Susanna Cohen
My aunt and I

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I am twelve years old, going into the seventh grade, and I am a quilter. My aunt runs the Quilt Basket, so I’ve been surrounded by fabric for my entire life. When I was younger, I would pick out a new fat quarter every time I visited my aunt, so I have quite a collection. I’ve also been able to use any machine in the shop that appealed to me. I have been very fortunate.
I have completed eight quilts so far, and like many older quilters have several in the works. I made my first quilt at around age six. I needed a lot of help then, but I am growing more independent. In the beginning I tied off my quilts to hold them together, but then my uncle introduced me to Handi Quilters. He helped me set up the machine and pick a pattern, and I was off!
I need help at some points, but for the most part I can do this myself. I like to do a lot of things that way, like the cutting and all of the sewing of my more recent quilts, this essay, etc.
When my uncle told me about this essay he was all excited about me showing people that children can do this, too. But what other twelve year old has been so fully introduced to the worlds of sewing and quilting? I needed the help of my aunt and uncle to accomplish what I have. All of the quilts I have quilted I gave away. Maybe it is so that someone else can enjoy using what I enjoyed making. This is just the beginning of my HQ story, and who knows what will happen next?

I own the following HQ machines: