Who taught you to do hand work and/or quilting?

I was just wondering where you all learned to quilt or do hand work.

As for me, I had a hankering to learn hand work when I was about 10. My grandmother taught me first to knit and then to crochet and then to use a needle on fabric.
My mother never did sew much but did a little and we always had a machine about.
My mother is an artist and I think that is what she used for a creative outlet.

My aunts on my father's side were amazing seamstresses. It was not uncommon for them to see something in a store and go home and make it.

I didn't have much contact with them, so the didn't do any teaching...but they encouraged me and were always complimentary of my work...(some of which were atrocious!!)
I am the only grandchild that does any thing of that kind. I taught my two daughters to knit...and they are the only great grandchildren that do any thing of that kind...I am glad to keep the tradition alive.

Grandma is the artist in our family, mum did crafts (she is a fair artist herself, loves to work in oil pastels) mum taught us to knit, cook, embroider etc. we all took to different things. As an adult I used to cross stitch and crochet, had to give up cross stitch some yrs ago due to ill health and thats when I found quilting. Mum had done a little but Im 99% self taught, never been to a class etc, learned online and from books - common sense. I also got involved in deisgning embroideries but I dont care to embroider that much myself.

My 4yr old daughter just completed her first embroidery (she asked to do it and worked on it of her own violition when she wanted to, I dont push, just help), she has gone onto design her own for her second attempt and has begun stitching it. she has plans for a 3rd in the works, its apparently going to feature australian black swans and be a xmas gift for her nanna & papa seeing as how much they loved seeing the swans when they visited with us, she says she will draw the swans for the design too.

Great topic question Jessica!

My mother taught me hand work when I was about 6 i guess. She gave me regular sewing lessons (clothing construction) when I was in Middle School. I did all my sewing on her featherweight before I graduated to her newer singer. I now have her featherweight. she never quilted. My grandmother came to america back in the early 1900's when she was 15, she was instructed to marry a man (arranged) earn enough money to buy a sewing machine (a treadle which I own) and return to Croatia. She married the man and then they closed down passenger ship travel when WWI started. She ended up leaving the man who was a drunk and beat her and came to Detrot area to meet a cousin. She didn't make it back to Croatia until the Mid 1960's (for a visit), by then a widow by her second husband , my grandpa. I'm the only one of 4 sisters who sews.

My gran was a fatastic seamstress and tailor. She made custom mens suits for JC Penneys in the 30-40's. She taught me to sew when I was about 6yr old. My mother was a wonderful seamstress too... she had five kids and sewed all of our clothes. They both quilted. I didn't pick up on the quilting aspect until I was pregnant with my own daughter. Even though they quilted, I pretty much taught myself to quilt. They did hand work and I was a machine speed quilter. :sewing1: :sewing1: :sewing1:

I also started taking classes from International quilters when ever I could. This helped alot in learning new techniques. Also, I read, read, read....everything I could get my hands, on about quilting. :study:

Then I started teaching....that in itself is a learning experience. You really have to know your stuff to stay ahead of the class and defuse mistakes your students make!

I have been quilting for 33 years now and teaching for 18 yrs....very rewarding to see some of your students submit quilts for judging and they get awards!!

:quilting1:

This is a fun topic, Jessica. Glad you started it!

My dear, dear Gram taught me handwork, starting when I was so young I can't remember the beginnings. She taught me to embroider (dish towels and pillow cases), and she taught me to crochet with a tiny steel hook and crochet cotton. (Any crochet after that came easily - think it was easier to go bigger in hook and thread size than it would have been to go down!) I still chuckle remembering how Gram would gently tease me about cutting my embroidery thread too long - always thought I could go faster with fewer starts and stops. I still have a tendency to do, that!

When I was about 9 or 10, a family friend, Bev, started me on the sewing machine. She had only boys and so enjoyed teaching a girl to sew. I can still remember the peach colored, cotton, pull over top and coordinating print gathered skirt with waistband and zipper. . . my first real project.

From those beginnings, I've always continued to do many varieties of hand work and sewing. After Gram's and Bev's beginning lessons, all of my teachers have been books.

When I was around 10 a neighbor taught me how to knit. Then when I was newly married my MIL taught me real simple crochet. I learned by watching and doing so I have trouble reading crochet patterns..but muddle through. I don't do much of it anymore..although I do have an afgan I'm knitting that I pick up once in a while and do a few rows. My Maternal GM did crochet..but by the time I was interested in it..she was gone. Nobody else in my family did any sort of handwork.

I learned to quilt by reading books and fumbling through. I learned the basics of sewing from Home Ec classes in High School...but didn't enjoy sewing clothing much..so I didn't keep up with it. Then..when I was first married and setting up a household I kept seeing quilts in magazines. They really caught my eye..but were waaay out of my budget to buy. I mentioned to DMIL that I wish I knew how to make quilts. She said she had a quilt somebody in the family started..and if I wanted it I could have it to try. It was a Grandmother's Flower Garden. Someone in DH's family had cut out a bunch of pieces for it and had three of the flower units sewn together. I learned quickly that if I didn't keep a regular seam allowance the units wouldn't fit together right. I finished that Full sized top and hand quilted it with a white blanket inside because I couldn't find batting back then. Once I had gotten that accomplished DH gave me the money to buy a used sewing machine. Looking back..I'm amazed I did that quilt as a first..and without paper templates for English piecing!

