smm06

My story is very similar being a younger quilter. I wasn't always welcomed but you will find places that will welcome you. Just keep getting involved. I joined a quilt guild when I was 25 and now at 30, I'm then head of our quilt show. Some people don't like the changes being made like having information on websites and putting entry forms online but most are open to it.

barny

Who ever mentioned clique, hit it on the head. Whether they are quilting or whatever, they are in a clique and won't take anyone else in. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED! Keep on going. First thing you know, you will be hanging in a show. Go to a church and start one. Ours has a group, I don't go because I'm too old to go so much. But I encourage them. Keep it up and stay on here and show us your quilts.

wolph33

same here.when I was young they thought I was crazy to want to quilt.been a solo crafter all my life.til my daughter learned to make quilts.I am proud of you-keep on plugging along.at least we have our online quilting friends now-did not have that when I was young.quilters of all ages should be equally welcomed.It makes me happy when I see young ones learning our hobby/craft

Michellesews

Maybe some of "us" older quilters are jealous because you have gotten off to such a young start and they wish they had. I did not start quilting until 10 years ago, when I was already half a century old...lol...because I had a family to raise and I also worked full time my entire life while raising 4 children. I am so grateful now to be at this point in my life and I am happy that you have the time and ability to start out so young, I think it is wonderful.
Now, I learned a long time ago that our attitudes are very much like mirrors. For example, when you are treated with distain or rudeness over a period of time by a certain group, you come to expect that treatment and mirror it back, without knowing, then you get more of the same mirror treatment back...make sense?
Put on a happy face, keep company with those whom you can feel comfortable and make comfortable, and as for the rest...put them out of your mind...and don't mind...because if you don't mind...they don't matter! BUT let me say one more thing...I have been guilt of thinking someone did not like me or was rude, when actually I found out later...they had a hearing problem! People who cannot hear well, often come off as aloof and uncaring.
Most importantly...give everyone the benefit of the doubt and if all else fails, take the offensive and ask a person, very nicely, "have I done something to offend you?" If I have, I did not mean to." That ALWAYS works when a person has a sour attitude, because most of the time is is unconscious. Many have been through a lot in their lives and it has left scars...while you are still fresh with your whole life ahead of you. Be patient with us oldies, we really are not that bad. I love new quilters. I recently taught two 11-year-old learning disables girls to quilt and they were delightful!

nativetexan

I quit going to one quilt group, mainly due to their "clicks". gathering into groups and talking and ignoring me even when i tried to "join in". so i'm home again and here. fine with me. I learn more online and from books. i just liked being with other quilters.

inspectorcmm

I'm always glad to see younger quilters because that means quilting isn't dying out. Glad you stuck it out with the guilds though. I notice some people take a while to accept others, mainly because they are not sure if they'll stay around. Not a lot of guilds in my area so feel you are lucky to get into some. Glad you joined with your aunt also. When you get my age that will give you some good memories. Happy Quilting

mcfay

I think I know how you feel. I don't belong to a quilting group except on line. But I do know an elderly lady who does belong to one. The very first quilt I did on my short arm quilting machine I took it to my weight loss group where she belongs. She started picking it apart. Granted it was a "cheater" top, because I didn't want to practice on a real top. I also just folded the back to the front for a binding. She said "humft" we bind ours by hand with "real" binding. She belongs to a quilting group and brags that EVERY thing they do is by hand. But that's OK I sold that quilt to a lady in the same weight loss group for 150.00.

So what I'm trying to say is sometime I think some of the women that have been quilting for 100 years think they are a little better that the younger ones. They forgot they were young once. I have only been quilting about 6 months and I'm 67 yrs. old. I think it's wonderful that we have young people starting to quilt so we can keep the art alive. I have some young granddaughter I would LOVE to teach to sew and quilt but they don't seem interested in it.

nhweaver

I have found that guilds can be very clicky. They get comfortable with the status quo and don't even realize that this attitude inhibits the guild to grow in knowledge and members. I have heard remarks like , "well that one didn't last long", or, "guess her life is just too busy to come to meetings", in that tone that sets my teeth a gnashing. I don't belong to any groups now, I am a loner, and my life is made up of many facets. I am not just a quilter, I am so much more.

fayzer

I love young quilters. I am 69 but did not want to belong to the older quilt guilds in my area as they didn't seem very friendly. I looked for the Modern Quilt Guild and found one in my area. Many of the members are young married with babies but we also have middle age and older members. I wanted to be with a young, enthusiastic guild that wanted to try new methods as well as traditional. We all help each other with anything. Right now we are doing a traveling quilt. We recieved premade quilt squared from a swap challange through the Modern Quilt Guild. The blocks are all sizes and we are challenged to put the blocks together. We have had to make additional blocks and add sashings to connect the blocks and make it work. The quilt will be beautiful when finished. Keep looking. You will find the right group to work with and like the others here have said, you do have us.

lynnie

I used to be in your position. People would say i should be out with my agegroup,drinking and hanging.
I think some of the people are jealous of your age, skill and ideas. I felt the same way about joining a group
post a meeting of quilters in your area on the board. Maybe you'll be lucky and meet some nice people in your area.
good luck, dont give up. And happy new year.