The first quilt I remember was on my bed when I was a little girl.  It was made of woolen squares, about four inches on a side. The squares were mostly dark colors, but there were a few that were bright pink, some red, pale blue and a kelly green. The fabrics probably came from discarded coats and suits.  Each square was tied in the center with colored yarn and the back was a dark plaid flannel. I remember it being heavy and warm.

    My mother says she probably made it, but she doesn't remember for sure.  I know she was always making something when I was small; sewing clothing for all the family, hooking rugs, crocheting lace doilies.  Mom always had at least one project going.  My dad did, too, though it wasn't needlework.  He did carpentry, auto mechanics, built go-carts, furniture, model ships, cars, and airplanes.  I remember both of them trying new things and working to figure out how to do whatever it was they had in  mind.  In our house not knowing how was never an excuse not to try something.

    I followed their example from an early age.  I remember making a stuffed dog from an old sock when I was about six years old, and a rag doll with rope braids.  I went on to make clothes for my dolls, and my sister's dolls and eventually clothes for myself.   I learned my first embroidery stitches from my German Aunt Mary when I was seven or eight, and went through a crewel embroidery stage when I was in high school.

People were amazed at the amount of work involved, but it seemed well within reason to me.  While I was attending Pacific Oaks College I met a seventeen year old girl who was solidly embroidering a whole bedspread! That was amazing!