GramMER

I think we might be surprised how long good sewing machines have been around. I grew up from my birth with an old WHITE treadle sewing machine and did not get an electric until I married in January 1962. My mother told me she bought the treadle just before I was born, and that it was used--more than 50 years old in 1939. Just now I looked up on Wikipedia to see when they were invented and this is what I found: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewing_machine

Notwendy

Very true. I am left handed and would have given up quickly if I had to use scissors. Those companies that say their brand works for either hand? They are lying liars that lie. : )

I have yet to find a decent left-handed scissors that is as good as my pair of left-handed upholstery shears (brand escapes me at the moment). But, they are heavy duty and not meant for close work.

madamekelly

I do not remember the year, (I have slept since then...lol.) but I do remember my BFF's sister coming over all excited about a sewing class she wanted me to join her for. The reason for the class at the LQS was to introduce and instruct about a brand new product that had just come out. The new product was a rotary cutter and self healing mat! I was so impressed by the ease of use that I had to get a set. I did not start actually quilting until about six months later, but I knew the cutter would be my new favorite tool, since I have never been able to cut a straight line in fabric or paper even if I draw the line first. I now have my new rotary cutter for fabric, and my older one is reserved for paper.

maviskw

Could you come up with a decade or closer for this class? I bought a rotary cutter, ruler and mat, but I also can't remember when that was. It may have been after 1986, because that's when I moved. I don't remember ever using that set-up in my old house. I still have that first cutter which I use for paper.

Jingle

I started making quilts in 1966 or 1967. Believe me I have seen lots of changes. I use to draw squares and cut them out with scissors, sew together with machine and hand quilt. I didn't do a lot then. Since 2012 I have made about 12 or 15 times more quilts. I will never go back.

popover

I'm still more comfortable with my scissors than the cutter, which keeps going off cockeyed no matter how careful I am. I can trim blocks with it....mostly.

madamekelly

I think it must have been 1982-83?

maviskw

Thanks, madamaekelly. I suppose I wasn't into quilting then and didn't keep up with the latest. When I got into my new house (old,old house, new to me), was when I started looking into getting rid of those leftover pieces from garment sewing from the last 50 years.
By the way, I love your new avatar.

cherrybsixty

I was going to self teach myself the quilting in around '84-85. I started a 'grandmother's garden'. Made the templets from construction paper. Of course, scissors were used and hand pieced, you know it's my oldest UFO in a box in storage. So the rotary cutter and the mat are the most improvement to the art form. I remember reading about Eleanor Burn's 'Quilting in a Day.' But, I've never been able to complete a project in a day, but I do enjoy the process more now. Please let's not forget that 'walking foot,' for us straight line quilter that use our domestic machines. I have planned to finish the thirty something old piece this year.

Dodie

Thank you Pat if I knew how I would post Pics but tho I have tried I just cannot make it work