Ellen Pahl has been making quilts for more than 20 years and has been editing books about making quilts for more than 15 years. She learned to sew as a child from her mother, who made most of their clothing. Quilts have always fascinated Ellen, and she made her first quilt in the early 1970s using typical dressmaking techniques and fabrics. Needless to say, she has learned a lot since then. As a freelance technical editor for various quilting and crafts book publishers, she feels fortunate to be able to work in a subject area that she loves. Ellen belongs to a small quilting group that makes quilts for charity. She has also taught classes in hand applique and hand quilting. In addition to quilting, she enjoys gardening, cooking, basket weaving, and floral design. She lives in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, with her family, two cats, and five chickens.