Welcome Catherine
I applaud your wish to work by hand. I'm sure I would be far less
stressed by the quilting demands I make on myself, if I had chosen that
path g
You might not be able to find many classes on 'construction' by hand, as
very few people do and teach that nowadays. You should be able to find
handquilting classes relatively easily, though.
On the construction front: As Sally said, Jinny Beyer's work is
legendary.
When looking for books, you might well do better to look for historical
(ie older!) books in the library (or, to buy - but library is a good
place to start).
They will almost certainly include simpler construction, which might be
easier for a beginner hand maker; and also wholecloth quilting, which
would be fine for you to perfect hand quilting.
There is a lovely method of hand piecing which I haven't seen mentioned
yet, and that is English Paper Piecing. You might have seen examples of
this, when looking through quilting books, as joined hexagons. Well, of
course, the shapes don't have to be hexagons. They can be any shape
which will tessellate (regular shapes which can be joined together
without any other shape) - or, indeed, as you progress, two or three
different shapes which join together perfectly. The fabric is sewn
around accurately cut papers (envelope grade paper, or thin card), and
then the shapes are sewn together with a 'whip stitch' along the edges -
from the back. I have done a little bit of this and like it very much.
Others in the group have done more than I have and may well chime in
with pictures of what they have made.
This is probably enough for now! But I hope you will come back and tell
us how you have got on with starting and what questions you need
answering next g
..
In message , Catherine
writes
Hello ladies and gentlemen,

I've been wanting to begin quilting as a hobby for as long as I can
remember - since about age 14 when I saw my grandmother's beautiful
handmade quilts, and I'm 37 today.

I don't own a sewing machine and don't know how to use one as I've
never really tried. I never took home economics or had classes. I
have taken art for 4 years in high school, 1 year in University, and
had private lessons (including pen and ink, pencil, oil, watercolor,
and basic crafting), so taking this up wouldn't be a passing fling for
me but an extension of something I've enjoyed all my life. Coming from
the Appalachian area in the U.S. I think I've got it in the blood.

I'd like to learn to quilt and I'd like to do it like they did in the
olden days if possible, completely by hand, all hand sewn. Could
anyone point me in the right direction as to how to begin this art?

Thanks very much,
Catherine - "Cat" or "Cate" is fine too

--
Best Regards
pat on the hill