because i breath. i'm 55 and have been doing this crazy craft since i was seven. can't stop if i wanted to. it's in my blood now, and the air i breath

I like the creative process and being busy. Like others I used to scrapbook a lot, now have that outlet with quilting!!

I'm with the rest of you -- started with embroidery, made my own clothes, made my kids clothes, did counted cross stitch, ceramics, photography, and started quilting. It is the hobby that has lasted the longest. I guess it lets me be creative while still being practical. I'm teaching all my grandkids to sew now. When I sit by my machine my life becomes stress free!

I flunked home ec, got a c- in art class, and barely passed choir. I wasn't good at anything creative. No one in my family, aunts, uncles, even grandmother never ever did any crafty thing. It was rumored that my grandmother had a sewing machine, but if she did, I never saw it and I lived with her a lot until I was 9. Only my mom had some kind of talent. She was musical and could play accordion, piano and was a whiz on the organ. Unfortunately, neither my sister nor I inherited her talent. My college roommate taught me how to knit, I learned to crochet from a book, tried other crafts, but they always looked as if a 2 year old could have done better. Then one day I saw a Victorian crazy quilt on a decorating magazine cover. I was hooked, bought a book, fabric, a ruler, and scissors and proceeded to make the most awful quilt I've ever seen, but goodness, I was so proud of it. It graced our bed for many years (my sister still has hers--I don't blame her for not putting it on her bed, or if she did it was to keep warm and/or under the bedspread.)

Still hooked.

I have had a lifelong urge to create things...even as a child I was constantly fiddling with little creations from scraps and household items. I think my mother originally taught me the basics to just keep me out of her hair for a weekend, but the idea stuck and lingered through the rest of my schooling. I like playing with patterns and colors and angles; making quilts works both sides of my brain. Somewhere I have a folder of quilts I designed and drew out and colored through the years...projects just waiting to be made.

Now that I have the funds and time to pick up a hobby that requires regular supplies, I went back to the quilts. I can remember walking around and playing under quilts on the frame...and my great aunt quilted. When her health forced her to downsize, my family inherited several garbage bags of hand-quilted heirlooms; when a quilt would wear out, her family would make a new top, just a tad larger, and quilt it onto the old one, since most of them were made before people in rural areas had reliable heat and electricity. Some of the under-layers are beautiful, even if mostly shreds.

In short, I grew up appreciating the love and beauty of a homemade quilt, and want to make my own. I only wish I had been able to take classes in school; teaching myself from books only goes so far!

I make quilts and cross stitch to preserve my sanity.

I find it relaxing.

I also started to sew to save money making clothes for myself and my children. That is not the case anymore they would not wear anything I would sew for them like clothes. I sew entirely for my enjoyment and a need to express myself.

For me it is a creative outlet. I've gone through phases of crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch, quilting, scrapbooking, and back to quilting. I enjoy making things and find quilting to be fun, relaxing, and a way to feel like I'm accomplishing something.

Exactly! Also, as I remember reading somewhere, I quilt so I don't kill people! :) Stress reduction at its best.