Closet Quilter, Group or Guild???
 

I'm curious, how many of you belong to an organized group or guild and how many just quilt at home alone (closet quilter)?? Or maybe you are a professional teacher or longarmer??

Closet quilter here....everybody wants something quilted, so it keeps me too busy to quilt with others....not exactly a bad thing.

I belong to this online group plus one other. I also belong to a group at our church, but tie quilts (which I'm not crazy about). I've tried our local guild, but having trouble finding my "spot" there. Donna

I've only been quilting a little while (I finally finished my first quilt a few weeks ago, and I'm well into my second). I joined our local guild last year, but it didn't do anything for me. As a newbie, I didn't feel welcome, the level of quilting was way beyond me, and it was all about the Quilt Show. Maybe in a few years I'll try it again.

Guild member here. I belong to a local guild that moved closer to me, so now I'm able to get to the meetings without too much driving involved. I do most of my quilting at home alone, though.

I am a closet quilter, but would love to belong to a guild or group!!!!

Closet quilter. Rather read a forum. As long as quilting groups stick to quilting, I'm OK - when they get going on families and recipes, I lose interest.

I am a closet quilter and it's ok with me. It gives me the opportunity to try whatever I want as a newbie, having made only one big quilt so far I feel there are so many things I want to try, that I don't feel the need to add to my list of "things to try"

I closet quilt,belong to a guild(but only go occasionally), and have some ladies over to my house once a month. I make a nice dinner,wait on them hand and foot,and we do hand sewing.

I belong to the local guild and a small group that started from off the guild. I wouldn't be without either of them. They both offer lots. I wouldn't be without either of them.
I do love this board, but sometimes getting together with friends with the same interest is even better!
For those of you that have tried a guild but didn't like it, give it another chance. Even though you might not have liked it the first time, maybe it was just you didn't care for what they were doing. Go a few times before making a judgement. You may find lots of new quilting buddies!

I belong to four guilds and I'm on the board of two of them. I belonged to one guild a whole year before I was asked to be on the board. But I volunteered and got involved with things right away.

I belong to 3 guilds - a big one, a small one, and one in between. (Sounds like Goldilocks, huh?) I get ideas, friendships, outings, lessons, other experiences from the guilds, but I quilt alone, at home. I don't like carting my stuff around, and I like sewing in my own space, with my machine at the right height, my cutting table handy, etc. The only problem is that the computer is also handy... too handy... and it takes up far too much of my time.

Francie - where in Oregon? If you wait on your ladies hand and foot, I might just want to sew with you! In fact you may have a crowd coming over... LOL

I quilt alone, but don't consider myself a closet quilter. Everyone I know, knows I quilt, so I guess I'm outed.

Closet/group here. Although asked, I never joined a guild as family and other 501c3 commitments kept me busy, maybe some day. Right now there is a sit and sew/quilt that meets at the library 2x a month at the library that I love to go to and then my cyber buddies too.

piney

Me, too! I'd love to have a group of friends that got together and quilted. Of course, I have all you board folks and that counts for a lot with me.

I'm sorta a closet quilter; my oldest DD is a quilter and we share ideas/projects/stash a lot. I/we've taken a few classes at our LQS, which we've enjoyed. Every one there is very friendly and not just the staff. Most times anyone in the shop will talk/chime in on fabric we are considering/project working on and share their own. It's a great atmosphere.

The shop has classes/sew-ins/open sewing times, so I could go to those, but most times prefer not to. It's hard to schlep my machine down the stairs/put it in car/schlep it into store, and then reverse it when I get home. I'd rather spend the time in my own space with everything laid out in a way that is convenient for me.

I'm still working, though my hours have been cut, and find time is very precious to me. My work hours vary weekly, so don't know until a week in advance, when I'll be able to commit to anything.

I belong to a group. Love meeting other quilters. Meet on Monday's A. M.

Where on earth did you get the term "closet quilter"? Such a negative connotation...like it's something to be ashamed of!

I am a solo, independent quilter who, like most artists, prefers to work alone. I wouldn't have it any other way. I spend quality time with other quilters, but not work time.

I tried a guild but prefer the closet! :) I work full time and just like to stay home once I get there.

Sorry if it's offensive:) I just like to be home in my own little space, doing my own thing and it just came out that way. Nothing negative was intended. I also didn't mean no one knows you are quilting.

I belong to a guild and a group that meets one day a month for a full day of sewing together, I also follow this board and a hand quilting group.

I'm with Dunster, when's your next group meeting?

I belong to 1 guild that meets monthly. I don't get involved in the board or committees because I work and have too many other obligations. But my gf and I usually make guild night a girls night. She belongs to a small group connected to the guild, I do my quilting at home except for when the guild does quilt college every-other-year, then I do two days of non-stop classes.

Closet quilter here. I think I might like an informal type of group, but I like knowing that I have everything I need (if I can find it! LOL) at home. I think if I went somewhere, I'd probably forget something important!

I quilt alone, well with my cockatoo. I am uncomfortable in large groups & I have to go at my own speed. It's just easier to quilt alone. Plus, I live in a motorhome where there's no room for extra people; let alone equipment. I have fun doing my own thing at my own speed. No rush, no distraction, no noise. I meet other quilter's while I'm out. Mostly I meet a lot of folks who want to learn to quilt & I always send them here first. All of you have taught me SO much in the past two years & for that I'm very grateful! It has allowed me to really expand the patterns & techniques I use. Thank you!

