A quote from Daisy Quilts Blog:
One of the things I am always most curious about with quilting and especially we quilters is...
Where and how did we start quilting?What started us on this wonderful endless journey??
So I got to thinking.... Why don't we share our stories and our first quilts..
Would you be interested in joining me??
Most of you know, my story is on my sidebar. I'll move it to here and show some pics of my first finishes.
HOW I GOT STARTED SEWING 4 YEARS AGO..
I've always wanted a sewing machine for as long as I can remember. In 2005 I asked my in-laws for a sewing machine for Christmas. I got it, and so much more. I got everything I needed to start sewing. And man did I start. I wanted to start 5 different things and not finish anything. Everytime I got a new pattern or kit, I wanted to start it. No matter where I was on the current project. It didn't even matter that I had to change thread, make new bobbins and cut new patterns. I wanted to see if I could make a go of sewing. Even though it's a huge hobby for me, I wanted my quilts and items to be present worthy. I say present, because I give most of my stuff away for gifts. I've even donated a few quilts for auction or raffle.
Much has changed since 2005 and those first days and months of sewing. I now will finish a project before starting something new. I had boxes and boxes of un-finished projects in my closet. I was laid off from my accounting job in June of (2008). I had tons of free time on my hands and thought I would get all that un-finished stuff out and complete it all. I would like for you all to know, it's all complete. Except, for one Queen sized quilt. I'm kinda stuck on it and want to be sure I've taken plenty of nerve pills the day I try to fix/work on it.
I am a self/book taught sewer/quilter. I've never taken a sewing or quilting class. No one in my family sews or quilts. I don't even know anyone that sews or quilts. So, there's no one to help me, when I get stumped. That's when I turn to the internet. I know I'll eventually find what I'm looking for out there. With that said, I have no idea where I got my love for sewing and quilting. It is a passion!!
This baby quilt and small pillow was for a girl at church that loves frogs. You might can click on it to see the frogs. This was one of my first 10 quilts.
This Mickey Mouse quilt I donated to be auctioned for a girl that was in kindergarten with E who had brain cancer. This quilt brought $169.00 and it's small. I think it was more for the benefit than the workmanship. lol
Now, this was my very FIRST quilt completed and sent to our friends in NE for their 4th baby girl. I have no idea where I got the pattern or if I made it up. I know I got those pre-cut blocks from ebay. ha
Another one of my first, I really liked this one, it was so soft and fluffy. I guess I could have been more creative in my placement of those blocks, huh? I donated this one to our church to be raffled for the youth group. I think they sold upwards of 80 tickets. Not bad.
I would be so interested in reading everyone else's "how you got started" story.
I love threads like this. It is so interesting to see how people come to where they are. My grandmother and mother quilted. I grew up around it and resisted forever. I retired in 2002 and was so miserable I went back to work. I retired again (sort of like Michael Jordan) again in 2007 after my grandson was born. The spring before a bunch of us were at the beach together and my aunt brought Gwen Marston's Liberated Quiltmaking. It was like turning on a light. I was hooked! I knew I had a grandchild coming and what better motivation. I worked half time in the fall of 2006 and n the afternoons I put together a quilt for him. I have used books and the internet along with my aunt to teach myself. My mother was a home ec teacher so I knew how to sew. I won't even tell you how many sewing machines I have now. I mainly use a Pfaff that I bought about a year and a half ago. I try to do something every day. I most enjoy choosing fabrics and the design. I love to do liberated, serendipitous quilts.
ReplyDeleteInteresting story. It is always fun to read other's beginnings.
ReplyDeleteMy mom sat me in front of a machine when I was four years old because I was one of those hyperactive kids and loved machines.
That started a lifelong love of sewing of all sorts. I made all my own clothing, including my own wedding gown and all the bridesmaid dresses. I started quilting in the late 60s and have loved it ever since.
I started quilting at age 10! My mom always had good ideas for what I needed to make. She got me interested in cross stitch (I haven't done that in years.) Anyway, I made a baby quilt of about seven little cross-stitch bear pictures and set it in pink. Now that I think of it, I once made a little doll quilt when I was six or seven. I guess it's in my blood! I'll have to post the picture of the bear quilt sometime; I gave it to Emilie, my youngest daughter.
ReplyDeleteI've sewn for more years than you have been alive....LOL At first, it was learning to sew in school...REQUIRED. Then I made clothes for myself and my daughters. (At one point, that was out of necessity.) Then....I took a break of several years from sewing. I had made a few really special items along the way...like christening dresses for special folks in my life. Then.....we retired and moved to southern DE and I took a quilting class at a local center....and I just took off from there. I've taken classes at our quilt guild and also at a couple of the large quilt shows. I have even helped a few people start quilting by sharing what I know of the craft and helping them along the way. I'd have to go back and see if I can find in my photo files what was my actual first finished quilt.......and I'm happy to say that I have made progress in workmanship since that time.
ReplyDeleteI started sewing over 36 years ago but didn't get the quilting bug until about 12 years ago. I've always loved looking at quilts and admiring the craftmanship. I still have my first quilting project proudly displayed where I can appreciate all the hard work put into making it. Thank you for sharing your story. I'll have to do a post about my adventure into the world of quilting.
ReplyDeleteLove your quilts and glad you started sewing because now I have a wonderful blogging friend.
ReplyDeleteTonya, yours is a wonderful story too!!
ReplyDelete...and you other ladies too :D
Thankyou so much for sharing...
Please link back to my page and let others know, so that we can all share our stories...
Thankyou so much!!
hugs
Robyn xx
http://daisyquilts.blogspot.com
**come and join us**
My story is posted at http://welovequilting.com/blog/2009/09/they-love-quilting-too-my-quirky-quilting-acquaintances/
ReplyDeleteso I am not writing it again. (grin)
I've posted my story at http://mysewingroomsara.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-did-we-begin.html
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to think about how I got started.
Quilt!!!!!! I have quilt!!!! It's on the card that has Q12 and U21 in top left corner!!!!
ReplyDeleteAs far as quilting goes, I started when my kids were little and I couldn't afford the fancy bed covers out there. I guess I got hooked! I think it is awesome that one of your first quilts sold 80 raffle tickets. You must have been sooo proud!
ReplyDeleteGreat story. My mom and dad owned a fabric store and my mom was a seamstress, so I learned all about sewing from her. Later, i got into quilting, and fell in love with it.
ReplyDeleteMicki
Love this! This is what gives meaning to quilting!
ReplyDelete