Is it just my impression, or is it true that today most quilting quilds are very organized? There is a speaker on a set schedule if not a regular basis, an agenda of teaching or show and tell or demonstrating, perhaps refreshments, etc.
None seem to be simply a group of quilters who meet on a regular basis, sew on their own things, and chat much as the old quilting bees were done with the primary object being companionship. It seems now the primary object is learning and performing and displaying - of course if you want to be the odd woman out you are assured no one will take notice of your being odd. And as so many have stated - "Oh, really?" Sometimes I am sorry we feel we have to be so organized and accomplish so much.

You sound SO much like me when I first started quilting!!! I'm almost 32 now, but I began when I was about 23. Don't let it deter you from this art if you love it. Have you heard the saying "nurses eat their young"? I know this isn't nursing, but it really does attract like minded women...in the sense that they want honor and respect for the dues that they've paid. Not everyone has been warm and welcoming to me in the quilting community, and it REALLY bothered me at first. I've stuck with it almost ten years now and I finally feel more accepted...not that you should sit around pining for acceptance, but, my advice is give those ladies the oooh and ahhh that they want...because in my heart I think they just truly want to be revered by you. I still have women grab the rotary cutter right out of my hand and try to show me how to cut - even though at this point in my quilting career I could probably teach them a thing or two!! ;) They just don't know YOU and what you are capable of yet...you have to settle in and they will come around. Some will be stinkers NO MATTER WHAT you do...just remember it's not YOU...and then there will be those who accept you and love your enthusiasm and you will bond and connect and make lifelong friends. :) Keep at it...seek out younger quilters (there is a huge movement of quilters in your age group ONLINE) and just try not to let it get to you. Remember, some of them probably wonder why you'd want to hang out with a bunch of old ladies! Hahaha (I am the youngest member of my guild...and I love those ladies even though many of them are the MOTHERS of people I went to high school with! LOL*)

Sorry to hear about you feeling not welcomed, but I am in my 60's and have felt that recently. We moved to our town 4 years ago and I started looking for a quilting group and I felt like an intruder with one group because I was "new" nothing to do with my age. But keep looking! I finally found a group at the local quilt shop that I felt like they were glad I was joining them. Maybe your LQS has some evening or Sat. groups you could try out. Do remember us here on the quilt board!

The guild I belong to is just the opposite. We welcome new quilters. They have just started a group of young 9-16 that they work with to bring in blood. They can't drive and as long as they have a sponsor, someone to help them they are welcome. Groups need to welcome new younger ones as they are the future of the guild. Maybe you were in a group of people who are just set in their ways. It's a shame because we can all learn from each other. Good luck in the future.

It's not your age it's because you are new. Many, not all guilds and quilting groups can be very clique. Ask me how I know? And I'm 55. I usually give a group 4 or 5 tries before I give up on them.

Now on the flip side of things. Often these clique quilters have been friends for years, been to retreats and shop hops together so they know each other well. They may only meet 2 or 3 times a month, so they look forward to being in each others company. At least this is what I often see when I join a new group.

Hopefully you will find a quilting buddy. I moved away so I lost mine, but boy did we ever have fun while it lasted!

Welcome to the board. You " have an old soul" and I mean this in a positive way. I had an old soul when I was your age as well. It's just now I'm a middle aged old soul. Just be true to yourself and you'll be just fine. The ladies and men on this board are great and are always here to help!

Hi Young Lady
Im sorry about some older quilters giving you that unwelcome feeling. Some of us are just set in our ways and think that the young will change things. But believe me at times change is good. Just believe they are just a bit threatened by you, and hang in there. Things will change.

Loosen them up with chocolate! Just kidding...sort of!
Sandy

I am 57 and still don't feel welcome in my quilting guild. There are a few people who are nice, but they aren't the vocal ones. I totally understand and if you lived closer we could get our own quilting guild started......Keep going, I have a 15 year old who likes to quilt when she has time and I encourage her....The quilting police don't live here!!

Ilive in a small town, so this site is my quilting group. I am not a young girl. I am almost 78 and have only been quilting seriously for a couple of years. The bigger town 9 miles away has a lovely group of ladies, but they are all early birds, and I am a night owl, so rarely get there for thier before noon sessions. Maybe you could put a small ad in the paper asking for young quilters like yourself who would like to get together. That said, this site is a wonderful place to learn. I am mostly self-taught, but have picked up lots of great tips here. Don't give up on quilting. my only regret is it took so long for me to finally try it. smile.. And welcome to our circle....

I have to write this somewhere, why not here. I joined the local quilt club about 7 years ago. I'm no fancy quilter, I just make quilts to keep people warm, and do a lot of charity quilts. I thought I would never be able to make enough quilts for my Grandchildren, because there are 21 of them. But then one year, I finished 7 quilts. Hey! I can do this. I've made a lot of quilts since then, but still have a lot to go. I'll keep working. My granddaughter wanted to go to 4-H quilt camp when she was 9, so I went with her. We went for 6 years and finished a quilt for each of her family members, two of them since we stopped going to camp.

Soon after I had joined the quilt club, I was asked if I would be President, but I said it was too soon. I didn't know all the ladies' names, and needed to get to know the club workings better. Then last year I was asked again, and I said yes. I thought it was going very well. I had a service project to make comfort quilts for the local hospital, and we had a learning session at almost every meeting.

Then in October I went on a trip out of the country, and the Vice President took over the meeting. I had given her the agenda to be discussed. She decided it would be a good idea to have committees for everything, and proceeded to make the list. At the November meeting, she was handing out the lists she had made, and the first one was the committee for the Christmas party. I had not had the Christmas party on the agenda for the October meeting, because it was all settled. One lady had volunteered to take care of the meal, one had a challenge, and I was taking care of the games.

So now she appointed the committee for my Christmas Party and I was not consulted nor asked to be on the committee. I felt like I got kicked out of the boat in the middle of the river. I couldn't believe it. I called one lady a week or so before the party, thinking I must have heard wrong. She said, "Just sit back and enjoy it. You don't have to do anything." I had so looked forward to doing the games for the Christmas Party. I'd been planning this for years. Then at the party, this lady got up and started saying the meal prayer. That's when I got up and said, "I am still President. I will say the meal prayer." She said something quite horrible in front of everyone, and some told me they were shocked at her behavior. So we had our meal, and I had a few business things to take care of when another lady said to me, "What about the games we are suppose to play?" I couldn't answer her. I was just thinking What about the games I was going to play at MY Christmas Party?

I have felt terrible about it ever since. But I know there are many, many very much more important things in the world to worry about and I will try to focus on that. I will have a very hard time going to the next meeting, but I'll try to tough it out. A few people have expressed dismay about what happened, and that helps. So I'll just try to keep doing things for the good of the club. We have a nice quilt show every year, which is unusual for such a small club. I would hate to have that go by the wayside.

Thanks for listening.

I completely get what you are saying. My first few groups I tried to join weren't accepting, and in college I was "the weird girl who sews." I started out in the college costume shop ( I got spoiled learning to do piecing with 3 berninas at my disposal) with basic sewing, and then met one of the fraternity housemothers who quilted. I didn't meet someone my own age who quilted for several years. My first online group experience was a nightmare, and I didn't reach out again online until I joined this board last year, at the urging of my quilt guild president. The ladies in my IRL group are great, and now we have a lady in the guild who is younger than me, as well as a few my age, although the vast majority are older. Keep searching until you find a group that works!

Yes, I agree it's more that you are a newcomer than that you are young. Either way tho, it stinks to be treated like an outsider. Just skip those groups and stick with the ones who are nice and welcoming, and/or do your own thing at home.

