I have to say, going into a quilting store is equivalent to a child going into a candy store. Love the quilt on the wall, the houses are definitely my favourite. Thanks for sharing with us. 👍❤️😊
Jenny Doan got me back into quilting too!! She actually saved my life as I watched and watched after being dx with Myasthenia Gravis MuSK!! Love all the uTubes now and when I can’t sleep I watch and rewatch all the videos!!
This is Susan and have dreamed of quilting since I was sewing my own clothes and sewing for my two older sisters in exchange for fabric using pattern guides beginning at age of 8 or 9. Married young, became a mom at a young age, but I never had the time to quilt until my 2 daughters were almost grown. You tube has provided so much knowledge that I have become a confident and proficient quilter. I retired from teaching to homeschool my 4 grandsons and am looking forward to when I can retire and quilt more often. I have health issues that prevents traveling to quilt retreats. So I Thank God for you and you tube and online shopping. Thank you for what you do.
I am 72 years old and started quilting in 2012 and haven’t stopped yet. I learned from watching Eleanor Burns and I love you tube. I never miss a pod cast. Enjoy you so much and I love your fabric and patterns of which I have lots of!!!❤️. Bye the way don’t ever let anyone cut Billie’s hands off because he wouldn’t be able to talk!! 😂😂😍😍
Loved this episode!! Even though I am 67 years old, I just started my quilting journey in the fall of 2019! I became interested in quilts after seeing some at our local county fair and starting asking some of the ladies questions about where to purchase fabrics etc. I immediately went home and got on my laptop and became introduced to Jenny Doan at Missouri Star, Erica Arndt, Kimberly Jolly at Fat Quarter Shop, Sherri McConnell at A Quilting Life, Lori Holt at Bee in My Bonnet, Corey Yoder at Coriander Quilts,etc. I became "hooked" on their TH-cam videos and got started ! I haven't taken one class or attended a retreat but have made bed size quilts for all my children and almost all my grandchildren plus a lot of miscellaneous others.Thank goodness for modern technology and all these wonderful ladies who share their knowledge!!!
I had just taken an interest in quilting before Covid. I had taken 2 classes at local quilt shop and made my lap quilt and a baby quilt. the shop closed and I kept going through you tube....I have made many since and still learning ....love this podcast and others!
I had to retire in 2014 due to heart problems. I learned to quilt by watching utube videos- yours included!! Thank you for the great quilting content!!!
At age 12 I embroidered 12 blocks intended for a quilt. I didn’t know anything about how to assemble a quilt top but made an attempt. Over 50 years later I found the quilt top and was quite horrified at how it looked. My daughter-in-law suggested I take it apart and try again. I made a new quilt for my oldest granddaughter. I appreciate all the technology that helped me learn about quilting, especially Jenny Doan many years ago. The quilt turned out great. I’m so happy I found “A Quilting Life” and love ❤your channel. Thanks for all you do to help me be a better quilter and for your beautiful fabric designs!!
I love being able to shop online and watch tutorials and your podcast. For the last twenty years, we lived in a town that had an amazing brick and mortar quilt shop. In October, we moved to Tampa, Florida, and have driven all over looking for something similar. I had no idea how blessed I had been having that shop so close. So, the blossoming group of online quilters and shops have been an amazing resource for me. Your podcast allows me to feel like a part of a family. Thank you so much!
From the time I could hold a crayon, all forms of art were part of my life. Like Chelsi, I learn visually as well as being an avid reader. Quilting became a passion in the mid-'70s starting with a love of fabrics. As family commitments increased, quilting time was hard to find. After retiring, I found two quilts I had started back then, a lone star and a sailboat for my baby boy! Blogs and TH-cam got me back with all the new techniques. No longer did I have to stitch all by hand and tie my quilts. I so enjoy hearing about your quilting journeys and especially if you mention problems that you both have faced. Looking forward to seeing & hearing more.
I also learned to quilt from TH-cam. My first sewing project was an apron, and I was in HIGH SCHOOL (my elective), and I loved every second of it. I agree with Chelsea watching tutorials does make you feel like you are there with that person learning. I am also a visual person and learning from TH-cam helped me a lot. I have come a long way with my skills since Covid. Let's not forget about our local quilt shops even if it's one that is an hour drive away. I also shop my local quilt shop (The Fabric Garden). Walking into a quilt shop is a great feeling and extremely gratifying for me.
Hi Sherri, Chelsi & Billy! Once again a great podcast & great subjects to discuss!! It's amazing to think how the quilting industry has progressed & evolved. I couldn't imagine starting this hobby back when they used cardboard templates & scissors!! Congrats to the Bliss winners 🎁🎁
Sherry you got me back into quilting with your TH-cam/blogs. When the pandemic started I found you and got so motivated to get back to it! I’d done just a little bit back before there were rotory cutters and such great rulers! You changed my life by helping me fall in love with fabrics all over again. Now I quilt and started back up with cross stitch using flosstube to motivate me. So much talent and goodness in this community!
My grandmother used to take her quilts to the upholstery shop to be long armed. No laser guiding in the 50’s or 60’s. The shop owner just eyeballed it. Also many quilts, in earlier times were tied with yard. I would not be a quilter if I had to hand quilt it. I have quilting many small quilts on my home machine. My daughter got a long arm in 2001 which was all hand guided. We recently bought a computer guided. There is a learning curve for sure. Thank God for TH-cam.
when I started quilting, I had not even seen a quilt . My Mother didn't sew, I had no living grandmothers. BUT..... I found Eleanor Burns and her Quilt in a Day show on PBS. For 20 years, she was my only 'quilting buddy' and I am so grateful to her. So, before the internet, we did have television.
I found your Podcast just a few months ago and I have been listening to previous episodes. I have been quilting since the mid 1990’s and learned with a friend by taking classes. I was able to take early retirement at the end of 2019. I have used Facebook and TH-cam to connect with other quilters and I have learned so much since then. Of course, during the pandemic is was very thankful for a virtual quilting ( and cross stitch) community. Thank you for all that you share and discuss on your podcast. I look forward to each episode. Also, in relation to the topic of technology, thank you for all your tutorials on quilting methods.
Truly enjoyed this episode!! It was fun hearing the little stories of your family life and the very interesting history, background of quilting evolving. Thank you for this fun episode! Hope you ladies had a beautiful Mother's Day!
I learned to quilt watching Jenny Doan tutorials! I’ve always liked to sew, but taught high school history for 24 years and had no time to learn a new skill. When I retired, I bought a new sewing machine (a Janome 🙂) and started watching TH-cam! No one I know is a quilter, so online was the only way to go. I don’t even remember how I found “A Quilting Life,” but I’m sure glad that I did! Your tutorials and podcasts are AWESOME! Thanks for all that y’all do!
Best episode yet! With my friends help, I made my first quilt in 2000 using solid navy and dark red flannel; the batting was high loft polyester (so happy when lightweight cotton became available). She helped me design it on graph paper, taught me how to make the binding and quilt it with the Tie method. Because it was SO thick - I had to hand sew the binding on both sides! For the tie quilting part, I used different sizes and shades of white buttons to tack the quilt together - so cool!
