Roben

Awesome topic, Eddie!

I have always admired (and coveted :D ) quilts, but my Mom was the seamstress in the family. Boy could she make anything! I felt I couldn't even come close to measuring up to that, so I went a different way - needlework. The love of a needle and thread in my hand had to come naturally :wink: I did that for 20 years, going from counted cross stitch to designing Hardanger and Counted Thread pieces. Then MS took the focus from one of my eyes, and one day I just couldn't do it anymore. Rather than look at what I lost, I focused (pun intended :lol: ) on what I could do - and being older (maybe not wiser :wink: ) I turned to quilts. I can design again, I can play with thread again! Plus, the kids are grown and gone, so I have spending money again!!!

motomom

Wow, what a great topic! I have so enjoyed sitting here reading about how everyone got started quilting.

My mom and grandmother and aunts all made quilts.

The first thread in this post-
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/23168.page
is the story of WHY I got started making quilts.

I love fabrics and quilts. I love the process, well, everything except the basting, and now I have spray!

There is nothing so peaceful, so relaxing, so calming than to sit down and quilt by hand. Someday I would like to learn to machine quilt, but for now, hand quilting is my therapy. To feel the beautiful fabric under my hand and very slowly, never a hurry, just take my time and put in all those little stitches is just my joy.

At first I thought it was just me and that I was really weird or something, but then my Aunt told me that they used to have to MAKE my grandmother stop quilting so she could eat. Then my daughter was visiting me and I realized that after I had gone to bed she stayed up ALL NIGHT quilting. She inherited the quilting gene!!!

I wonder if we all have it?

hulahoop1

I've sewn for over 40 years (Geez! THAT made me feel old!) As a teen, I made my own clothes, learned to knit, crochet, cross stitch and when I moved to Hawaii, learned to do Hawaiian applique' quilting. My hands have to be busy, quilting has become my therapy.

CindyBee

Like many of you here, I love to sew and enjoy the creative process of quilting. I was looking for a new challenge and found it in quilting. I love every aspect of quilting from choosing a design and fabric to that last stitch on the binding. It is my mission to gift all my family members with a special quilt. I also enjoy making charity quilts for my quild. When I am at my machine, the hours just fly by! I also love the camaradarie of my quilting friends. I have never met a quilter I didn't like! Quilting has truly enriched my life.

Bevanger

Pleasure and satisfaction that I can make things for my family. Plus is very relaxing

mcdaniel023

I can remember (back in the day of being a little girl) my grandparents taking us to the Indiana State Fair. The first place I wanted to go was to see the quilts. Everyone else wanted to do anything but that. I can remember standing there trying to figure out how they made things so beautiful. I loved the feel of an old quilt. When my daughter was 7 she wanted a canapy bed and matching quilt. So, I with my knowledge of sewing garments and a few curtains thought to myself, I can make them. So, off to the library I went and got a couple of books. Read them, bought fabric and made a quilt as you go quilt, the canapy and curtains. It was then and there that I knew I had to quilt. I really didn't get into it until after the kids were off to college. I love the feel of the fabric and the challenge of trying new blocks and making something I am proud of. I sometimes wondered if there was something wrong with me. I have purchased so much fabric and sometimes I am just obsessed. I stay up half the night. I think of nothing else.
Then I joined this board and realized that there is nothing wrong with me....I am a quilter.

peaceandjoy

Really interesting thread! Such great stories, I've enjoyed them very much.

I was in 4-H growing up, learned everything from woodworking to cooking to sewing. Mainly the sewing stayed with me; I enjoy lots of textiles and also do counted cross stitch and some knitting (self-taught though, and don't know how to fix errors - so when they happen that project is done!).

I haven't sewn clothing in 25 years. After my dad passed, I wished for something that was his and it made me think of what my girls would get. I'm not really a jewelry kind of girl (uh, jewelry kind of middle aged woman just sounded funny), so don't have much. They each get a ring. But that somehow didn't seem personal. So I used part of my inheritance to buy a Bernina and haven't looked back.

