I was a quilter, but because of my background in art and clothing. In no time I was a full-fledged quilter, even teaching classes! I have not looked back, and all the other crafts I did got put in the Yard Sale, or went to Goodwill. Now it's just quilts, with a little beadwork sandwiched in occasionally. I love it and wake up every day just antsy to get to the sewing room.
Then almost 7 years ago we got another baby, new from the hospital. He has slowed me down some with what I want to get done, but it's all good. He is now old enough to let me sew and he's in school so I have time every day. It's been a good life, and being a quilter has been the icing on the cake.

YTQ

I had never had a quilt; but in 2004 was diagnosed with an incurable form of leukemia. It is a slow one, so the only realy problem I have right now is fatigue and a compromised immune system. I was told that I should try to protect myself as best I could during cold and flu season; and decided the best way would be to stay home more. In late summer 2005 I decided that I should take a few lessons to learn to quilt, instead of just dragging out my sewing machine for hemming my husband's jeans. Since then, he has bought me a Janome machine that has some of the nicer features that benefits a quilter, and it has been an enjoyable experience. I don't spend alot of time at it; but do enjoy it. This weekend, I purchased fabric to make quilts for our twin great nieces that will be arriving around the first of June. Will post when they are done.
Happy Quilting Everyone!
Nancy

I have always loved to sew. My Mom sew some and my Mamaw's sewed and made quilts. My Mom made quilts for my daughters when they were born and I still treasure them. I sewed littel dresses and dolls for my girls and granddaughter. When we found out we were getting a grandson, I decided to try and make a quilt for him since he didn't need dresses. LOL!

My first quilt was called "Streak of Sunshine" and made with John Deere fabrics and stitch in the ditch quilting. After that, I was hooked. I still love to sew and made all his crib bedding to match his quilt.

I hope to leave quilted treasures for my daughters and grandbabies.

Why quilting?

Promise not to laugh...aw go ahead and laugh. A quilting magazine cover caught my eye and I thought hey, this looks like something I could do. Cut some fabric, stitch a few straight seams and voila, a quilt is born.

I took Home Ec years ago (it's a shame it is no longer taught) and did make a couple of dresses I actually wore. I also sewed clothes and costumes for my daughters both for fun and for economical reasons. But I have never mastered garment sewing. I keep saying to myself that I need to give it a try again because I would really like to make clothes for myself. I get so tired of not finding age appropriate clothing in the stores. Everything is geared to twenty year olds, so it would be great to be able to sew for myself.

Quilting appealed to me because I thought it was doable. I think it is a great way to develop some sewing skills and particulary for beginners because you can find patterns that really only require straight line sewing. I also am drawn to the endless color choices and patterns that are available.

I am the only one in my family that sews, but I am hoping my niece will get involved. She has shown some interest but has so little time.

My grandma made quilts and when DD was very young my mom made her a quilt. It was just five inch squares sewed together but it was so loved. All my kids used it and when my DGD was 4 she was looking in my youngest daughters closet and pulled that tattered worn out quilt out of all the blankets stored there and declared it as hers. I decided if something could evoke so much love I wanted to make one too. I've been quilting ever since and have loved it.

I have a love for all artsy hobbies and anything that has old traditions. I have a quilt from both grandmas but neither quilted much. I love to sew and had sewn alot of the kids clothes.

So when a friend mentioned that she had started quilting, I said you have to teach me. She brought the supplies from Oklahoma, 10 hours away and now we quilt together, apart and share pics online.

I am truly addicted now!