Its wonderful that we had Grandmas..... I went to spend a week with my granma when I was about 10 and she taught me to crochet and it was something I never forgot and made many many afgans, slippers , hats and scarves... I still like to pick it up once in awhile and do hotpads.. and think of my grandma... My mom always sewed my doll clothes and my clothes .. I can remember playing with scraps and designing clothes for my Ginger doll. :)
When I was in 7th grade my mom taught me to sew my own clothes and I went on to sew my daughters clothes...My mom also taught me to knit, but I enjoyed the crocheting more... My mother in law quilted over 1000 quilts and I thought that looked interesting so tried my hand at that, but you would laugh if you saw what I made... Its only been in the last six years that I started quilting because of a friend... I am totally self taught... read all the magazines and watch what I can on the internet...and learn from you gals all the time... this is the best class ever.... I also tried my hand at oil and agrylic painting and wood working... I love wood working and making things for my yard....

When I was 5 a friend of moms taught me how to knit and crochet, I kind of picked up the rest on my own over the years ( ceramics, embroidery,sewing, & quilting). I never pick up a needle of any kind with out remembering that sweet gentle lady with more patience!! Norma

Embroidery and applique I taught myself, on the whole. My DM did almost nothing domestic, although she did teach me how to hem. I don't recall meeting either of my grandmothers, both of whom were artists. Many of my quilting skills I learned from my guild. I had a 15 minute lesson in needleturn at a quilt show once.

When I was in college, I checked out a book on Rumanian embroidered vestments. After I'd been reading it and enjoying tthe exquisite photos for a couple of hours, one of my buddies looked over my shoulder and commented that it would not do HER any good because it was not in English. I hadn't noticed!! Later I figured out that any of the terms used were French, just as our embroidery terms are.

Basic sewing I learned from my Dad, who was quite capable, having taught himself in order to make sails...and a suit, for which he spun the wool and wove the cloth. My older sister was the gifted needlewoman in our family.

Thanks for responding so quickly, girls...I am enjoying getting to know a little of your histories.

My mom taught me hand work and to sew...made my first dress at 10 yrs. I have taught myself quilting...my mom is into smocking. My grandmother was a home ec teacher, so I guess it's in the genes!

You know we had some family friends and the dad of the family was the one who sewed...he made all of the drapes in the house...recovered their sofa...made all of the kids school clothes.
Actually, sewing is considered a mechanical skill...because it is putting pieces together.

Knitting and crochet and tatting, etc is handwork. I guess hand quilting would be included in that.

Just a little aside. :quilting1: :sewing1:

My sister taught me. I was a late bloomer. lol This is a photo of her.

Before I started quilting about 16 or 17 years ago I made all of my clothes and my kids.
I did lingerie (sp), tailoring and sports wear. I made all of my sons lycra and spandex running and cycling clothes. Then it became very difficult to find good fabric. After the "Stretch & Sew" stores closed I gave it up. I do not sew any clothing any more. Just not fun.

I taught myself to quilt like the rest of you with books and magazines. About the only class I have taken is an applique class--was disappointed in that--esp. when the instructor said she was not very good at it and didn't like to do i---humph!!! Like Golo, I continue to learn daily on the forums and occasional "special consultations" with forum friends.

I have no one to quilt with or who has any interest in it, and that's OK now. I have all of you. My DD was into quilting and we shopped together and dreamed about our next projects, but now she is gone . Getting on my first forum (the Fons and Porter one ) was the best move I ever made. You all sure make me happy .

WOW, this got a bit "windy" didn't it .

My Dad made drapes too. Somewhere, he was given a large quantity of fiberglass, about 1948, when it was not generally available. He spun and wove it and made drapes. Once a year he would hand them on the line and take the hose to them. My mother could not even touch them without damage to her hands.


After my big sister moved out and I had to sew for myself, I took up costume making and made hundreds of them. Also, my kids were into school before they had anything from the store to wear. Both of my sons are a bit snobbish about quality of clothing construction, having seen the difference in quality between what i maike and what we were able to buy...no comparison. IMHO

My dear mother taught me to sew when I was 9, followed by 10 years of 4-H. She had a featherweight which one sister now has, but has promised to give it to me "sometime." I had three brothers and two sisters, but I was the only to sew. I sewed for myself, my two sons, and made draperies for apartments and houses. At first the sewing was out of necessity, but I was working, going to school, and raising two sons, so I didn't have time for it for awhile. I always wanted to learn to quilt, and saw a sign in Jo-Ann's about three months after I retired. I took the class, and the rest is history. That was six years ago and very seldom have I had a day without quilting. I absolutely love sewing, and am so thankful I started quilting.

Jill

That is so ineresting about the fiberglass...My dad used it a lot to repair his fishing canoe...I remember it as a child...he wouldn't let us kids near it.

Quote :

[quote="quiltermarynel"]My Dad made drapes too. Somewhere, he was given a large quantity of fiberglass, about 1948, when it was not generally available. He spun and wove it and made drapes. Once a year he would hand them on the line and take the hose to them. My mother could not even touch them without damage to her hands.

Marynel..I just can't get this out of my mind! How in the world did your Dad spin the fiberglass into thread for weaving? Did he have to wear gloves and a respirator? What color were the drapes?

My DM did a little quilting but she had passed on before I really became interested. I learned mostly from checking books out of the library and getting magazines. I began sewing in my early teens and made most of my clothes for years. One year I made sets of jams (remember those?) for my sons for school. LOL Now I do very little regular sewing. On occasion I make costumes for church plays, etc. I can embroider (learned from DM) and knit (self taught) but I have a hard time following crochet directions because I crochet left handed. No tatting. Really enjoy quilting. Have only done quilting for about 3 years so I'm still learning techniques. But enjoying the process.

Karen