Much to my surprise, I found myself accompanying my wife to a beginner's class on quilting in August 2013. I had no real interest in sewing of any sort, but agreed to go so we could share the experience and, perhaps, I could help her with her new venture. My wife has many talents with crocheting, pottery and painting (oil and watercolor)among them. Following a visit from a long time friend and quilter, she decided to try her hand at quilting. So off to JoAnn Fabrics beginning quilting class we went.

I was quickly taken by the complexity of the patterns and the calculation of the desired finished block dimensions and the need for seam allowances. As we started learning to use rotary cutters, acrylic rulers, dry irons and the like my long-time love of geometry and trigonometry began to resurface after a long hibernation in some portion of my brain -- this stuff was interesting and challenging. After one class, I was hooked on the cutting and piecing of carefully cut fabric sections to form a desired end effect. Admittedly, the first runs were less than beautiful, but the instructor made sure we were given simple enough block that we could finish the class with a "success" under our belt. Cutting accurately was one thing, sewing a straight line with a 1/4" seam allowance required development of a whole new skill.

Since that start, I have taken a few other instructional classes including inclusion of circles in the quilt patterns, applique, and "free motion" quilting -- all separate skills that need to be learned and developed. I continue to progress.

As kind of a diary or log, I am using my pBase gallery to memorialize my quilting efforts and to keep notes on what I have done and learned with each project. Anyone interested in my journey through Quiltingland is welcome to come along and hopefully enjoy my tales of falling into and climbing out of the numerous potholes that a novice quilter can easily fall into.

Any comments, suggestions or helpful hints will be appreciated.