Thus far, both of our DD's have no desire for crafts of any kind or - horror - quilts I've made :shock: Maybe when that's what they have left of me? That's a long ways and lots of quilts off, though, so in the meantime I make lots of gifts.

Thanks, Eddie, for the thread and for everyone for their replies. Great stories!

barnbum

The replies here have given me goose bumps. Thanks for the question, Eddie.

I asked myself this question years ago. I've been quilting for about 15 years, and I stopped to ponder why it brought me such joy. I'm not a crafty person and hated my sewing class in high school. The only craft I enjoyed was making pressed flower pictures. But quilting then, it was all about choice. In a life of small kids and trying to be home as much as possible, quilting was one small area where I called all the shots. What shall I make? What colors? When will I work on it? When should it be done? Who will I give it to? Then--the joy of giving it to someone else was awesome.

We were not in a position to spend money on such things back then, so all my fabric came from Joannes or Wal-Mart--I talked my husband into using a Joannes credit card so we could get the gift card each month. I remember how excited he was to use the card on a business trip. One day I came home and he pulled the $40 in gift cards from behind his back--$10 by $10. :D Oh the happiness!! I only bought when these were in my pocket. Wal-Mart had great prices--and I never bought more than 1/4 to 1/2 yard at a time, for tops. I quilting everything myself, but nothing was too big.

I never took a lesson and for a long time didn't have a quilting book to learn from. I remember sitting in the aisle of a Sew-Fro Fabrics reading the directions and going "Oh, gosh, I'm supposed to be ironing all this?" :lol: I'd memorize steps, then run home to try them.

My first sewing machine was purchased from extra money I earned working in the Iris gardens with my dad.

My how far I've come. :shock:

PS Eddie--do tell your other long story sometime. As a parent and teacher, I'm interested in that sort of stuff. I'm so glad you traded the frustration for joy.

Mousie

devouring every story, and going, "me too, me too!" with every one. :-)
I love to draw and although both sides of my family are artistically inclined, my dad's side is phenomenally talented. I am not as talented as they are, but I do ok. Drawing takes so much concentration, for me, that I just don't do it, often. When I look at them, I wonder why, but, I like something that I can touch, feel, and has loads of color. I don't paint, haven't gotten into it...yet :lol:

My little gma helped me get started sewing at age 10. I used babysitting money to buy fabrics, and made a lot of my clothes. Got married, had kids, and sewed for them. Got sick and didn't sew for eight years.
Eventually, got better doctors and meds, and bc of chronic stuff, slowly returned to sewing.
During one of my phone visits, with my paternal gma, she told me about wall quilt her senior group was doing. I got so into it, she suggested I try it. I bought a quilting magazine, and it was like a light bulb moment.
I am a very visual thinker, and realized all the different fabrics I would need, but not that much of each one. Oh, this was going to be fun!
I did a ton of research too...started slowly, it helps with my nerves, and I do as much as I physically can, when I can, and have my own 'cave', so I can leave it laid out.
It is my sanctuary, my happy place, and I do go in there, and turn off the world. I am so happy no matter what I am doing with all those different fabrics. I hug them, I sniff them, i pet them and,...I talk to them...always nicely :D

deedum

My first memory of quilts, was when I was a child we would travel to Kentucky to spend time with our grandparents and relatives. At nite I would climb into bed & pull the old quilts on top of me. I would always feel warm and secure. I remember the rain would hit the metal roof and I would lay there under the quilts listening to the rain. My mom always made our clothes, but never quilted that I am aware of (she passed away young). My grandmother did and my Aunts did. When my Aunts passed away years later, I bought some of their quilts at the sale. I wish I had bought them all! I spent the last 32 yrs thinking I would make a quilt, something I always wanted to do. 2 yrs ago I got started, and made some lap quilts, I have one full size to finish, just need the uninterrupted time. Yes, I do machine quilting, where my heirloom quilts are hand quilted, but I love them all!