Originally Posted by justflyingin

If I were a LAQ and did it professionally (think Charisma) and then someone told me that I wasn't a "quilter", I'd be really surprised. and maybe offended/hurt. If a "professional quilter" isn't a quilter, then who is?

It seems like it is like saying that a runner who earns money by running (in prizes/sponsorships) isn't a runner. You have to be an amateur to be a real "runner". To me, your logic doesn't make sense.

Of course, a LAQ is a quilter--they are probably the "ultimate" quilters, at least by definition. If "quilting" is actually putting three layers of fabric together to make a sort of blanket/coverlet/wall hanging, etc., then the person who does that must be the "quilter". At least that is how I look at it.

We had a discussion a while back about "what is a quilt?" Many were very adamant that it had to be THREE layers--a back, middle and top to make a quilt.

But, saying all that, I'd call pretty much anyone involved in the designing, sewing the top and the layers together a quilter. But to me, TECHNICALLY, only those who sew all the layers together is the quilter (by definition). I'd call those of us who love to sew the tops, either specialists in tops or designers or lovers of patchwork--technically. Practically speaking, however, all of us are involved and thus get the title "quilter".