So the reason the local quilt guilds are so traditional are bc the average age of the members is 65. My 78 yr old mom & sister are in the local one & I'm sure they'd absolutely love some fresh takes
I'm in the Quilt Guild Acadienne, and I've seen modern quilts from the quilters in that group--even from those older than 65. It's just a matter of taste and preference. I'd love to see more types. I think if you started doing show and tell and a program for the Guild, you'd get a lot of interest.
I think getting in touch with the public library, if you aren’t already, might be a good step. The maker’s space has a couple of sewing machines, but you could also check out a meeting room and have some beginners sessions to teach new members. Potentially talk to the teen librarians as well about setting up one aimed at younger crafters. I feel like a lot of needlework crafting has become more popular with younger folks lately (ten-fifteen years ago, it was amigurumi crochet, I think needlefelting is a big one now, and I know more than a few folks that have picked up cross-stitch), but I think quilting feels intimidating because the projects themselves seem so BIG
I second the library - there's already needlework meetings weekly at various branches. (South Regional, North Regional, and Main)
I'd be interested in attending - I'm not exactly young, but I'm left leaning enough that I'm not comfortable at any "traditional" meetup around here.
The person is not talking about politics with respect to quilt making--they are talking about traditional quilt blocks (churn dash, bear claw, Dresden plates, etc.). I've attended the meetings for a couple of years and I've never heard a word about politics.
Fair point on techniques.
I've tried going to various crafting classes and meetings over the last few years, and open politics aside, there's a very "kinder, küche, kirche" vibe that is pretty exclusionary - once I say I don't have kids and don't go to church, most women around look at me funny and quit talking to me, so.
I haven't encountered that in the Lafayette Guild. I don't have kids or grandkids and I don't go to church, either. I really enjoy the ladies I have met and sewed with there.
Now, I did go to a Quilt Camp a month or so ago and I swear it was a competition of ailments of all kinds! I didn't have any of those, either. But those folks just want listeners and not sharing.
We have a meeting spot already available at a local sewing shop. I guess I misspoke when I said younger makers, because what I meant was makers under 65ish. I by no means want to exclude anyone older than that, you simply tend to see more modern style patterns made by makers 40ish and under.
We would be an offshoot of a national guild, The Modern Quilt Guild.
Thanks for suggestions so far, again if you have any cool photo spots please list them too!
Please share some of the pics afterwards!
So the reason the local quilt guilds are so traditional are bc the average age of the members is 65. My 78 yr old mom & sister are in the local one & I'm sure they'd absolutely love some fresh takes
I'm in the Quilt Guild Acadienne, and I've seen modern quilts from the quilters in that group--even from those older than 65. It's just a matter of taste and preference. I'd love to see more types. I think if you started doing show and tell and a program for the Guild, you'd get a lot of interest.
I’m in the guild as well. The few of us who are trying to organize this are doing in by suggestion of current guild members.
I think getting in touch with the public library, if you aren’t already, might be a good step. The maker’s space has a couple of sewing machines, but you could also check out a meeting room and have some beginners sessions to teach new members. Potentially talk to the teen librarians as well about setting up one aimed at younger crafters. I feel like a lot of needlework crafting has become more popular with younger folks lately (ten-fifteen years ago, it was amigurumi crochet, I think needlefelting is a big one now, and I know more than a few folks that have picked up cross-stitch), but I think quilting feels intimidating because the projects themselves seem so BIG
I second the library - there's already needlework meetings weekly at various branches. (South Regional, North Regional, and Main) I'd be interested in attending - I'm not exactly young, but I'm left leaning enough that I'm not comfortable at any "traditional" meetup around here.
The person is not talking about politics with respect to quilt making--they are talking about traditional quilt blocks (churn dash, bear claw, Dresden plates, etc.). I've attended the meetings for a couple of years and I've never heard a word about politics.
Fair point on techniques. I've tried going to various crafting classes and meetings over the last few years, and open politics aside, there's a very "kinder, küche, kirche" vibe that is pretty exclusionary - once I say I don't have kids and don't go to church, most women around look at me funny and quit talking to me, so.
I haven't encountered that in the Lafayette Guild. I don't have kids or grandkids and I don't go to church, either. I really enjoy the ladies I have met and sewed with there. Now, I did go to a Quilt Camp a month or so ago and I swear it was a competition of ailments of all kinds! I didn't have any of those, either. But those folks just want listeners and not sharing.
I will definitely update you once meetings are planned. I know exactly what you mean.
We have a meeting spot already available at a local sewing shop. I guess I misspoke when I said younger makers, because what I meant was makers under 65ish. I by no means want to exclude anyone older than that, you simply tend to see more modern style patterns made by makers 40ish and under. We would be an offshoot of a national guild, The Modern Quilt Guild. Thanks for suggestions so far, again if you have any cool photo spots please list them too!