I remember when I was young, watching my Grandmother and my Mom make me dresses. When I was a teenager, I wanted to carry on the tradition and learn to sew. My Mom tried teaching me but all the cutting and pinning the pattern and piecing them with the notches drove me crazy. Not to mention, living in California without any air conditioning, made it rather unenjoyable and too hot to even think about an indoor project during the summer. Needless to say, I quit trying to sew.
Fast forward to the beginning of my Empty Nester phase. My Mother-In-Law used to make beautiful quilts and I would admire them every time I visited her. One day we were talking about the quilts and she said she would teach me if I wanted to learn. She assured me it was easier than it looked and there weren’t any patterns! By then, I’d moved to Texas and had air-conditioning, so I thought, “Sure, why not?!”.
My first quilt was called the Yellow Brick Road. I was a little overwhelmed because there were so many pieces. It took me over a month to complete it but I was so proud when it was done.
That’s all it took, I got the bug to quilt! I saw a Paper Doll quilt that I just had to make. You actually cut out clothes that allow you to change the dolls’ outfits. It was adorable and I just knew one day I would have granddaughters that would love to play with it.
Then I discovered Missouri Quilt Youtube tutorials and it was all over… quilting would definitely be a lifelong hobby! She makes the entire process so easy. I purchase the precut fabric squares (all in coordinating colors and patterns) offered on her channel. All I have to do is put them all together, in the comfort of my air conditioned house!
