pollyjvan9

What a wonderful essay. Quilters are amazing. I just turned 70 and quilt hoping to delay alzheimers by continuing to learn something new and demanding. I also think quilting is a wonderful way to stave off sadness and depression. I don't know if I could have gotten through the last two years since the death of a beloved 6 year old grandson without my sewing machines to keep my mind and my hands busy. Bless you for you beautiful words.

Joeysnana

I am returning to quilting after a 20 year absence. I was shocked to learn that most tools, articles, and websites dedicated to quilting are centered around machine quilting. Not me. I intend to learn machine quilting now, but my first love will always be hand quilting. It just soothes my soul!

pollyjvan9

How right you are. This is the first Sunday in I can't remember when that I haven't even turned one of my machines on. But i really am enjoying reading everyones messages.

grammypatty7

It is a shock when you've been away. I've been continually quilting during your 20 years away but had stopped buying magazines and books as I had an over flowing book case full. During those years, the termonology, techniques, styles and tools have all dramatically changed. Like you, I'm a hand quilter but am trying to get up to date and learning to machine quilt some but my passion truly is hand quilting. I've decided it's ok to machine piece, machine quilt and then do hand quilt detailing and it does work. I recently did that on a quilt for a gift and was pleased. Had it been fully hand quilted, I'd still be working on it.

Joeysnana

I think machine piecing and hand quilting is a good idea. I think I will drag out my machine and give it a try, although my machine and I have never been best friends!

Lostn51

That you can make a quilt so big you have to go to your neighbors house to use her game room to sandwich your quilt..........and then she ask if you can make her one. :roll: :lol: :lol:

Billy

yourstrulyquilts

Time for a more quilter-friendly machine?

gramquilter2

I feel the same way< I will have to live to be 1000 or so with great eyes.

SewExtremeSeams

This past weekend I went to a quilt show with maybe about 200+ quilts. I don't think I saw an ugly quilt. What I learned is that even beautiful quilts have stitch-in-the-ditch stitches that don't all stay 'in' the ditch, and other stitches that aren't perfect still make for a beautiful quilt. So... that means I can quilt; have fun; strive to always improve and still finish and enjoy my not-so-perfect quilts!!! LOL, but that is a big discovery for me.

SewExtremeSeams

That is funny but I am sure it is true. Happy quilting with your new tools. Oh, what we quilters do to ourselves! :shock: