Are there any quilters out there?  Do you hand quilt or machine quilt — or have someone do it for you?  How many unfinished projects do you have?  (I'm not listing all of mine!)  What sort of quilts do you prefer?  Do you collect them, make them, teach classes?

I'm currently working on a Double Irish Chain, a Sampler Quilt and a Baby Quilt.  I hand quilt, but haven't tried machine quilting yet.  I'd rather have someone else do the quilting part for me — I love putting the tops together.  I'm more of a traditional quilter.  My grandmothers made quilts (one grandmother is still living and she is the one that made the most quilts — she is 100).  So I grew up loving quilts — and use them and decorate with them.

Just wondering and hoping there are other quilters or quilt lovers out there!

Belladonna — My husband was a B-52 pilot.  He is retired from the Air Force now.  I wonder if I know your sister-in law?  Please don't post her name here — I wouldn't want someone to do that to me!

I've found it's a small world!

I don't think I'm as talented as your sister-in-law.  She sounds amazing!

I'm just learning to quilt.  It's going to be slow going though.  With two of my three kids still too young to go to school, I don't have much time.  My goal is to learn at least enough to finish a quilt that my grandmother started.  If that goes well, my mom has a couple more tops she made that I would like to finish as gifts for my brother and sister.

But for now I'm just working on a sampler quilt.  I will most likely start out hand quilting, but would like to machine quilt since it's faster.

Heidi

I haven't quilted in a while, but I've got all my quilting stuff tucked away for retirement, when I have more free time.  I collected fabric for quite a while, and it's all up in the attic.  I hope it's OK!  

I do several kinds of quilting.  I have a huge king-size frame for hand-quilting.  I once had this RIDICULOUS notion that I was going to open a bed and breakfast inn and have my hand-made quilts on every bed. HAH!  The only quilt I finished on it was a twin-size made from an antique top I found in an old shop.  But, it is LOVELY. 

I also have a smaller quilting frame that uses a machine.  I have a Juki dedicated to using with it.  It comes with a platform that moves the machine through the stretched fabric - rather than the other way around.  It's cool…but has a very steep learning curve.  It's not been out of the box in four years.  I'm an idiot.

I have a finished top that is just gorgeous.  I keep thinking I'll get the machine frame out and just finish it, but it hasn't happened.  I may look for a good finisher and just get it done this winter.

My favorite quilt is my first one.  I quilted it on a big round lap quilting frame.  It's one of my prettiest quilts, and it's never been used for anything but decoration.  I put my other quilts to serious use - including the one I made from the antique top. 

Lately, I'm drawn to lap quilts, because they go so quickly, and they get more use.

Hi, Just signed up to say hi.  I love Suzannes shennagans of daily life, I just live through her farm life that I cant have.  I do have chickens and live in a small town, but long of acres of cows, goats, pigs, gardens and as much as I can get on it.

DH is John who is at 53 a full time student, taking welding. DS is 22, still trying to “find himself and his place in life”, and make me crazy at the same time. I am the supervising clerk at the emergency room at our local hospital, and I love every minute of it.  I retired from owning my own floral shops for almost 30 years and found my own place right here!

I have many hobbies, but Quilting has been in my life since birth.  I remember the quilting bees at my grandmothers house when I played under the quilt “piecing” my own scraps together.  And my mom has always had a frame hanging from her ceiling where ever we have lived.  Mom is 70+ and still can put out a king size hand quilted in 3 weeks or less!  It would take me forever!!!

I only really got into it myself, making the time for it!, about 6 or 7 years ago.  I am so hooked, I will never stop!  I especially love the cutting and piecing, by machine, because I love to see fast finished product.  My favorite are the 1800 and 30's repro patterns and fabric.

Well thats me, I hope to meet many new friends here and learn something new always!

I love quilts and have just started my first one. Wish me luck!

Birdi, I think you may be a kindred spirit! Outside of books and chocolate, textiles are a big  deal for me.

And I love yarn! Do you crochet? I would LOVE to knit but am so overwhelmed with all the other things I do……

I'm like Birdi - Hi, my name is Gizmo, and I'm a fabricaholic (and any other craft too).

I have been quilting for years.  It is my true passion.  I've enjoyed many other crafts, still do, but quilting is my constant.

I usually make bed sized (full or larger), but have been on a run with baby quilts lately.  I hand quilt the heirlooms, and machine quilt the “usables”.  I think they last longer, and the recipients seem to be more at ease using them.  I now use my new BabyLock to make my labels (embroidered), but used to either print or draw them myself.

I joined an online group, much like this one, and we've been meeting at different quilt shows across the country for years.

My latest ongoing project is comfort quilts for the local NICU unit.  I call them Angel Covers.  The quilt is used to cover the isolette while the baby is in the hospital, and the parents are given the matching block (pinned to the quilt).  The block gives them something to “take home” with them, since they have to leave their baby.  When the baby is released from the hospital, the quilt goes with them.

Here's a link to my Flickr album with some of my quilts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gizmo0922/

Lorelei, good luck with your first quilt.  If you have trouble, just pop back in here, and I'm sure someone will be able to help you.  This is one addiction you're going to enjoy for a LOOOOONG time.

Heidi, hang in there.  I learned to quilt when my kids were that small too.  I used to give them my scrap squares and triangles to play with on the floor, while I pieced at the table.  They worked on their colors, shapes and learned what “went together”.

Happy Quilting,

Gizmo

The quilt I decided to do is a pieced wall hanging with machine applique. It's a really long and skinny thing of my own design. I wanted something to hang on the wall of my stairwell which is pretty tall.

The design is very organic and sort of free form of a tree. I'm beginning to feel a little panicked! Did I bite off more than I can chew? This is the first thing I've ever quilted and I have to do this?!! Aaach.

I wish I had the time to quilt.  I used to cross stitch and had to quit as it bothered my carpal tunnel, so I imagine quilting would have the same effect.  I've done some small quilting projects, potholders and such, but I've never taken on a big project. 

My MIL has contacted one of the Amish families to quilt my top for me, I'm on the list.  As soon as they get to me, it will be done!

:J