Sheila

I started because of my mom. My mom retired back in 2001 and since she didn't want to just sit around, she decided to take up a hobby. As a child, she made a lot of clothes for herself and siblings (the oldest of 8) so she decided to take up some form of sewing. She made some baby stuff, and made me a jacket out of fleece which I stll have and love. Then, she made a tablerunner and that was it!! The quilting bug had struck! She used her savings and went and bought herself the top of the line Bernina (180E at the time), fabric, thread, etc.. and never looked back. Since mom and I have never had a good relationship, I decided to learn to sew so we would have a common interest and try to build a relationship. I had no interest in it and probably never would have started if not for my mom. We took a few classes together and I actually enjoyed it!! I am nowhere near as good as my mom. Her stuff is so good, you would think she's been doing this for 30yrs!! I am proud of what I do though. It took a little longer for me to be fully addicted, but I am there now!! Also, my mom and I have a great relationship now, even though we still have a few tiffs now and then.

Oh so great the stories are. I'm not sure that I have much of an interesting one, but here goes. My mom and I were like oil and water. If she said "up" I said "down". So as a little one I would get hints as to what I would like and wouldn't like to do by the things she fussed about. There was a box, one of those waxed boxes that packed meats are shipped in. In it was a lot of small pieces of fabric. Well, in about 1957, she was counting bubbles in a magazine and sent in the contest of how many to win a vacuum cleaner. A great deal of time later, she'd nearly forgotten about it but a man knocked on our door. We were living in a coal camp and were used to bums knocking for a hand out. She had just lost her dad and told 'whoever it is, go away." And a male voice piped up, "Even if you are a winner in a contest, you still want me to go away." So, he told her she had won her chance to BUY a vacuum cleaner. She got the magazine and looked it up and all of the item had been the part she mailed away. SO, she said, no it said, to WIN. Well, she'd just bought a new electrolux vacuum and didn't need one and told him so. And he asked if she would be interested in a new Electric sewing machine. She said maybe or maybe not. He sat and showed her his book and talked and talked. I was playing jacks on the floor when she jumped up and said, what would you give me for this. Her darling old Singer treadle machine. He and she made a bargain, but her sewing machine had to be shipped. Two weeks later, we got a card in the mail to go to Cottonhill Train Station and pick it up. It was protable, pink and all sorts of attachments. A tool box, and instruction book. Oh goodness, she was the cock of the walk. No one else in the Coal Camp had one. So, to practice she dragged that old box out and pieced those little pieces together. She told me it was instructional, not that she was wasting her time on it. One day, it was as big as her bed and she took a think cotton blanket and sewed it to it and wrapped the blanket around it and mitered the corners. It was a delight. Many a warm night was enjoyed by that rag quilt. She didn't have to tie it, because she taught herself the art of 'freewill'sewing. She was a bit religious. I already have two sewing machines so just a couple weeks ago, I gave "Pinky" to a lovely lady I met on freecycle looking for an old one. I was moving it to feed the bird, moving it to use the dryer and moving it twice a day. It weighed a ton. The lady is delighted and so am I. Just before I married in 1968, my intended bought me a machine for Christmas.....and piecing bits and making children's clothes and wedding garments since. oh I love to sew. God is Good!.....Ruth

Thanks Sharon,

She has been gone over 9 years but not a day goes by that I don't miss her, she truly was my best friend, probably because she was only 16 years older than me and I think we grew up together, and yes family members always comment on the fact that "Aunt Sandra" had made this or that quilt when their children were born. I love tradition

Sharon,
Are you going to the big quilt show in Statesville, NC (civic center)this Fri. sat. and sun.? I am going down from WV thursday, If I can get across the mountians. We are suppose to have another big snow storm starting Thursday. I'm staying with my daughter. She is in Mooresville (Lake Norman) , about 15 min from Charlotte.

In 2000, I think, an email list that I was on experienced a rush of babies. So, we decided to make quilts. Those who wanted to participate learned how to make a 9-patch. I thought it was fun and kept going. I go through spurts and have taken years off, but when I do come back I do it with gusto!

My mother quilts, my grandmother (fathers side) was a quilter her mother was a quilter, and so on and so on. My daughter is a quilter. It's something in the blood.

