Do You Quilt at Holiday Get Togethers?
 

Turkey day is at my house; 14 of my in laws at the table and then grazing and watching football for 3-4 hours.

Does this take place at your house and do you do hand quilting while you have company?

I would have no problem working on a project while others are watching tv.

I don't remember ever sewing on a holiday gathering, but I don't see anything wrong with it either. The main reason I haven't is because I am usually too tired. But I have sat and crocheted in the evening to relax. When I go to family homes for dinner, I usually take something to work on because I can get nervous if there is something for me to do, so i have it in case I need it. The biggest problem is having the right amount of light for sewing when I am not at home. (I do have a light to wear around my neck if absolutely necessary, and it travels with me, but some people take exception to it.)

I hesitate to take out my materials and start working and it's because I'm the only one in the family who does any type of handwork and I'm afraid it will be seen as being rude.

I'd be sewing.

it's just me and my dh and ds. I sew in between things. they watch tv

I've taken mine before. The guys usually watch TV while the girls just sit and chit-chat. Since i can do hand work and talk at the same time, I do not see it as rude.

I normally don't but only because I get so distracted by the conversation(s) and like participating in those. I see no problem with it if you are a better multi-tasker than am I!

I won't be doing any handiwork on Turkey day. I get so annoyed at folks who spend their time on their phone while in the company of others and I might make my guests feel they are not important if I work on a project. After all, I am the hostess.

I'll have 21 people, we'll be laughing, talking, eating throughout so I couldn't concentrate on a project.

14 in-laws grazing and watching TV? I'd go on a retreat and let them enjoy themselves! :D:D Seriously, though, sewing/quilting will be seen as removing yourself from the group festivities. Even if it's handwork. Personally, I'd think it rude. Not knowing your situtation...like, how often do you see these folks, did you offer to have the doings at your home, or was it foisted on you...well, it's hard to say what to do. Think of it this way: is the time spent sewing worth the feelings that will be directed at you from your actions or do you care? Personally, I'd be part of the group, knowing it only happens a few times a year.

I agree with Tothill.

I wouldn't do it. It is removing your attention from the conversations. Enjoy the day with others and save the downtime for Black Friday and the following weekend.

I do have to agree with this. I usually have everyone at my house so have way too much to do to sit and sew. But if I was at someone's house and just sat and sewed, I would consider it rude and would quickly wrap up the visit. Now none of my guests are spending the night, that may make a difference.

I hated having to sit around being told to join in a conversation only to be interrupted all the time. I would take some hand embroidery. My aunt thought I was being rude so I told her I would say something after everyone was done talking. When you can't get a word in edgewise, you might as well have something in your hands to get accomplished.

I don't understand the concept that hand sewing is rude while watching TV is not. If you went into a separate room to sew, then that would be rude, but sitting with the others, and participating in the TV watching or conversation, does not seem rude to me. And I would bet that some of the others will be paying more attention to their smart phones than to the conversation anyway.

I am having the clan here, but I won't have the energy to sit and sew after dinner......fortunately, for me anyway, football gazers can be downstairs in family room, while talkers remain on main level talking and texters are in dark corners...somewhere. I will spend most of my time in kitchen getting it back to normal and joining the talkers, as sports is not my thing!... Neither is texting/stupid game playing on phones.....that's my plan anyway

Ah, ha, ha, yes, I've had thoughts about Retreating!!! Anyhoo, I'm not going to do any handwork while we have company. I'll be the smiling, gracious hostess. Seriously. But in my head, I'll be thinking, "boy, I could have finished 20 hexies this afternoon"............

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*** If they are invited guests I think it would be rude to leave them on a holiday.
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There normally are 10 at our house anyways and there will be 19 and maybe more with Thanksgiving. We don't watch football. It will be time to cook, clean and play with the grand children and my own younger children. When they are all gone I might crawl in my studio but it might just be to lay on the couch and watch tv.

I am with Dunster. I see nothing wrong with a hand craft. I think computer, phone, tv etc. are rude and my adult kids do plenty of that.

How true this is. I feel really left out because I'm the only one NOT on my phone but my daughter usually takes knitting with her and I usually do some embroidery.

With my bunch, friends & family, enjoy watching me make something out of nothing. If I don't take or have something to work on, they will bring me something & say make me something out of this. My choice what to make. They are always amassed what I come up with.

Thanksgiving is at our house, after we eat, the guys go to the family room and watch TV, nap, whatever. The ladies, and any of the kids who are interested, do a Christmas craft in the well-lit dining room. Much laughter, and chatter! My DH makes each of us a White Russian, except of course, the kids. We have done some easy sewing projects, some baby jar projects, and some paper projects. For a few years my older sister, who lives in CA., and isn't able to come, supplied the craft. She likes to craft with paper, one year we made a banner spelling out NOEL. My niece, who is not dyslexic, but may have been distracted by her cousins, spelled LEON instead, then asked "I don't get it. Who's LEON?" We laughed til we cried! This year we are doing 3-4 small crafts, mainly tree ornaments.

Lucky for me, I don't have family/holiday get togethers. One, I hate cooking and two, our current residence is barely big enough for us, little only "company". LOL

My Grandmother always brought her crocheting along when she came to visit us, so I grew up with that and see nothing wrong with it. Sometimes I bring mine when I go someplace but I'm usually too busy if the gathering is at my house.

With my family in MI, we would have some handwork to do if we are all sitting around 7 no one had a problem with it.
When I moved here 18 yrs ago I thought I'd just sit & visit & possibly 'learn' something about this family I married into.
Didn't learn much that I wouldn't have heard while I did hand work so I started taking binding to work on. I can talk & do basic hand work as the same time. I can even answer a question and keep up with the talk around me. I also found out that the in-laws aren't that important to my mother-in-law whether we cook the dinner or not.

And eyes glued to the television isn't rude? At least no one will tell you to shhh!
Sandy

For me and my family circle, I would not think it rude to knit, bind or quilt, crochet or embroider after the formal part of the gathering is over, that is, eating together at the table. I do think it would be rude to sew at the table while others are eating, not to mention the risk of getting gravy on my quilt! (lol!) For me, doing handwork is easy to pause to look at the talker or to make a comment myself, still being present to the small group chatting while others watch the games. I love being with my kids and grands, whatever we do.