These videos are so fun and interesting. I owned a quilt shop in 1990-1994. During that time, machine quilting was quiet the topic. In 1990, I do not believe you could enter a quilt in a show if it was machine quilted. By 1994 there were some shows that would accept a machine quilted quilt but was still a topic for discussion. Keep up with your questions, Billy. You all are so appreciated!! ❤❤❤
Sherri, I absolutely love and have benefited from your binding videos. I refer to them every single time I bind a quilt just to make sure I've got it right. Thank you so much!!
You are speaking about me! Never quilted do not get to go to a quilt store. No vehicle and only quilt store 40 minutes or Primitive Gatherings well no on both. Online is my world. Utube is how I learn everything. I am retired and turning 70 this month. I am a widow and between sewing quilting and crosstitching and well as much as I can. That is what gets me up in the morning! Precuts! Love it! My grandmother tied quilts.
I started in an adult Ed class in 1979. I fell in love. This was back using templates and scissors. No rotary cutter. That invention was a game changer. I make many quilts every year. I do lots of appliqué, pieced,wool appliqué, embroidery, Sue Spargo etc etc. love it all.
I started quilting just before we thinking of having our 1st child. My hubby encouraged me to take a quilting class. I made him a quilt. We still have it. I don't know how many quilts that I have made since 1987. Only took 1 class. But, the notions have made such a difference for making nice blocks. I have never had anyone else quilt my quilts. They may not be perfectly quilted, but they get finished. Once washed, mistakes are harder to find.
Thank you Sherri for having a $5 pattern every month, every little bit helps. I got my latest Half Yard bundle of your and Chelsi's Fabric, can't wait to start planning what all I am going to make! It is so lovely.
My grandmother had a wooden quilting frame suspended from the ceiling. She would hand quilt her quilt and when not quilting she would raise the frame up to the ceiling to get it out of the way! Sometimes she would have a friend sit around her frame to help her quilt as they visited. ❤
This was a very interesting episode! I began quilting after stumbling upon Jenny Doan TH-cam. She made me believe I could do it! I've now made just under 100 quilts. TH-cam is my go-to, not Facebook. I dont read blogs, and don't take classes but do books and magazines. However, I have sisters that also have learned to quilt and we get together once a year for our quilt getaway. Please know that TH-cam is the best for some of us!
Love the topics Billy comes up with! Makes us stop and think about so many different things. I started learning to quilt from watching Fons and Porter on PBS. Jenny Doan took it to the next level! Thanks for making me remember those days❤️
I’ve been sewing since I was 11. Self taught but was more geared towards garments, costumes, and crafts. Picked up quilting a couple years ago and you tube was my teacher. Getting used to a 1/4” seam vs a 5/8” seam was a learning curve. But I’m designing my own quilts now and loving it! Thanks for always sharing 🧡💛
Before I had you tube I faithfully watched Eleanor Burns and Fons and Porter on PBS. I learned so much from these pioneers and continue to use many of their techniques. I use lots of triangle paper now but my all time favorite tools are Eleanor Burns half square triangle ruler and Fons and Porter’s Binding Ruler. Billy, maybe a future program could feature quilting tools.
This was an interesting discussion. What I was hoping to hear was how the pandemic impacted quilting. I started in 2021 when not being able to work drove me nuts. I had sewn clothing, house stuff and marine canvas work. Thought this would help the stress. It has literally saved my life! I am happier, can be creative and have made over 20 projects. I learned from Jenny Doan, National Quilt circle and Donna Jordan. I found you in 2022. I attended my first class just the past April. I am now choosing projects based on what I want to learn. In some ways grateful not to learn from a class. No limitations on whether you a beginner, etc. My husband built me a studio and got me a new machine as my retirement gift. So grateful for my internet learning spaces in the net.
I absolutely agree 1,000,000% you can learn from the internet. I have just passed my one year mark of quilting and learned 100% online since where I live access is limited. I have made 19 quilts, 8 table runners, 4 table toppers, 4 wall hangings and doing 5 quilt alongs as of this moment. Thanks to TH-cam channels like yours and a husband who is an enabler. I started this hobby late in life but I am addicted 😅😅
Please never get rid of your binding video! Although I love and appreciate quilts I do not make very many, maybe one a year. Every time I getting to the part of attaching the binding I always go to your video. It is excellent! The part I always need a refresher on is when joining the ends of the binding. I can never remember which piece goes where, on the top of the two or the bottom.
My grandma quilted and helped me make a quilt when I was 8, but after that I didn’t do much until about 2016-2017. Started by making bags, then I started watching The Midnight Quilt Show with Angela Walters and that got me interested in making quilts. From there I found Shabby Fabrics, Fat Quarter Shop, and Missouri Star. Been quilting like a fiend ever since! Also side note: I did not know at first that people sent their quilts off to be quilted. So I taught myself to free motion quilt on my domestic and did that for years before buying myself a long arm. Have always quilted my own projects. ❤
I learned how to quilt in the early 1980's by taking classes at a quilt store in our area with my Mom and sister. The store is no longer around. I do find myself searching TH-cam if want to learn a new technique or I forget how to do something. Great TH-cam!
Billy. Before quilting machines women would put there quilts on a wood frame and hand quilt their quilts or tie them. When I was a little girl I would play underneath the quilt while mom and her friends would quilt on the quilt. I still have have that wood. It was 4 pieces of wood with small holes in various places. They would put bolts I. The corners to hold it together and use 4 chairs in each corner. They would tack the quilt on the frame. They would roll the quilt up on the frame as they quilted. I am 78 years old so that was in the 1950’s and up.
I’m totally TH-cam taught, never taken a class or gone to a retreat. I retired at the beginning at COVID and started quilting then. I had a pattern and fabric for maybe 15 years but didn’t have a good space. After retirement and kids moving out, I had time and space and went for it!
I’m so glad Billy is posing these question on quilting history . As the history quilting tends to get lost in technology. I learned in the early 1980’s. All my piecing was by hand , drawing around templates. And hand quilting. Some makers did use machine however. No rotary cutters or mats were invented yet. Think about that ! The library was full of quilting books so that was a resource as well as quilt shop classes. I learned about long arm quilting services in the 1990,s. Although it was invented much earlier. Thank you for your podcast. Your content is becoming more interesting. Fondly, A Life Long Sewist
I have been making quilts and related items for years. I also have taken many classes, but am finding that I really love TH-cam for learning new things about quilting today. I still like to go to quilt shops for purchasing fabric. Seeing it in person is still important to me. I'm in Greement with you guys about blogs. I love quilting and crafting blogs. I have one but have to admit I'm terrible about keeping up with it. This podcast has encouraged me to do better with it. Thanks
I loved this podcast. I cannot wait to see what Chelsi has planned for Billy. I am really looking forward to that. I seldom comment but just had to say that this was such a good episode. I also loved the one where you asked Billy questions. I love that he is so interested in the history of everything. I also wanted to say, I learned to sew on a Singer treadle machine...made my first quilt, a 4-patch on it. I still have it, thought pieces have worn away. We got my mom and electric machine when I was in high school, in the 70's, but she still preferred her treadle machine. Saying I was in highschool in the early 70's gives away my age...
I learned to quilt when a quilt shop hired me for their store. I haven’t looked back, they taught me piecing, quilting, appliqué. It was great. I’ve since worked in another quilt shop. I must say you learn so much just working in the shop.
Billy is a history nut like my daughter. Everything you all talked about is interesting. I am one who taught myself how to quilt. I remember seeing women at church quilting when I was young and on old tv shows. My first quilt was just squares out of old clothes and my template was out of a cereal box, the ladies at church quilted it for me and I let them auction it off for the church. I have done just about every craft out there but sewing has all ways been on top. I made clothes when young and then made all the kids clothes for my kids. But I love quilting most.
Back in the 90's HGTV had some great quilt shows...Alex Anderson also PBS had some quting sewing shows...Sharlene Jorgensen...and that and self taught is how I learned
I started my quilting journey in 2021 and I am so happy I found this passion. To date I have made 27 quilts and I wish I could make double that number this year. If I had a quilting room I don't think I would leave it much. As a new quilter I have jumped into the deep in and gorged TH-cam videos, checked out every single quilting book my local library carries and printed every single free pattern I can get. I am on a mission to improve every week and with every project. I truly appreciate your blog. I have learned a lot from it and always look forward to each new video you post here. Very thankful for all the inspiration and knowledge you share.
I am a self taught (TH-cam) quilter. I am have started putting things in place to open my shop and give classes in my country which no one else does. Quilting rescued me from depression in 2021 and I’ve been really in love with it from the first stitch. I fell in love with fabric and thread. I have quite the inventory now. With the wealth of information provided by you, Kimberly, Lori and so many others who willingly share your knowledge and insights often times for free; I was able to go from beginner to maybe an advanced intermediate level in under a year. Thank you for all you do.
I love your podcasts and this was a great topic. I have always loved the idea of sewing. I would go to my grandmother’s house and she would teach me how to sew clothing. She even gave me her old singer that was in a cabinet similar to what your Juki is now in. We even made a scrappy quilt from leftover material of clothing she had made for one of us grandkids or herself. Back then we used old towels for our batting. I still look at that quilt and enjoy the memories. In the early 80’s she and I went to Sears and I bought a brand new Kenmore sewing machine (which I still have). I gave the old Singer to a cousin and I kick myself now that I don’t have it. Shortly after buying the Kenmore, my grandmother passed away. Without her I wasn’t able to sew clothing for myself. My mom never was interested in sewing so she couldn’t help and my aunt who did enjoy sewing lived too far away. Once I had children, I was able to make the girls basic shorts and leggings but anything I made for myself wouldn’t fit. So I quit sewing. Around 2015 I wanted to start sewing again and that is when I realized that making clothes was not for me but a quilt, a quilt did not have to fit your body so it should be easy. I took a class at the local quilt shop and I enjoyed it so much. I have long since retired the Kenmore and have bought a few more machines - Viking, Janome and most recently a Juki TL-2010Q. I do everything on the Juki - piecing, straight quilting and binding. When I’m stuck, I look at TH-cam which really does make life much easier. Technology has been huge to my learning to quilt. One of these days I will probably try some free motion quilting. Maybe I will also have one of the quilts quilted by a quilter.
On the subject of Spam, on Pat Sloan's TH-cam program this morning, they had a give-away and said to go to her Facebook page because of the spam on TH-cam in order to enter. Just FYI. Love, love, love your show.
I first learned to quilt in an in-person class. I do use TH-cam or other videos to learn techniques, but my preference is a class or retreat setting to learn new things. I think being with others allows for questions and discussions and that leads to more learning. Billy, I love how you continue to impact the discussion on your mom and sister’s videos. And how your mind works, taking a topic you are not all that familiar with (quilting) and applying that info to your everyday knowledge about technology. Great job!
I have to say that the majority of my personal experience of learning to quilt has been thanks to technology. I have a gf that made me a quilt that I cherish and I wanted her to teach me. Life happened and we moved out of state and the opportunity never happened. So I started following Facebook and TH-cam and the ability to be able to search what your looking for has been phenomenal. Whether it’s a certain block pattern or pressing etc. I can’t even imagine where I would be or if I would even be quilting without the internet. I still don’t have or know of people or groups in my area- that I could utilize for quilting info. There are two very small quilt shops within an hour from me. However- my husband is disabled and I’m his full time caregiver, we adopted a little boy who is now 10 and I’m also helping in caring for my 2 year old granddaughter. I don’t have the available time let alone time to myself to be able to go somewhere for instructions or retreats etc. The internet has truly been a blessing and lifesaver for me and the ability to get my quilting therapy ❤. I must say I absolutely adore and appreciate sew much your channel and podcast. I often play your podcast as I’m quilting and it’s my version of sewing with friends 😘. Thank you sew much!
i taught myself to quilt. I used to buy every quilt book I could find--and in the 70's and 80's, there weren't a ton of them. I use a Featherweight to piece my quilts. I watched a long arm, practiced a little, but I seriously do not have space for one--My pieced tops aren't ironed to perfection--they are piling up while I figure out who to have quilt them for me. I'm just working on quilts I really love, and making one or two for each of my nine children in colors and patterns they love as well.
I learned from a book how to quilt using templates and cutting them out, all done by hand. My grandmother made quilts but my mom sewed clothing not quilts.I learned in 1990 and then didn’t pick it back up until 2015. I took a class and learned so much. The funny thing about this episode is when you were asking for questions for the end of the month my question was going to be how Sherri and Chelsi got started!😊
Picked up a quilting magazine in the 1990's and made my first quilt by just following the pattern. Couldn't understand why everything was in inches(Aussie here) but a local quilt store helped me buy a mat and rotary cutter. I could relate to Sherri's experience of making quilts for the kids etc when TH-cam became so popular I entered another stage of learning. I now have a long arm and enjoy the whole experience from beginning to end. Thanks for your podcast!
So, learning the techniques to quilt, for me, back in the 90s, was watching Alex Anderson on HGTV, when they had those types of shows. TH-cam got really popular during COVID, in my opinion.
Oh Billy….. such a good question when you asked about outsourcing the quilting of the quilt layers. I’ve never done it, and it’s great that you can hire someone to do that, but yes, for me it’s my quilt and it’s important to me that I make the whole thing. 😊
Great topics! I started quilting over 20 years ago by taking a 6 week beginning quilting class from start to finish and never looked back. I also read quilting magazines and books. Sherri, I look forward to taking your online class. Sounds like fun!
I quilt my own quilts on my straight line machine. I don't love that part of quilting but I can't afford to send them out and that's a required part of quilting.😂
I took a walking foot quilt class in Houston last year, game changer from doing stitch in the ditch!!! The larger ones still go to longarmer to quilt, but I do my own smaller quilts, now confidently
What an enjoyable and informative podcast. Thanks The Dynamic Trio. Chelsi, I can relate to your purple quilt obsession. My daught Elizabeth of similar age also wanted a purple quilt (and bedroom). That quilt is still being used. The first quilt I made and (Billy) I hand quilted it. Grandson Jack calls it Mummy's special quilt. 😀
My grandmother used her treadle machine until the 70's when she died and she hand quilted her quilts until she died. She made quilts for money to help support her and my grandpa. She never had an electronic sewing machine.
I learned how to sew quilts in 2020 during the shutdown. I bought my first sewing machine to sew masks for my family. After I had so many masks, I had to find another use for it. I tried sewing quilts and never stopped. Self taught with youtube videos. I also couldn't find a quilt guild near me. I order mostly everything online. I still need to actually visit a quilt store.
I also have been inspired by quilting blogs. I am still a self taught quilter. I also love fabric and quilt designs. I am still working full time and have not been quilting continuously. I have many kits and blocks to do some day….
You Tube is my university and there’s no tuition!👏🏼 I started out learning and quilting Debbie Mumm patterns using mostly Calico prints, but really caught the bug watching Jenny’s You Tube channel. I just cleaned up and organized my playlists and I have more Sherri and Chelsi videos than anything else🥰 Yay me!🙌🏼
Completely self taught quilter using TH-cam. I stumbled across Amy Butler fabric around 2006ish and was making skirts for my young girls at the time (again self taught). But that eventually led me to Fat Quarter Shop, where I found tutorials and that led me to designers and their videos. Still quilting and watching TH-cam. I just wanted to add, that I am from Australia, and there wasn't really any knowledge of quilting in my family/circle. I had a friend whose mother 'quilted' but I only ever saw one quilt, even though I loved it, there just wasn't a lot of quilters/quilts/information around me.
I learned using FQS beginner quilting series. Totally online. I have no one in my family or any friends who quilt. So everything I learned was online. This was just last September 2022. Since then, I’ve made about 14 or 15 quilts! I enjoy it so much and I only wish I had done this years ago (I’m 63!).
I have to give a shout out to Billy. He has become a talented interviewer! He’s very prepared with questions and follow up questions, so the flow of the conversation is very smooth. This is especially noteworthy since he’s not a quilter himself, yet! Kudos, Billy! I was inspired to learn to quilt by my mom, who was a fabulous seamstress her entire adult life and began quilting in her 60’s. I started out taking classes at my LQS about 20 years ago, and did that right up until the pandemic. I also relied on blogs, books, magazines and online videos to learn as much as I could about quilting. There’s no end to the learning! I appreciate all you offer the quilting community and all you do to educate quilters everywhere.
Some of us used books/ magazines prior to the internet. Started quilting in 2000. This is from Australia where quilting was not a passed on topic. No one in my family before me had made a quilt. 3 of my aunts now quilt. Finding Angela Walters and Leah Day on Craftsy really helped me learn free motion quilting. I had dressmade prior to quilting so piecing was never a challenge. I taught myself dressmaking from the pattern instructions. Many of my friends learnt sewing at school but I did academic subjects. I was later to blogs and online content, really only discovered this when I joined the Modern Quilt Guild. Today you can learn to quilt from youtube
Chelsea. You Crack me up! When your mom said she was outlining a course and you rolled your head it made me laugh. I know how your mom amazes you with how much she knows and does, you will be there when your kids are out of the house because you have as much energy as her and as much talent. I love how you all interact as a family. I'm glad you have worked it out so you can all make a living doing what you love.
I started quilting on my own in 1995 from Fons and Porter book and watching PBS / early home and garden tv and magazines . I did not take a class until about 7 years ago and mostly for the social aspect.
Billy I have 24 vintage singers. One of my treadles is from 1898. All of my machines range from the 1900's right up to the 70's. And yes most of them have the foot pedal made from Bakelite, but those pedals also have a slot in the cabinet they slide into that connect to a knee lever which I love. I have so much more control over the speed with my knee than my foot. One of my machines is a hand crank from 1906. I have them all in working order and have pieced quilts on all of them. People have also been known to change the machines from treadle to electric and visa versa or put a hand crank on one. You definitely should check into the history of these machines. I'm sure you will find it fascinating. Rhonda from Canada
I also learned via TH-cam (started in 2010). Crafty Gemini, MSQC, Fat Quarter Shop and many others. I am a recent subscriber to you guys and really enjoying your content! Thank you!
My dad has a bed size quilt that was pieced with a treadle and quilted with a different treadle that the lady free handed the quilting. He won the quilt at a rendezvous about 8 years ago.
Billy, before there were sewing machines sewing was done totally by hand, clothes and quilts. Quilting the layers together was often done at quilting bees, woman sat around a large frame and stitched each others quilts.
I made my first quilt block from a Quilt Magazine from the early 1990s before I had a computer and I'm currently making my first machine pieced quilt just from the pattern. It does help that I have a 1/4 inch foot for my Janome sewing machine. I think though when I go to bind my quilt I will need to look at a video tutorial as I'm a visual learner. I still have my great-grandmother's singer treadle sewing machine which I learned to sew on as a child and I hope to get it restored one day.
I enjoy free motion quilting my own quilts. I feel I have completed the entire quilt myself. Plus I save a lot of money. I can quilt even large quilts on my Janome Horizon.
Thank you for talking about that sewing machine cabinet. I have that same cabinet and still have the working Sears Kenmore machine that goes in it. I’ve been going to give it to my granddaughter but will keep it for awhile yet. I’ll tell her about it and tell her when she gets her own place she can have it. She’s 16 right now. I got mine in 1970. The best sewing machine to this day. I have another Sears Kenmore and two Singer Featherweights.
I have that cabinet which my mom purchased for me in 1964 with a singer machine. It was what I learned to sew on.still have it but I now sew on a Bernini 440 Glad to know a junk I would fit in that cabinet. A junki is on my wish list . Thank you for that info
I always enjoy your U-Tubes! Today I checked your Binding U-Tube...very well done! Somehow I have been twisting my binding, not a good thing! I think I've got it now, thanks to you! Joan
Love watching all of you each episode. And Billy, nice to finally put a face to a voice each episode. One thing I would wish for that was mentioned this episode is for the Ladies to start announcing their patterns that are on sale each month. I know Sherri’s now for May but not Chelsea’s. Is that something you could add?
I am a self taught quilter from TH-cam and now I own my own quilt shop. Opened Oct 2022. Quilting changed my direction in life.
I have to say, going into a quilting store is equivalent to a child going into a candy store. Love the quilt on the wall, the houses are definitely my favourite. Thanks for sharing with us. 👍❤️😊
Jenny Doan got me back into quilting too!! She actually saved my life as I watched and watched after being dx with Myasthenia Gravis MuSK!! Love all the uTubes now and when I can’t sleep I watch and rewatch all the videos!!
I have MS and feel the same
We need a Billy quilt on the wall beside Billy!!❤
This is Susan and have dreamed of quilting since I was sewing my own clothes and sewing for my two older sisters in exchange for fabric using pattern guides beginning at age of 8 or 9. Married young, became a mom at a young age, but I never had the time to quilt until my 2 daughters were almost grown. You tube has provided so much knowledge that I have become a confident and proficient quilter. I retired from teaching to homeschool my 4 grandsons and am looking forward to when I can retire and quilt more often. I have health issues that prevents traveling to quilt retreats. So I Thank God for you and you tube and online shopping. Thank you for what you do.
I am 72 years old and started quilting in 2012 and haven’t stopped yet. I learned from watching Eleanor Burns and I love you tube. I never miss a pod cast. Enjoy you so much and I love your fabric and patterns of which I have lots of!!!❤️. Bye the way don’t ever let anyone cut Billie’s hands off because he wouldn’t be able to talk!! 😂😂😍😍
Loved this episode!! Even though I am 67 years old, I just started my quilting journey in the fall of 2019! I became interested in quilts after seeing some at our local county fair and starting asking some of the ladies questions about where to purchase fabrics etc. I immediately went home and got on my laptop and became introduced to Jenny Doan at Missouri Star, Erica Arndt, Kimberly Jolly at Fat Quarter Shop, Sherri McConnell at A Quilting Life, Lori Holt at Bee in My Bonnet, Corey Yoder at Coriander Quilts,etc. I became "hooked" on their TH-cam videos and got started ! I haven't taken one class or attended a retreat but have made bed size quilts for all my children and almost all my grandchildren plus a lot of miscellaneous others.Thank goodness for modern technology and all these wonderful ladies who share their knowledge!!!
How wonderful👏👏👏
You had an interest, you looked into it AND had the sticktutive (😜) to carry on! Keep up the good work.
❤️😀
I had just taken an interest in quilting before Covid. I had taken 2 classes at local quilt shop and made my lap quilt and a baby quilt. the shop closed and I kept going through you tube....I have made many since and still learning ....love this podcast and others!
I had to retire in 2014 due to heart problems. I learned to quilt by watching utube videos- yours included!! Thank you for the great quilting content!!!
At age 12 I embroidered 12 blocks intended for a quilt. I didn’t know anything about how to assemble a quilt top but made an attempt. Over 50 years later I found the quilt top and was quite horrified at how it looked. My daughter-in-law suggested I take it apart and try again. I made a new quilt for my oldest granddaughter. I appreciate all the technology that helped me learn about quilting, especially Jenny Doan many years ago. The quilt turned out great.
I’m so happy I found “A Quilting Life” and love ❤your channel. Thanks for all you do to help me be a better quilter and for your beautiful fabric designs!!
I love being able to shop online and watch tutorials and your podcast. For the last twenty years, we lived in a town that had an amazing brick and mortar quilt shop. In October, we moved to Tampa, Florida, and have driven all over looking for something similar. I had no idea how blessed I had been having that shop so close. So, the blossoming group of online quilters and shops have been an amazing resource for me. Your podcast allows me to feel like a part of a family. Thank you so much!
I just adore all 3 of you. I look so forward to my time spent sewing while listening to this podcast each week. Thank you!!!
From the time I could hold a crayon, all forms of art were part of my life. Like Chelsi, I learn visually as well as being an avid reader. Quilting became a passion in the mid-'70s starting with a love of fabrics. As family commitments increased, quilting time was hard to find.
After retiring, I found two quilts I had started back then, a lone star and a sailboat for my baby boy! Blogs and TH-cam got me back with all the new techniques. No longer did I have to stitch all by hand and tie my quilts.
I so enjoy hearing about your quilting journeys and especially if you mention problems that you both have faced. Looking forward to seeing & hearing more.
Bahaha yall never disappoint-right out of the gate Billy-“Its your reputation!”😂😂
I also learned to quilt from TH-cam. My first sewing project was an apron, and I was in HIGH SCHOOL (my elective), and I loved every second of it. I agree with Chelsea watching tutorials does make you feel like you are there with that person learning. I am also a visual person and learning from TH-cam helped me a lot. I have come a long way with my skills since Covid. Let's not forget about our local quilt shops even if it's one that is an hour drive away. I also shop my local quilt shop (The Fabric Garden). Walking into a quilt shop is a great feeling and extremely gratifying for me.
Hi Sherri, Chelsi & Billy! Once again a great podcast & great subjects to discuss!! It's amazing to think how the quilting industry has progressed & evolved. I couldn't imagine starting this hobby back when they used cardboard templates & scissors!! Congrats to the Bliss winners 🎁🎁
Sherry you got me back into quilting with your TH-cam/blogs. When the pandemic started I found you and got so motivated to get back to it! I’d done just a little bit back before there were rotory cutters and such great rulers! You changed my life by helping me fall in love with fabrics all over again. Now I quilt and started back up with cross stitch using flosstube to motivate me. So much talent and goodness in this community!
My grandmother used to take her quilts to the upholstery shop to be long armed. No laser guiding in the 50’s or 60’s. The shop owner just eyeballed it. Also many quilts, in earlier times were tied with yard. I would not be a quilter if I had to hand quilt it. I have quilting many small quilts on my home machine. My daughter got a long arm in 2001 which was all hand guided. We recently bought a computer guided. There is a learning curve for sure. Thank God for TH-cam.
when I started quilting, I had not even seen a quilt . My Mother didn't sew, I had no living grandmothers. BUT..... I found Eleanor Burns and her Quilt in a Day show on PBS. For 20 years, she was my only 'quilting buddy' and I am so grateful to her. So, before the internet, we did have television.
I found your Podcast just a few months ago and I have been listening to previous episodes. I have been quilting since the mid 1990’s and learned with a friend by taking classes. I was able to take early retirement at the end of 2019. I have used Facebook and TH-cam to connect with other quilters and I have learned so much since then. Of course, during the pandemic is was very thankful for a virtual quilting ( and cross stitch) community. Thank you for all that you share and discuss on your podcast. I look forward to each episode. Also, in relation to the topic of technology, thank you for all your tutorials on quilting methods.
Truly enjoyed this episode!! It was fun hearing the little stories of your family life and the very interesting history, background of quilting evolving. Thank you for this fun episode! Hope you ladies had a beautiful Mother's Day!
I learned to quilt watching Jenny Doan tutorials! I’ve always liked to sew, but taught high school history for 24 years and had no time to learn a new skill. When I retired, I bought a new sewing machine (a Janome 🙂) and started watching TH-cam! No one I know is a quilter, so online was the only way to go. I don’t even remember how I found “A Quilting Life,” but I’m sure glad that I did! Your tutorials and podcasts are AWESOME! Thanks for all that y’all do!
Best episode yet! With my friends help, I made my first quilt in 2000 using solid navy and dark red flannel; the batting was high loft polyester (so happy when lightweight cotton became available). She helped me design it on graph paper, taught me how to make the binding and quilt it with the Tie method. Because it was SO thick - I had to hand sew the binding on both sides! For the tie quilting part, I used different sizes and shades of white buttons to tack the quilt together - so cool!
These videos are so fun and interesting. I owned a quilt shop in 1990-1994. During that time, machine quilting was quiet the topic. In 1990, I do not believe you could enter a quilt in a show if it was machine quilted. By 1994 there were some shows that would accept a machine quilted quilt but was still a topic for discussion.
Keep up with your questions, Billy. You all are so appreciated!! ❤❤❤
I so enjoy your videos,pods,& you all. It’s a fresh program. Iam 81, and sometimes it’s old. God bless you all. 🤠🤎✝️🧵Glo
Sherri, I absolutely love and have benefited from your binding videos. I refer to them every single time I bind a quilt just to make sure I've got it right. Thank you so much!!
You are speaking about me! Never quilted do not get to go to a quilt store. No vehicle and only quilt store 40 minutes or Primitive Gatherings well no on both. Online is my world. Utube is how I learn everything. I am retired and turning 70 this month. I am a widow and between sewing quilting and crosstitching and well as much as I can. That is what gets me up in the morning! Precuts! Love it! My grandmother tied quilts.
I started in an adult Ed class in 1979. I fell in love. This was back using templates and scissors. No rotary cutter. That invention was a game changer. I make many quilts every year. I do lots of appliqué, pieced,wool appliqué, embroidery, Sue Spargo etc etc. love it all.
I started quilting just before we thinking of having our 1st child. My hubby encouraged me to take a quilting class. I made him a quilt. We still have it. I don't know how many quilts that I have made since 1987. Only took 1 class. But, the notions have made such a difference for making nice blocks. I have never had anyone else quilt my quilts. They may not be perfectly quilted, but they get finished. Once washed, mistakes are harder to find.
Thank you Sherri for having a $5 pattern every month, every little bit helps. I got my latest Half Yard bundle of your and Chelsi's Fabric, can't wait to start planning what all I am going to make! It is so lovely.
My grandmother had a wooden quilting frame suspended from the ceiling. She would hand quilt her quilt and when not quilting she would raise the frame up to the ceiling to get it out of the way! Sometimes she would have a friend sit around her frame to help her quilt as they visited. ❤
This was a very interesting episode! I began quilting after stumbling upon Jenny Doan TH-cam. She made me believe I could do it! I've now made just under 100 quilts. TH-cam is my go-to, not Facebook. I dont read blogs, and don't take classes but do books and magazines. However, I have sisters that also have learned to quilt and we get together once a year for our quilt getaway. Please know that TH-cam is the best for some of us!
I learned to quilt by watching Eleanor Burns on PBS. I made six Quilt-in-a-Day log cabin quilts for wedding gifts that first year.❤
Love the topics Billy comes up with! Makes us stop and think about so many different things. I started learning to quilt from watching Fons and Porter on PBS. Jenny Doan took it to the next level! Thanks for making me remember those days❤️
Love the podcast, but please don't stop blogging!!! Blogs are my favorite!
I’ve been sewing since I was 11. Self taught but was more geared towards garments, costumes, and crafts. Picked up quilting a couple years ago and you tube was my teacher. Getting used to a 1/4” seam vs a 5/8” seam was a learning curve. But I’m designing my own quilts now and loving it! Thanks for always sharing 🧡💛
Before I had you tube I faithfully watched Eleanor Burns and Fons and Porter on PBS. I learned so much from these pioneers and continue to use many of their techniques. I use lots of triangle paper now but my all time favorite tools are Eleanor Burns half square triangle ruler and Fons and Porter’s Binding Ruler. Billy, maybe a future program could feature quilting tools.
This was an interesting discussion. What I was hoping to hear was how the pandemic impacted quilting. I started in 2021 when not being able to work drove me nuts. I had sewn clothing, house stuff and marine canvas work. Thought this would help the stress. It has literally saved my life! I am happier, can be creative and have made over 20 projects. I learned from Jenny Doan, National Quilt circle and Donna Jordan. I found you in 2022. I attended my first class just the past April. I am now choosing projects based on what I want to learn. In some ways grateful not to learn from a class. No limitations on whether you a beginner, etc. My husband built me a studio and got me a new machine as my retirement gift. So grateful for my internet learning spaces in the net.
I absolutely agree 1,000,000% you can learn from the internet. I have just passed my one year mark of quilting and learned 100% online since where I live access is limited. I have made 19 quilts, 8 table runners, 4 table toppers, 4 wall hangings and doing 5 quilt alongs as of this moment. Thanks to TH-cam channels like yours and a husband who is an enabler. I started this hobby late in life but I am addicted 😅😅
Please never get rid of your binding video! Although I love and appreciate quilts I do not make very many, maybe one a year. Every time I getting to the part of attaching the binding I always go to your video. It is excellent! The part I always need a refresher on is when joining the ends of the binding. I can never remember which piece goes where, on the top of the two or the bottom.
My grandma quilted and helped me make a quilt when I was 8, but after that I didn’t do much until about 2016-2017. Started by making bags, then I started watching The Midnight Quilt Show with Angela Walters and that got me interested in making quilts. From there I found Shabby Fabrics, Fat Quarter Shop, and Missouri Star. Been quilting like a fiend ever since!
Also side note: I did not know at first that people sent their quilts off to be quilted. So I taught myself to free motion quilt on my domestic and did that for years before buying myself a long arm. Have always quilted my own projects. ❤
I learned how to quilt in the early 1980's by taking classes at a quilt store in our area with my Mom and sister. The store is no longer around. I do find myself searching TH-cam if want to learn a new technique or I forget how to do something. Great TH-cam!
Thank you so much for the lovely stars low volume scrap buster pattern. Love all your podcasts!
Billy. Before quilting machines women would put there quilts on a wood frame and hand quilt their quilts or tie them. When I was a little girl I would play underneath the quilt while mom and her friends would quilt on the quilt. I still have have that wood. It was 4 pieces of wood with small holes in various places. They would put bolts I. The corners to hold it together and use 4 chairs in each corner. They would tack the quilt on the frame. They would roll the quilt up on the frame as they quilted. I am 78 years old so that was in the 1950’s and up.
I’m totally TH-cam taught, never taken a class or gone to a retreat. I retired at the beginning at COVID and started quilting then. I had a pattern and fabric for maybe 15 years but didn’t have a good space. After retirement and kids moving out, I had time and space and went for it!
I make my quilts and quilt them on the treadle sewing machine.
Congratulations 🥳 Pamm, Candace and Wendy.
I’m so glad Billy is posing these question on quilting history . As the history quilting tends to get lost in technology. I learned in the early 1980’s. All my piecing was by hand , drawing around templates. And hand quilting. Some makers did use machine however. No rotary cutters or mats were invented yet. Think about that ! The library was full of quilting books so that was a resource as well as quilt shop classes. I learned about long arm quilting services in the 1990,s. Although it was invented much earlier. Thank you for your podcast. Your content is becoming more interesting. Fondly, A Life Long Sewist
I have been making quilts and related items for years. I also have taken many classes, but am finding that I really love TH-cam for learning new things about quilting today. I still like to go to quilt shops for purchasing fabric. Seeing it in person is still important to me. I'm in Greement with you guys about blogs. I love quilting and crafting blogs. I have one but have to admit I'm terrible about keeping up with it. This podcast has encouraged me to do better with it. Thanks
I loved this podcast. I cannot wait to see what Chelsi has planned for Billy. I am really looking forward to that. I seldom comment but just had to say that this was such a good episode. I also loved the one where you asked Billy questions. I love that he is so interested in the history of everything.
I also wanted to say, I learned to sew on a Singer treadle machine...made my first quilt, a 4-patch on it. I still have it, thought pieces have worn away. We got my mom and electric machine when I was in high school, in the 70's, but she still preferred her treadle machine. Saying I was in highschool in the early 70's gives away my age...