Actually, I taught myself to quilt with the help of many good quilting friends. No one in my family quilted... but my grandmother knitted and my mother made the most beautiful awesome doilies (which everyone had on their tables and sofas in those days). I have a few of my mother's items... and I remember watching that hook fly so fast with the thread it defied you to see what she was doing. I learned to sew simple clothing from her as well. I knitted and I crocheted before I learned to quilt. I still knit and crochet when I get the urge to do so... but quilting is my favorite... stress reducer....ever. No need for pills when fabric does the job. Right? :?

I started quilting in the Spring of 2006, just after my Mom (a talented and juried crafter) passed away from Pancreatic Cancer. Our family tradition of going to cabins in the Pennsylvania mountains every Thanksgiving since 1969 is what inspired my first quilting endeavor. My Mom would, on Thanksgiving Day, ask my brothers and brothers-in-law to go into the woods and find a large branch and put it in a bucket of rocks. During the week long stay each family member (eight children, spouses, and 23 grandchildren) would each be given 2 construction paper leaves. On the first leaf we were to write down what we were thankful for. On the second leaf, what our hopes were for the coming year. Either before or after Thanksgiving dinner, each person would read their leaves and then hang them on the bare branch that had been brought in (Thanksgiving Dinner took a very long time :)). By the time all the leaves were read and placed on the branch, we had a beautiful "tree" that started out bare and was now full of life. My Mom passed away in April 2006 (Palm Sunday) and on May 1 was surfing the net and found a quilting pattern for a Thanksgiving Tree. It was fate and I knew that I had to make this quilt, eight times over (one for each of my parents' eight children). I have sewn quite a bit over the years, but never quilted. I recruited my sister-in-law and during Thanksgiving week 2006 we gave each family a Thanksgiving Tree quilted wallhanging. I have been hooked ever since.

I grew up seeing my mom and grandma sew, I also took it up. I love crafting, and after my son was born wanted to do something with his receiving blankets. I made my first quilt from them, and it was just a basic one. Through the years it has grown as I become better, I love the challenge.

I had always sewed most of my life (loved all crafts) and decided I wanted to take a class in stained glass. Well the closest thing adult ed was offering was quilting, so I did that instead. Have been quilting ever since.

We bought our house in '89 and I knew it needed a quilt. So I signed up for a sampler class. The lady at the store reminded me to bring my scraps. I didn't even know what she was talking about. Hadn't read the part that it was a scrap sampler class. About $150 later I had a nice little stash going plus all the supplies, and the rest is history. I guess I need to tell you that the sampler never got finished. It is rather pelty coz the kitties loved it so and I can't bring myself to work on it.

I found out my good friend at church is a quilter. We went on a camping trip together, and we went to a quilt shop in Cambria, CA. I saw the most beautiful quilts and fabrics, and just KNEW I was meant to do that too!! I bought a fat quarter bundle, we picked a pattern, and she spent the next 3 weeks teaching me how to cut, sew and sandwich. I found my creative niche, and I haven't stopped since.

My Grandmother quilted and I ended up with about14 quilts, one that she did along with her sister in the late 1800's, but I did a terrible thing when I was young and just married. I had no interest in old quilts, just taking up space, so I sold them, all of them for $700, kept one. Just last year I started thinking about what I had done getting rid of all those beautiful quilts and thought maybe I can do this, I remembered sitting and watching my Grandmother hand piece. So I went online got some basic instructions, found a pattern called Granny's Flower Garden, bought some fabric and off I went on my quilting. In the past 10 months I have made 7 lap quilts and I love it but not real good at it.

Yes, he is doing much better now, went from throwing up everything to being a healthy (but small) crazy kid, he has some food restrictions and are battling with wieght but other than that he is the best thing ever! I am so sorry to hear about your struggles, it is good to have friends on here though that we can all share these things with! Thanks for starting this thread it was such a wonderfull way for us to get to know eachother a little more! I know I feel like I have found so many new friends here, even though I am so new, everyone is just so welcoming and helpfull and friendly!

That is the most wonderfull story! I think I could sit and listen to stories like that all day!

