Doggramma

The game changer for me is the rotary cutter and ruler instead of cutting/using templates. I was one of those "it's only a quilt if it's done by hand." How far I've (we've!!) come.

RST

I think it must be somewhat regional. I started my adult quilting (as opposed to efforts as a child) in 1987. Rotary rulers and mats were the thing that pulled me in and got me excited, and they were the hot new thing in '87 and '88.

The thing I remember (and am pleased to see gone) are rules like -- always include one large print, one medium print, and one small print as well as a tone on tone. Or, make mitered borders by a formula -- 2/1/3 or multiples thereof.

I also remember that pretty much the only options I knew of for quilting were stitch in a ditch (never did like that) or hand quilting using stencils. Many of my early quilts ended up tied or tacked because while I do love hand quilting, the time and space piece were too much for me.

pewa88

I think one of the biggest changes are new techniques for cutting and piecing that make the process easier. When I first started I remember well seeing Eleanor Burns for the first time on her show explain how to do a quilt in a day. Totally changed the quilting process for the good.

DACO48

I have a friend who used to make all of her templates out of old xays she got from a doctor friend.

Sewsumi

I started quilting around 1985 for about 5 years and then stopped for a while. I came back to quilting about 1999.
I thought I was going nuts!!! EVERYTHING so so different!!! All the things you guys are talking about are so true.
It was almost like a different hobby. I really did like the old way but I really like the new way too. I just love to quilt!!

PatPitter

I forgot to mention in my first post is that ruler work on domestic machines is a change that is currently intriguing me.

Onebyone

There are still those that think if it isn't all done by hand it isn't a real quilt. At quilt shows I get many of the men who come by our table and start telling us about his grandmother, aunt, neighbor, who had the frame in the ceiling, did everything by hand and made REAL quilts. I want to say educate yourself before opening your mouth jerk. But I don't. I smile and say how nice you remembered that.

Eva Knight

Today I have my 69th birthday. I pieced my first quilt top when I was 12 yrs. old. A string quilt using newspaper for the foundation. If anyone every thought of quilting on a machine, people would have think you had lost your mind. That is the only way to go for me. Yes, a lot of changes have come along. Thank goodness.

Sandygirl

I am sure that since the sewing machine was invented ...it was also used to quilt.

sandy

ArtsyOne

Happy birthday Eva!
I made my first quilt in 1978 and can't believe that I had a metal shop make log cabin templates for me out of galvanised metal! Why oh why wasn't I smart enough to just cut the fabric into strips?