I started out by buying myself a basic machine and a sewing kit. Ordered a quilt kit, and the rest is history! That was 25 years ago. Have made many quilts, minis, dolls, tote bags, and misc. items.
I have always tinkered in crafty stuff. I did a lot of embroidery when I was a kid, then did some cross stitch.
I do still dabble in things, but quilting is definitely my #1!!! :)

My story is a little different. I had a niece (I have two boys) that was going to turn 4 and I wanted to make her a blankie to love. My grandmother pieced but always tied her quilts and I never got to learn before she passed away (I was 18.) Anyway, I found a cheater panel and added borders to it (pink fabric of course) and hand quilted it. I didn't get it done for her birthday but shortly after. I live in Oregon, she lives in Southern California so I had to mail it to her, her Mom told me she absolutely loved that little quilt to shreds. That was the beginning of my addiction. After 22 years I still love handquilting but don't do alot of it anymore(now more FMQ). :lol:

Luv your story and the quilt is very pretty !

An awesome job I always wanted to make one yours looks fantastic.When I make mine I sure hope it looks as good as your.

What a fantastic story! Thanks so much for sharing! Glad you kept on quilting! :D

Wow!! you were really commited! Very nice quilt....
I`ve been sewing since I was young...but when I saw a quilt show about ten yrs ago I just had to try and make one...the rest is history...lol

My DH's grandmother taught me how to crochet, can and freeze. She also taught me embroidery (well which I had forgotten after many years of fighting the learning from mom), When I was faced with 2 kids, no monies, I learned how to sew again-self taught-, how to make quilts because there was no monies for extras, scrimping, saving pennies .. Yes the depression era Grandmother taught me alot in life and to learn and keep on learning- so that is truly why I enjoy this board, I learn something new every time I visit. I agree with you very much on how they had those survival skills!

Nearly fifty years ago, when my only daughter was young, I made her a butterfly quilt with the help of my mother in law. That quilt is long gone, and it was probably 25 years later before I took the time and money to make another. I had 4 children & made most of their clothes an my own, so I was busy. Also worked out doing commercial sewing (boating and auto). Have been quilting again for about 20 years and love it more than ever. I think everyone in my family has at least one of my quilts now. I can't stop making them though and I love this board. I'm here every day.

Great story and beautiful quilt!!

I grew up with quilts around me although I never saw the work done. All the quilts had been made by Grandma and her sisters and SIL long before I was born. In my teens my sister repaired one of the old quilts so I got to see her do the hand work of replacing worn pieces into the remainder of the quilt. Sister taught me to sew clothes when I was fourteen or fifteen and somehow in that process I ended up with a number of pieces of fabric that were just sitting around. I moved those yards around for years until I quit smoking in 1987(my mid twenties). When I quit smoking I had to do something with my hands so I got back to cross-stitch and needlepoint. And saw the fabric sitting there. So I started cutting into squares. Laid the squares out on the dining room floor in the apartment and moved them around till it suited me and then started sewing them together. I knew nothing about how they were supposed to go together..that there were rules of thumb for this or color choices that should be made...I just used what I had...which were three solids and two prints. Solid purple, orange, and apple green, flannel red calico print, and a chambray looking fabric with flocked apple cores on it. Then I went looking for a backing. Ended up with a floral sheet that had almost all the colors in it on white back ground. That top and backing have sat, folded up on a shelf or in a drawer through more moves. I have had a friend for a number of years who is an avid quilter and I told her about my UFO. She set to trying to get me to quilt it and since I lost my job in 2008 she's been encouraging me more and more...to the point of sponsoring me in a longarm tutorial last year. Over the twenty or so years that have passed I have collected buttons and sequined appliques and rick-rack to embellish the top (it is already so ugly, how can it hurt? also I have no intention of ever putting this thing on a bed...it will be hung on a wall) and have recently begun collecting fabric for a binding. I've always thought a dark gray almost black would be best. I have two fabrics (a yard each) so far and hope for at least one more so I can scrap a binding together. I know I still need batting and have no clue what to use...especially as this quilt will never see a bed or a washing machine. Avid quilter friend (and now teacher) is in the market for a long arm for her home and has offered me free use. And I know I can rent time on the machines at LQS where I took the tutorial (and quilted a charity quilt for teacher afterward). Early this year teacher prevailed upon me to join BOM that was starting in February so I shelled out my $6 and am off and running. Teacher and I don't agree on stuff alot but I definitely learn from her experience (she's been quilting more than 20 years). I've been talking about this board so much she asked me this evening to forward the link to her so she can check it out ;-)

Attached are pictures of the top, backing sheet, and embellishment collection. Yes that white stitching is where I sewed the seam allowance down so it would be easier to sew the rows together ;-) The variation in color you see is because I didn't pay any attention on the solids as to what was right vs wrong side and didn't pay any attention to nap. Some of the embellishments are vintage from my mother's clothes from the 60's and some from Grandma's treadle cabinet drawers from 30's & 40's. Others are from various visits to Joann's and Hancocks over the years for clothing repair supplies.

I plan to quilt it using lines from the backing sheet...maybe leaves and flowers? I'm collecting orange thread for the bobbin (the only color NOT on the backing sheet) and yellow for the top thread (the only color NOT on the top).

If I get more accounting clients maybe I'll be able to set aside money to rent time on LQS longarm rather than wait for teacher to buy hers. ;-)

I've had so much fun collecting for and dreaming about this particular quilt I'm almost reluctant to quilt it ;-)

I always liked quilts, once I bought some squares and sewed them together for my sister, tied it together. I knew nothing about quilting and did everything wrong, you know seams that are good and 1/4 seams and such. It was pretty good and that for me, was a one time event. Had it passed me by. OOps, my dear husband bought me a fancy sewing machine that was called THE QUILTERS DREAM, by Elna. Now what in the world could I do.

I had to use that silly thing and I was not a sewer and the few times I attempted to sew, everything was crooked. So, not wanting to hurt his feelings < I signed up to take a quilt. I was doing pretty good until the bobbin ran out and I didn't know how to fill it. I was so discouraged and angry at all the new stuff to learn, I was about to leave. The leader made me stay and finish what I started. OOOH, I am so glad she made me stay. I am totally addicted.

Now I can make bobbins, have a chance to once in awhile get the seams even, at least the short ones. PTL for 1/4inch foot. I

I have only been quilting for about 12 years and will soon be 69 so you know that late blooming is never to late..