I learned to quilt when a quilt shop hired me for their store. I haven’t looked back, they taught me piecing, quilting, appliqué. It was great. I’ve since worked in another quilt shop. I must say you learn so much just working in the shop.
Billy is a history nut like my daughter. Everything you all talked about is interesting. I am one who taught myself how to quilt. I remember seeing women at church quilting when I was young and on old tv shows. My first quilt was just squares out of old clothes and my template was out of a cereal box, the ladies at church quilted it for me and I let them auction it off for the church. I have done just about every craft out there but sewing has all ways been on top. I made clothes when young and then made all the kids clothes for my kids. But I love quilting most.
Back in the 90's HGTV had some great quilt shows...Alex Anderson also PBS had some quting sewing shows...Sharlene Jorgensen...and that and self taught is how I learned
That sounds like my house.. I think my ideas are great but my husband thinks I'm crazy. 😂 You are too funny Chelsi!
I started my quilting journey in 2021 and I am so happy I found this passion. To date I have made 27 quilts and I wish I could make double that number this year. If I had a quilting room I don't think I would leave it much. As a new quilter I have jumped into the deep in and gorged TH-cam videos, checked out every single quilting book my local library carries and printed every single free pattern I can get. I am on a mission to improve every week and with every project. I truly appreciate your blog. I have learned a lot from it and always look forward to each new video you post here. Very thankful for all the inspiration and knowledge you share.
I am a self taught (TH-cam) quilter. I am have started putting things in place to open my shop and give classes in my country which no one else does. Quilting rescued me from depression in 2021 and I’ve been really in love with it from the first stitch. I fell in love with fabric and thread. I have quite the inventory now.
With the wealth of information provided by you, Kimberly, Lori and so many others who willingly share your knowledge and insights often times for free; I was able to go from beginner to maybe an advanced intermediate level in under a year. Thank you for all you do.
I love your podcasts and this was a great topic. I have always loved the idea of sewing. I would go to my grandmother’s house and she would teach me how to sew clothing. She even gave me her old singer that was in a cabinet similar to what your Juki is now in. We even made a scrappy quilt from leftover material of clothing she had made for one of us grandkids or herself. Back then we used old towels for our batting. I still look at that quilt and enjoy the memories. In the early 80’s she and I went to Sears and I bought a brand new Kenmore sewing machine (which I still have). I gave the old Singer to a cousin and I kick myself now that I don’t have it. Shortly after buying the Kenmore, my grandmother passed away. Without her I wasn’t able to sew clothing for myself. My mom never was interested in sewing so she couldn’t help and my aunt who did enjoy sewing lived too far away. Once I had children, I was able to make the girls basic shorts and leggings but anything I made for myself wouldn’t fit. So I quit sewing. Around 2015 I wanted to start sewing again and that is when I realized that making clothes was not for me but a quilt, a quilt did not have to fit your body so it should be easy. I took a class at the local quilt shop and I enjoyed it so much. I have long since retired the Kenmore and have bought a few more machines - Viking, Janome and most recently a Juki TL-2010Q. I do everything on the Juki - piecing, straight quilting and binding. When I’m stuck, I look at TH-cam which really does make life much easier. Technology has been huge to my learning to quilt. One of these days I will probably try some free motion quilting. Maybe I will also have one of the quilts quilted by a quilter.
On the subject of Spam, on Pat Sloan's TH-cam program this morning, they had a give-away and said to go to her Facebook page because of the spam on TH-cam in order to enter. Just FYI. Love, love, love your show.
I learned quilting from reading patterns. No local quilt store when I started. Now we have one
I first learned to quilt in an in-person class. I do use TH-cam or other videos to learn techniques, but my preference is a class or retreat setting to learn new things. I think being with others allows for questions and discussions and that leads to more learning.
Billy, I love how you continue to impact the discussion on your mom and sister’s videos. And how your mind works, taking a topic you are not all that familiar with (quilting) and applying that info to your everyday knowledge about technology. Great job!
I have to say that the majority of my personal experience of learning to quilt has been thanks to technology. I have a gf that made me a quilt that I cherish and I wanted her to teach me. Life happened and we moved out of state and the opportunity never happened. So I started following Facebook and TH-cam and the ability to be able to search what your looking for has been phenomenal. Whether it’s a certain block pattern or pressing etc. I can’t even imagine where I would be or if I would even be quilting without the internet. I still don’t have or know of people or groups in my area- that I could utilize for quilting info. There are two very small quilt shops within an hour from me. However- my husband is disabled and I’m his full time caregiver, we adopted a little boy who is now 10 and I’m also helping in caring for my 2 year old granddaughter. I don’t have the available time let alone time to myself to be able to go somewhere for instructions or retreats etc. The internet has truly been a blessing and lifesaver for me and the ability to get my quilting therapy ❤. I must say I absolutely adore and appreciate sew much your channel and podcast. I often play your podcast as I’m quilting and it’s my version of sewing with friends 😘. Thank you sew much!
i taught myself to quilt. I used to buy every quilt book I could find--and in the 70's and 80's, there weren't a ton of them. I use a Featherweight to piece my quilts. I watched a long arm, practiced a little, but I seriously do not have space for one--My pieced tops aren't ironed to perfection--they are piling up while I figure out who to have quilt them for me. I'm just working on quilts I really love, and making one or two for each of my nine children in colors and patterns they love as well.
I learned from a book how to quilt using templates and cutting them out, all done by hand. My grandmother made quilts but my mom sewed clothing not quilts.I learned in 1990 and then didn’t pick it back up until 2015. I took a class and learned so much. The funny thing about this episode is when you were asking for questions for the end of the month my question was going to be how Sherri and Chelsi got started!😊
Funny I just sang that song as soon as you guys said it’s May 😂😂😂 then Chelsi sing it lol😂😂😂
Picked up a quilting magazine in the 1990's and made my first quilt by just following the pattern. Couldn't understand why everything was in inches(Aussie here) but a local quilt store helped me buy a mat and rotary cutter. I could relate to Sherri's experience of making quilts for the kids etc when TH-cam became so popular I entered another stage of learning. I now have a long arm and enjoy the whole experience from beginning to end. Thanks for your podcast!
Love the podcast! I think Billy needs a quilt hanging behind him!
I just love all of you. You are so much fun to watch.
So, learning the techniques to quilt, for me, back in the 90s, was watching Alex Anderson on HGTV, when they had those types of shows. TH-cam got really popular during COVID, in my opinion.
Oh Billy….. such a good question when you asked about outsourcing the quilting of the quilt layers. I’ve never done it, and it’s great that you can hire someone to do that, but yes, for me it’s my quilt and it’s important to me that I make the whole thing. 😊
Great topics! I started quilting over 20 years ago by taking a 6 week beginning quilting class from start to finish and never looked back. I also read quilting magazines and books. Sherri, I look forward to taking your online class. Sounds like fun!
I quilt my own quilts on my straight line machine. I don't love that part of quilting but I can't afford to send them out and that's a required part of quilting.😂
Me too!! It’s my least favorite step
I took a walking foot quilt class in Houston last year, game changer from doing stitch in the ditch!!! The larger ones still go to longarmer to quilt, but I do my own smaller quilts, now confidently
What an enjoyable and informative podcast. Thanks The Dynamic Trio. Chelsi, I can relate to your purple quilt obsession. My daught Elizabeth of similar age also wanted a purple quilt (and bedroom). That quilt is still being used. The first quilt I made and (Billy) I hand quilted it. Grandson Jack calls it Mummy's special quilt. 😀
My grandmother used her treadle machine until the 70's when she died and she hand quilted her quilts until she died. She made quilts for money to help support her and my grandpa. She never had an electronic sewing machine.
I just bought a treadle machine from 1929. Really excited to learn how to use it. Bless your grandmother!
I learned how to sew quilts in 2020 during the shutdown. I bought my first sewing machine to sew masks for my family. After I had so many masks, I had to find another use for it. I tried sewing quilts and never stopped. Self taught with youtube videos. I also couldn't find a quilt guild near me. I order mostly everything online. I still need to actually visit a quilt store.
I also have been inspired by quilting blogs.
I am still a self taught quilter. I also love fabric and quilt designs.
I am still working full time and have not been quilting continuously. I have many kits and blocks to do some day….
You Tube is my university and there’s no tuition!👏🏼 I started out learning and quilting Debbie Mumm patterns using mostly Calico prints, but really caught the bug watching Jenny’s You Tube channel. I just cleaned up and organized my playlists and I have more Sherri and Chelsi videos than anything else🥰 Yay me!🙌🏼
Completely self taught quilter using TH-cam. I stumbled across Amy Butler fabric around 2006ish and was making skirts for my young girls at the time (again self taught). But that eventually led me to Fat Quarter Shop, where I found tutorials and that led me to designers and their videos. Still quilting and watching TH-cam. I just wanted to add, that I am from Australia, and there wasn't really any knowledge of quilting in my family/circle. I had a friend whose mother 'quilted' but I only ever saw one quilt, even though I loved it, there just wasn't a lot of quilters/quilts/information around me.
I learned using FQS beginner quilting series. Totally online. I have no one in my family or any friends who quilt. So everything I learned was online. This was just last September 2022. Since then, I’ve made about 14 or 15 quilts! I enjoy it so much and I only wish I had done this years ago (I’m 63!).
I have to give a shout out to Billy. He has become a talented interviewer! He’s very prepared with questions and follow up questions, so the flow of the conversation is very smooth. This is especially noteworthy since he’s not a quilter himself, yet! Kudos, Billy!
I was inspired to learn to quilt by my mom, who was a fabulous seamstress her entire adult life and began quilting in her 60’s. I started out taking classes at my LQS about 20 years ago, and did that right up until the pandemic. I also relied on blogs, books, magazines and online videos to learn as much as I could about quilting. There’s no end to the learning! I appreciate all you offer the quilting community and all you do to educate quilters everywhere.
Some of us used books/ magazines prior to the internet. Started quilting in 2000. This is from Australia where quilting was not a passed on topic. No one in my family before me had made a quilt. 3 of my aunts now quilt. Finding Angela Walters and Leah Day on Craftsy really helped me learn free motion quilting. I had dressmade prior to quilting so piecing was never a challenge. I taught myself dressmaking from the pattern instructions. Many of my friends learnt sewing at school but I did academic subjects. I was later to blogs and online content, really only discovered this when I joined the Modern Quilt Guild. Today you can learn to quilt from youtube
Chelsea. You Crack me up! When your mom said she was outlining a course and you rolled your head it made me laugh. I know how your mom amazes you with how much she knows and does, you will be there when your kids are out of the house because you have as much energy as her and as much talent. I love how you all interact as a family. I'm glad you have worked it out so you can all make a living doing what you love.
I took a class in 1991 at a quilt shop and then would watch a quilting show on PBS in the 90’s. So much has changed since then.
I started quilting on my own in 1995 from Fons and Porter book and watching PBS / early home and garden tv and magazines .
I did not take a class until about 7 years ago and mostly for the social aspect.
Enjoyed these topics. Liked hearing the perspective of 2 different generations. How will it all change in the future....
Billy I have 24 vintage singers. One of my treadles is from 1898. All of my machines range from the 1900's right up to the 70's. And yes most of them have the foot pedal made from Bakelite, but those pedals also have a slot in the cabinet they slide into that connect to a knee lever which I love. I have so much more control over the speed with my knee than my foot. One of my machines is a hand crank from 1906. I have them all in working order and have pieced quilts on all of them. People have also been known to change the machines from treadle to electric and visa versa or put a hand crank on one. You definitely should check into the history of these machines. I'm sure you will find it fascinating. Rhonda from Canada
I also learned via TH-cam (started in 2010). Crafty Gemini, MSQC, Fat Quarter Shop and many others. I am a recent subscriber to you guys and really enjoying your content! Thank you!
My dad has a bed size quilt that was pieced with a treadle and quilted with a different treadle that the lady free handed the quilting. He won the quilt at a rendezvous about 8 years ago.
Loved the pod cast I am a new quilter started my first quilt in May 2020 by watching craftsy videos. I absolutely love quilting.
My local PBS station ran quilting shows on Saturdays in the 1980s. Georgia Boonsteel and Eleanor Burns were the first ones I watched.
Happy Mother’s Day to you both
Billy, before there were sewing machines sewing was done totally by hand, clothes and quilts. Quilting the layers together was often done at quilting bees, woman sat around a large frame and stitched each others quilts.
I made my first quilt block from a Quilt Magazine from the early 1990s before I had a computer and I'm currently making my first machine pieced quilt just from the pattern. It does help that I have a 1/4 inch foot for my Janome sewing machine. I think though when I go to bind my quilt I will need to look at a video tutorial as I'm a visual learner. I still have my great-grandmother's singer treadle sewing machine which I learned to sew on as a child and I hope to get it restored one day.
Thank you Billy love it❤️❤️
I enjoy free motion quilting my own quilts. I feel I have completed the entire quilt myself. Plus I save a lot of money. I can quilt even large quilts on my Janome Horizon.
Thank you for talking about that sewing machine cabinet. I have that same cabinet and still have the working Sears Kenmore machine that goes in it. I’ve been going to give it to my granddaughter but will keep it for awhile yet. I’ll tell her about it and tell her when she gets her own place she can have it. She’s 16 right now. I got mine in 1970. The best sewing machine to this day. I have another Sears Kenmore and two Singer Featherweights.
Amazingly, there are people who do machine quilting on Singer Featherweights. That's kind of mind blowing
I have that cabinet which my mom purchased for me in 1964 with a singer machine. It was what I learned to sew on.still have it but I now sew on a Bernini 440 Glad to know a junk I would fit in that cabinet. A junki is on my wish list . Thank you for that info
I always enjoy your U-Tubes! Today I checked your Binding U-Tube...very well done! Somehow I have been twisting my binding, not a good thing! I think I've got it now, thanks to you! Joan
Love watching all of you each episode. And Billy, nice to finally put a face to a voice each episode. One thing I would wish for that was mentioned this episode is for the Ladies to start announcing their patterns that are on sale each month. I know Sherri’s now for May but not Chelsea’s. Is that something you could add?
Tied quilts were done frequently also for speed because quilts were utilitarian.