Three Rail Fence Quilt

This three-rail fence quilt was my very first attempt at quilting.  It is a good "beginner's" quilt, short straight seams, not too many blocks.  I was so green, I did not have any of the usual quilting tools except pins and a scissors!  All the fabric was cut by hand using a tape measure and a scissors. I didn't know rotary cutters and mats even existed!  I sewed it on a small Brother sewing machine, the $89 version from Walmart.  Nothing fancy.

I do have experience in sewing, I have made many skirts, jackets, blouses, dresses, etc.  I thought quilting would be a cinch!   OH OH OH!  Did I have a lot to learn!!  In sewing, the standard seam allowance is 5/8 inch.  In quilting, it's a quarter inch.  "Close enough," I thought.  WRONG!  I learned the hard way, and luckily, in my sewing box, I found a seam ripper.  For me, one of the hardest lessons to learn was sewing a quarter inch seam.  Quilts really do need to be exact.  But I persisted, and the quilt top came together, measuring about 36 x 40.  Yes, it was small.  

Now to "quilt" it!  How to do that!?, I wondered. First I had to make the "sandwich," which wasn't too hard since this was a small project.  I stitched in the ditch along both sides of the yellow strips, and the square in their centers.  A nice safe way to quilt. But I was immensely proud of myself when I finished.  And so began an exciting new hobby.  A Quilter was born!

My very first quilt was lovingly given to my daughter for a changing blanket for my grandson.