I love your story and Thanksgiving tradition. Thank you for sharing it with us.

I meant to include your story.

Again, I love your story and Thanksgiving tradition. Thank you for sharing that with the group.

This is a good question. I was in a museum in Vermont some years ago. It is in the town of Shelburne. I was in the one building with the quilts in it for nearly an hour marveling over the wonderful old quilts. I believe that is when it started.

never say never!
My Mom always had a quilt in a frame. She and a few friends quilted together. They quilted lots of quilts. I tried to quilt a few times and hated it. I said never will I ever quilt!!
A friend took a quilting class and wanted me to try one. I have sewed clothes since I was small and enjoyed it. I agreed to try and I am addicted. I don't hand quilt tho only machine quilt. I still don't enjoy hand quilting.

oh dear, thank you....windy old bag, aren't I?
Blessings, Ruth

My story isn't as sweet or sentimental as others....To be honest - I quilt because I am tired of crocheting. I have done a ton of different arts and crafts - and I usually burn out on something if I'm not challenged anymore. I really do love quilting and the variety of patterns and fabrics should keep me interested for years and years. (crossed fingers)

I am the accidental quilter.

I had been invited to get together with some friends one Sunday afternoon. "Judy is going to teach us how to quilt" I said I'd go along to socialize, but that I was NOT interested in learning anything to do with sewing. I had avoided that for all my life and I didn't intend to change at that point.

Well, needless to say I did participate that afternoon. Then I decided I needed to finish what I had started so I did a little more when I got home. I did own a sewing machine my mother had bought me for my college graduation - a Singer featherweight and I did at least know how to thread it.

Before you know it, I was into the "stuff gathering" mode. I needed tools, right? And more fabric? I couldn't run to Judy's house for everything.

At that time in my life I was making good money and I was more than willing to spend it too. Before you know, I had a full supply of everything: A new, better sewing machine, a cutting table with two huge mats, LOTS of fabric. Mind you that very little sewing was taking place, but I was having fun!

Had to try out the new sewing machine, so occasionally I would make a block or two to try them out. I also got so I actually made an entire quilt - baby-sized, mitered corners on the borders.

What interested me about the whole thing up to this point was the geometry. I loved the shapes and how things fit together. (Can you guess I loved playing with a Spirograph as a young girl?)

Mostly I just tinkered for the next 4-5 years. Then a couple of years ago I was invited to go do an all day sew-in. (Invitations are dangerous for me LOL)Again I thought I would go more for the socializing and once again I actually sewed, planned, and got into an entire project. Most of what I had learned up to this point had been on my own, just playing around. But that day at the sew-in was totally different with all the people who were willing to help me out with all sorts of things.

So now I've been going to the sew-in once a month for two years and wouldn't miss it for anything. I of course do plenty of quilting at home too. Another new machine for me a few months ago too. Somewhere in there I inherited my mother's machine too. She's still living, but hadn't used it for years. So now I have two Singers: my Featherweight, and a 301a mom bought new, my Brother which I used at the sew-ins for a year and half, and now my beloved Pfaff.

I am still pretty slow with it all because I want it all to be perfect when I am done. I've picked up some other days of sewing also, so now I have about 4 days a month at the store and the rest at home. Someday I may get faster, but I will know I will be the eternal beginner.

AND I now avoid invitations! I don't have time for anything else.

My mom taught me to sew clothing and I did that on and off until quilting came into my life. My BFF's new mother-in-law was a quilter but the only thing she made was Cathedral Windows all by hand. She taught my BFF how to do it and one Christmas I got a CW wall hanging. I blew me away that my friend that never sewed had made this. Her MIL gave me a bunch of old quilting magazines and, I swear, I wanted to make every quilt I saw. (Nothing much has changed.) So the next Christmas I told my DH to get me quilting supplies and I gave him quite a list including a "The Complete Quilt" book so that I could learn from this book and I did. My first quilt was a king size rail fence in 1988. And the beat goes on.