tntgranny

My start at this addiction also had to do with Christmas in mind. I have 2 daughters (they are 13 years apart in age) that are really close and also great with a sewing machine (didn't want to call them "sewers" - that word can be used in more than one way). I taught the older one to sew when she was 7 years old - she was the fussiest clothes shopper - taught her to sew her own clothes rather than take her shopping for them. Anyway - big idea for Christmas was a mother/daughter bonding time. Went to our LQS and signed us up for a class. I bought a cutting mat, rotary cutter, ruler and included a coupon for their choice of fabric in the package. The class was every Saturday for 6 weeks and before it was over we were all hooked.

grandma pepsi

Everybody has such wonderful and interesting stories. Hope you enjoy mine. When my mother passed away, I inherited 3 quilt tops. One of them is a 'Double Wedding Ring' which is large enough to cover a king size bed and still drape all the way to the floor. This top was pieced together in 1936 (before I was born) by my mother and father. Dad cut the pieces while mother sewed them together. It is HAND pieced. At the time, she was pregnant with my brother. I don't know why she never finished the quilt. However, it inspired me to learn to quilt. This was in1982, and I was still working. After my retirement, I took a quilting class, and since have been making quilts and hand quilting them in order to become good enough to finish the DWR. I currently have 2 tops that I am working on simultaneously (one that I am hand quilting and one that I am piecing). When I complete these, I plan to start quilting the DWR. In later life, mother was a professional seamstress so her work has always been immaculate. I only hope I can do the quilt justice. Can't you just imagine the quilt label on the back? "Top pieced by Mr. & Mr. JCB, in 1936. Quilted by their daughter BAR in 2011."

mexmmh43

In 1996 when I was informed that my 25 year old singer died my DH went with me to the repair store to pick it up. We entered the store and OMG he was so impress by what the new machines could do(there were Phaffs, brothers, and other amazing machines) that he sat down with George, who could sell you back your own children and you would say thank you. So ofcourse my DH bought me a phaff. We proudly brought my new machine home and started playing with it. Since I only did occasional sewing, I though this is to expensive of a machine just to use occasionally. I thought about the quilts I had seen at the store and decided that maybe I could learn to quilt. Went online and read about 9 patch and snowball blocks. bought some fabric made my first snowball and 9 patch quilt. However, I set them on point not knowing about bias or how to cut setting triangles so you can imagine how it turned out. After that experience I decided to take my first quilting class and have been hooked every since. Little did my DH know what he was letting himself in for, when he bought me that first machine. I currently have the brother 2000D and for Christmas he traded in my old Phaff bought me the brother 6000D as our anneversrey and Christmas present. I am so lucky to have him.

pheasantduster

Wonderful story - I know you will do the Wedding Ring Quilt justice.

HoneysMom

My grandmother quilted when I was little and also made me a wedding quilt I will always cherish. While staying at home with my daughters, when they were little, I started watching Eleanor Burns and I was hooked.

GrammaO

That's so funny! That is exactly how my story starts out! My mother quilted and made clothes. She managed to teach me to embroidery but I despised sewing. Would much rather be riding my horse or playing outside with the dogs. When my first grandbaby arrived I decided to emboider a crib quilt panel. Lots of work...took forever! Decided I'd better learn something quicker and decided to try quilting. First few were panels that I just put binding on and finally worked up the nerve to piece something. Current count is 16 grandkids with one on the way. So far, most of them have a baby blanket and eventually all will have at least a lap sized quilt. Now I'm just addicted and wished I had learned more from my mom while she was still alive.

darlin121

I've just spent a couple of hours on this board reading all the stories of how ya'll got started. What a great read!
I had made clothes for my myself since I was 8years old. I recall I made a lavender jumper skirt with material my mom let me pick out myself. I got to use her machine! I remember her saying that I had to save the scraps for her so she could use them later and indeed they showed up in a scrappy 4 patch that she made a few years later. Anyway I had a friend of mine who called me up one weekend and said I had to try making a quilt. I said no way! But kicking and screaming in protest she made me go to her house, I thought we were going to be cutting up little squares all day. She introduced me to quilting through the Quilt In A Day Log Cabin book by Eleanor Burns. It took me two days and I loved every minute of it. It was FUN! So I thought since I was so good at making the Log Cabin pattern I could strike out on my own and make something I really wanted....A Double Wedding Ring Quilt! No one told me this was not a good idea.... they should have! I fussed with cutting out the pieces and fighting the bias and trying to make it work, well it is currently my oldest UFO clocking in at 32+ years! It keeps me humble. I didn't let my failure to finish it stop me from my path in quilting. I returned to the Elenor Burns Quilt In A Day Series and honed my skills, lol. Now I can pretty much make anything I want to but I find my taste are always changing. I love trying new things and usually make a quilt or two out of whatever new technique I have come across. I love the process and I call each quilt one of my 'babies'. They all go to friends and family who are instructed to USE them until they wear out and I can always make them another. I've never had to replace one yet, it makes me feel good that they take care of them. My current project is an embroiderd quilt.... and of course there is always the double wedding ring quilt to finish..... riiiight!

quilttiludrop

My mother was a quilter. She enjoyed working with fabric. I do too! I started sewing when I was about 9 years old.

Missy B

As a preamble to this topic, I need to tell you that I have been sewing since I was a kid (I'm 63 years old now). The first thing that I made was an apron, during a weekend that I stayed with my aunt while my folks were away. I guess that my Aunt Rose lit the fire in me, even though it would smolder for some years into the future. Much later when I was an adult, I used to work with a woman who was a prolific quilter and in fact, she made a quilt for me when I got married. I always admired my friend's quilts and the skills that went into making them. At the time, I was mad for making jig saw puzzles. They kept me busy in the evenings and kept me from "unauthorized" snacking, as well. At some point, it occurred to me that that if I could construct a puzzle, I could quilt. So, I took some classes and to this day, I am a quilter. I have never frgotten my aunt (since deceased) and how she started me on home sewing. So, a couple of years ago, I bought a sewing machine for MY niece, sort of paying my aunt's kindness forward. We meet occasionally to sew, but right now, my niece is in the throws of being a teenager and all that involves, so quilting will have to wait a while.

laalaaquilter

What a stunning history Jan...so glad it is in the museum now so all can appreciate it.