My husband's aunt taught me how to do the string quilt with newspapers as the foundation. She showed me a quilt book and when I saw all the different quilts I was hooked. She loaned it to me and my first on my own was ocean waves. My husband then worked at the sawmill nightshift and our children were young. When they went to bed and Jim at work I hand cut and hand sewed the whole quilt. It turned out pretty good for a first. We used it so much it finally wore out. I cut the middle out and still have it. Someday I may just frame it in the middle of another quilt. I have not decided yet. It was so fraye around the outer edges. I am self-taught since then. I gave them as gifts to my kids, grandkids and great grandkids. I just can't get enough of quilting...I am definely hooked.