I belong to a LA group that meets 5X a year, but other than that I'm a closet quilter.

I have been mostly a closet quilter...but might venture out after the holidays....there is a guild that I want to check out. I don't have enough time to quilt as it is so I don't need more projects...but would like to relate to some local quilters too.

I belong to two guilds, and two sew groups, and instruct a community quilt program once a month. The days we don't meet I sew at home. Since the birth of my grandson I don't go to the sewdays as much, I'm daycare until he gets passed the infant stage so he won't get every bug germ that comes along. No sickness at all so far, not even a fever or runny nose. He's a sweetheart so I'll give up lots of sew days for him. I have babysitter for guild days.

I belong to a guild that I attend once a month. I used to belong two a quilting bee too but I stopped attending when I had a baby and the ladies have since disbanded. :( SAD! I do have a handful of quilting/sewing buddies who I get together with on ocassion and several friends who I am teaching to sew or quilt. I taught one actual class at a quilt shop but didn't get on too well with the owner! Pooh! Lol* Other than that just helping friends or helping at the guild and that's about it. When my kids get older and I can travel I would love to travel and teach.

I should add that my Mother doesn't quilt be she sews and loves to hear about my projects - we get together about once a week and do a show and tell with each other. It's fun to get out with other quilters but if it were only me and my Mom I'd get plenty of sewing chat in still! :)

I belong to a small guild. I enjoy it we meet 2 time a month and have a sit and sew after a brief meeting. I love my group but most of my quilting I do alone only an arms length from the computer and the Quilting Board!

I'm not part of group or guild. I'm somewhat of an intravert, and until you get to know me, I'm not the chatty type. I've only been quilting for a year, and I think I'm a bit worried that I'll be surrounded by these amazing quilters and I'll be intimidated. (I know that is a silly thing to think, but I can't get over it! LOL). One of my friends just starting doing some sewing and quilting as well, so I do have someone I talk "shop" with. I read a lot of blogs, and am a member here and at MSQC. So far, that's been enough.

Closet here.

I belong to the quilting board sight, and to my home town quilt guild Melon patcher QG. Been a member 25/26 years, and still the only guy. I dont mind, I feel like 1 of the ladies, even though I'm a guy. They even tell me how amazed they are, with some of my quilts, I show(show/tell). Don-isewman

i belong to a local group which meets every 2 weeks--great ladies the jaw gets a lot of excercise---our guild here in adelaide are blest with some world renoun quilters--rachel deneny---pam holland--michelle hill [the spelling may be off sorry]--they are extreemly nice people and share their knoledge[ok my spelling brains in bed still] we had 250 people at our xmas party ----------i am a stay at home but like the stimulation o f good company

I belong to two quilting guilds that meet monthly, one Stitch and Share that meets weekly and a Community Quilt Group that meets once or twice a month. All of my groups are quite different and the same people do not belong to all groups so you get to meet a lot of quilters. I enjoy all of my groups and still find time to do lots of stitching at home. I also have a couple of close quilting buddies (less than a mile from my house) who I regularly hang out with.

i quilt alone, but a couple times a month do enjoy getting together with the quilting seniors... not a lot of serious quilting goes on, though.

I sew alone.. I am pretty production orientated!! When I get ready to sew .. I want no distractions. I tried the group thing but I think they thought I was not "commited" as sometimes my work has me traveling and I can never say I can definately make a meeting.

I am an independent quilter. I tried a couple of quilds several years ago but it didn't work out. But since I am recently retired I would like to try again to find a group that fits. I tend to do things contrary to others - I get the same results, just a different way and many people try to tell me "how its done correctly" .... I don't fit in for many .....

I have been a closet quilter teaching myself as I come across books, magazines and this forum. I have the utmost respect for the quilters here. Plus I found out about You Tube tutorials here.
I am considering joining a guild. A friend who lives two houses away from me asked me to go to a meeting with her in October. We went and enjoyed ourselves. Everyone seemed quite friendly. We are going to go to another meeting (can attend two without paying) before we make a decision to commit or not. I think I will join if she wants to join, yet I'm also thinking about asking her if she would like to simply get together to quilt a couple times a month in our homes since we are so close. It isn't a matter of dues since they are only $15 a year. For me it is my Chemical Sensitivities. I can't be around anyone wearing fragrances or fresh laundry products. She told me she isn't ready in her quilting to work with a group on charity projects. I can see the pros and cons of joining and not joining. So I will have to see what the future brings. :):):)

I have tried both (2 guilds) and I prefer the more relaxed atmosphere of a quilting group. I belong to 2. One meets the first Sat. of the month at local Library from 9 to 3. We have a pitch and sew all day. Have been doing this for 4 years. The other group meets the 3rd Thurs. evening of the month. We have show and tell sometimes demonstrations, we all make a raffle quilt every year and give the money to Charities of our choice, and this year we made lap quilts for a nursing home for Christmas.

Closet quilter here. I'm sure we have local groups in town but I do volunteer work while the kids are at school and then play taxi to them the rest of the time. Maybe when they start driving themselves?