Why did you start making quilts?

[Sandy F.]

This is question #3 on Meg Cox's survey that was mentioned in the current newsletter. I don't remember why I started. I remember when I started my first quilt in about 1984 or 1985 (which by the way is still not finished but stuck under the bed). I remember when I made my next quilt about 2000 and I have been quilting ever since. I was subscribing to quilt magazines when I made my second quilt in 2000. I'm still thinking but "Why did you start making quilts?"

[Sandy F.]

Good question :-) I also remember when, 1982. A good friend wanted to learn and she talked me into going with her. I never regretted it. It is my passion and my sanity. I just love it. My first quilt never did get finished. It is a sampler, all hand pieced and hand appliqued, even the borders were hand done. It is on the top shelf and it's on my UFO list. Maybe next year!!!!

[Patti P.]

I don't remember either. I was a kid when I made my first one. But other than making a simple quilt here and there, it wasn't until about 10-12 yrs ago when I was noticing how alive people were that pursued a passion. I started thinking about what I might have as a passion (other than God's people). Quilting came to the forefront and it didn't take long for that passion to ignite.

[Patti P.]

I was not exposed to any quilts until the 1970's when a friend came home with a pieced floor pillow she had made while visiting her family. I thought then that I would like to learn to quilt. I didn't make my first quilt until 1995--first grandchild.

[Frances L.]

My quilt journey started with MargaritaW (also known as mom) When my DD was younger, she spent a weekend with GM and came home with a doll sized 9 patch. Then in 1995 when we moved to Texas, they gave her a crazy quilt vest pattern and fabric for Christmas. We made the vest and then matching ones a year later. In '98 we went to Houston for the weekend and were hooked. Started with doll log cabin quilts for her cousins and never looked back.
Frances in Austin

[karen f.]

My Grandma quilted but by the time I came along I only knew her to crochet afghans. I heard how she had a frame that was on pulleys that they would pull up to the ceiling to make room when not using it. I got started in the late 1970's just because I was interested and learned from books. Soon after we moved on a great street that had block parties and a group of us ladies who were home with kids would get together regularly to sew and we would make a quilt to raffle off at the Summer block party to fund it. Those were the days! I loved that time.

Karen

[karen f.]

Karen, what a fun time that must have been!

My first quilt was for my sister's baby in about 1985. I had sewn since age 10 and figured I'd give it a try. I didn't even know to "quilt" it, so the batting eventually ended up in a ball in the center.

A few years later, during a struggle with infertility, I took several classes at the community's adult education. I was no good at flower arranging but fell in love with quilting. While it was hard, I made quilts for all my friends who so easily got pregnant. After a couple more years, I also got pregnant and made everything for the nursery and baby. A few years off during raising our kids and while being a Girl Scout leader, but eventually, it became my main hobby.

Now I actually make quite a bit of money finishing and fixing others' quilts and teaching. Like everyone says, it's my sanity and my creative outlet. It helped occupy my mind during a difficult time and keeps me sane now. nancy in western ny where it's 90 today!

[karen f.]

In 2000 (right after Y2K - remember that scare?) I found myself without a job and somewhat lacking an identity! I decided not to look for work because (a) we had become empty-nesters, and (b) DH needed me to do the secretarial work of his business, and (c) DH wanted to travel more. If I took another job, that could be a real hindrance! (Now, as many of you know, I'm a virtual gypsy!) I decided to use my "free" time to clean out closets, and found my collection of "scraps" that I was going to make into some sort of quilt (ONE quilt, mind you) some day. I bought a book on scrap quilts from Wal-Mart, and found one I'd like to make. It was basically square-in-a-square with black sashing. About that time, I saw a flyer in our church advertising a quilt retreat at a camp that our church supports. I'd seen the flyers for previous retreats, but figured I didn't have the time (or talent). I was nervous that the ladies might by snobby toward a newbie. (Quilt Police??) But I timidly attended and learned so much, and made some new friends. That truly got me started! That same bunch of friends are the ones that meet monthly, and I video-taped our camaraderie at the last sewing day (July), if anyone cares to see it in my Blog. Also contributing to my love of quilting were many, many magazines and I watched Simply Quilts religiously.

[Damaris E.]

Me too!! 2000 (Y2K!!) I wanted something new and exciting in my life, something that I could call "mine"!! The first pattern I picked out was Thimbleberries BOM!! I have not looked back since then!! Never did I imagine how much joy I would receive from this desire to learn something new!!

[Beth A.]

I made my first quilt in 1983 or 1984 for a friend who was adopting a daughter from Korea. I used a Simplicity crib quilt pattern with 16 blocks and stenciled every other one with flowers and shapes copied from the wallpaper they used in the nursery. I made matching bumper pads, as well. I bought all my supplies at Minnesota Fabrics and use big POUFY batting polyester for a comforter feel. Then I tied it in the corners with yarn. It came out SO cute and wonderfully soft. This girl took it to college and is now living in her own apartment -- and still has it on her bed! She is in her 20's. Much to my surprise, the stenciling has lasted beautifully through many, many washings.

I liked this quilt so much that I essentially re-made the same quilt for our own nursery the next winter. It, too, lasted through 3 kids and is packed away for when we have grandchildren. Still cute, still intact and still poufy.

My next quilt was a doll quilt for my daughter, and it came out very cute. I hand-quilted that and loved that process. We still have that one, too.

My next effort was in 1999 - 2000 -- a BOM kit quilt from Joann Fabrics. I got loved the piecing and applique but made the fateful decision to hand-quilt it. I got bored with that process (TOO BIG A QUILT!), and it still sits unfinished in our family room, where we use it. (It already needs washed, and it isn't even all quilted!) After that, it was quilt after quilt after quilt - too many to count. I was hooked!

BethMI

[Beth A.]

I started w/ T-shirt quilts for my twins... I had seen one someone had w/ all their college t's, and my boys were only about 9 or 10 but had TONS of shirts from youth sports, camps, etc. I pulled shirts from the closet and found that, even leaving plenty of the current favorites to keep wearing, I had over SIXTY shirts to use for 2 quilts!! I can't remember why I even went to the fabric store but the clerk was the one who told me about interfacing or I'd have just been trying to stitch all those knits together! I backed them in Polar Fleece, (no batting) flipped them like a pillowcase & tied them....
This was about 2000 or 2001?? I don't even know. Soon after, I ran into a really rough time, took some time off from work and discovered Simply Quilts. 'nuf said, it helped me regain & now (try to) keep my sanity!
All that said, I bought my first quilt book in 1985... so I think I've been a quilter a lot longer than I've been making quilts!!
Florence

[Sharon E.]

I don't remember what year I started, but I have fond memories of a dear great aunt with the quilt frame in her living room and us kids crawling under to play. My mom didn't quilt but she went to visit with the aunts. I loved her quilts and most of it was applique. What I wouldn't give now for one of her quilts.

I started as a side hobby making wall hangings to see the outcome and then made my DD a quilt with 5/8" seams like clothing. LOL Boy the fabric I must have wasted then. It just grew from the wall hangings, which I still make, but into also making quilts. I really enjoy the creativeness with the process, but also drive myself crazy with that aspect of it.

I really enjoy the friends I have made through sewing and quilting.

Oh, I haven't tried hand quilting, but really enjoy applique.

Sharon in Colorado

[Gloria H.]

I started in 2001 and really didn't know I was setting out on a quilting journey. We had moved into our present home and the bonus room had a navy blue wallpaper with a red star patterned border. I wanted to make pillows for a daybed that would incorporate the star pattern. I went down the road to what I thought was a fabric store. (My local quilt shop) When I explained what I was looking for those wonderful women found a book with a star pattern, helped me coordinate fabric and sent me on my way. I had so much fun doing the pillows I started doing other blocks from the book and the rest is history.

[Gloria H.]

I started quilting in 1979 our first daughter was borned that year.My aunt Milly owned a drapery buisness and gave her scraps to her sister Mildred which was another aunt,she shared the scraps with me and my grandmaw Loreen which was her sister we would sew together in my Aunt Milly Drapery studio some times together on sundays. There was no cutting matts or rulers or rotary cutters back when I started or I didn't know about them! Money was tight back in those days also. I used bed sheets for batting.
Grandmaw and aunt Mildred would sew thier quilt tops to cotton blankets, I never did that. I made a quilt in aday when I started out,I just sewed long straight pieces together mainly and quilted long straight lines in the ditch.I didn't do bindings I tucked and folded the seam line under inside then topped stitched around complete quilts. I ventured into afew patterns,dutch girl-sunbonnet sue,hearts. We used to call our quilts rag quilts. Cut out huge blocks sew them togeher,had lots of pretty fabric. When I was a young kid we had a neighbor Mrs Rice that made rag quilts and sold them for $20.00! She sold second hand cloths too, Everyone knew her as the rag lady,mom bought afew of her quilts and some rags too. Feeling like Dolly P here but not rags to riches.
I made my share of rag quilts. Took off sewing afew years got my machine back out and started making Table cloths and napkin linnens,Daughter Cinda moved off to SC-rock hill and joined a quilting guild and she learnt alot and shared all about the new tools and stuff,she really taught me alot. I had to go out and buy a better machine,mats ,rulers,rotary cutter,and the stash grew over the years. Daughter and I made little dresses for the granddaughter and that was fun. I made pajama and summer beach pants and this was fun.
Then along came Alex_Simply quilts,Elenor Burns, Ricky Tims,America sews creatively,Sewing with Nancy,Fons and Porter,and afew I can't think of but boy did I learn alot from them everyone. I have shows taped to this day." Many wonderful teachers I owe thanks too." My Very first sewing machine from 1979 was a Kenmore from sears_long gone, I wore it out. Both of my daughters quilt when they have the time.
How times have changed over the years. My mother sewed alittle not much. My father made a quilt afew years ago it was beautiful said he didn't think he would ever make another that it took to long to make,he worked on it all winter. I believe its been a tradition pass about here. "I Love Quilting"
Kathy

[Jules M.]

I started b/c I love quilts, am the youngest grandchild so didn't inherit many, and I was already a sewer.

I started around 1986 after my dd was born. LOVE IT!

Joyce