To bad people have to react in such a manner.I know for my self I never said very much at our gatherings,because I didnt feel I had any in put being I was new at quilting.there could be may reasons why people are the way they are.We miss out on a lot,I find most quilters are warm and welcoming.some peopl just dont know what they are missing. keep on quilting

Some people have a hard time accepting new people regardless of age. I'm 33 now and I've been sewing and quilting for as long as I can remember. I don't go to classes or sewing groups, I just have fun at home. There is so much you can learn on the internet also on here. If you ever have questions or need help with something. Don't be afraid to ask. There are more younger people that are starting to learn crafts. There is a girl I work with that just learned how to crochet so she wasn't bored sitting with me at lunch. Everyday, we get comments about us crocheting(she is 23yrs old). Sometimes they are nice and sometimes not. I don't let anyone bring me down. I have fun and that's what matters. We even had a maintenance guy(older guy too)come over and crochet a little bit on one of our projects. He was proud. :)

I'm sorry you had so many bad experiences with older quilters......I think it's awesome that younger people are wanting to quilt again......I really thought for a while that it may become a dying art. Keep up the good work and bust through

Ive been approached by younger quilters, i tell them to call me, let me whats good for them and well get together. Sometimes they call back, sometimes they dont. Imvery friendly and have friends in all age groups.

As a slight variation on the topic, I am in my mid-thirties (but look early 20s, which has pros and cons! LOL) and work at a quilting shop. I have lost count of the number of customers - the vast majority of which are decades older than me - who assume that I know nothing about quilting and demand, rudely, to speak to someone who "knows what they are talking about". Umm, I've been quilting for over 15 years. My colleague may have white hair but she does not have even half the experience (and therefore I would like to think, the knowledge) that I have.

So that is definitely an age thing.

I have tried quilting groups and the like, but come to the conclusion that I am better doing my own thing. Quite simply I have very little in common with the majority of the women in these groups - there's quilting of course, but the "off-topic" conversation is hard going. No-one's fault, just different stages in life.

Ty patti for the wise words. I was feeling the same things during show and tell but could not put my finger in it. That is why i rarely do show and tell. I only show to my supportive friends.
many great point of view here. But all i have to say, it is not your age it is people in general. Just dont let those negative ones discourage you. So sad quilt of valor sew together are like that. Are they not suppose to be doing something nice for a good cause and hypocritically turning around and being mean? I would be a bit confused too.
QB secret pal sounds like a good idea. I will look into it. Maybe i will be partnered up with a young one . Lol

I am sorry you have had such a bad experience. I for one love young folks. Just keep doing your quilting and maybe you could start your own guild for people under 25 or something. People look at me strange because I have been sewing and quilting most of my life and I still cannot turn out a quilt as nice as the ones on this board.

This is my thought, too! I was in my early 60s and found the local quilt guild was NOT accepting of ANYONE -- no matter what age. Oh, but they always invite you, but when you're there, it's like you have bad breath or body odor. The classic was telling me the place to sit was "someone else's chair".....then I moved, and THAT was someone else's chair. I gave up and never went back!!! I started a group --- ask your local quilt shop if you can post for "young quilters" to join your guild!!!! I bet they'll be happy to!!! Even if you have one other to meet at your home....it'll be fun!

Hi. I just joined this board and can related to this thread. First, I find quilting guilds/groups like pews in a church, graying or already silver and not interested, really in any dialog with younger generations. This is so very sad and not at all in the spirit of what quilting has been historically to women all over the world. Or maybe it has, that quilting is only a place to discuss what has been. But I staunchly believe in multigenerational quilting where everyone learns from everyone else. I believe this because of what I do for a living: I'm a digital exec who works with people of all ages and we all benefit greatly from each others creative talents. I would like to figure out a business to cater to younger quilters. Right now Spoonflower, a great fabric online store is an example of a new way to think about our fabric and how to buy it. Only prob: really expensive. I'd like to know from the 20-35 age women on this community how they feel about shopping for fabric, finding great patterns, whether online courses and YouTube are the best ways for them to hone their skills etc.......So whaddya think? And oh yeah, anybody know of any mobile apps geared specifically at creating quilts?

Dear JRHerald I am no youngster, 78 this month, but have only been piece quilting for about 2 years. My quilts are simple using blocks, strips etc. On a limited budget I have to find ways to feed my habit. smile. I shop on line for a lot of my fabric, (when my Joann gift cards run out) and find fabric.com and connectingthreads great . There are hundreds of free patterns on line. I also get fabric from Yard sales, thrift stores and flea mkts. Also when folks know you quilt, they are very generous with fabric. sometimes when a family member dies or they just don't do it any more. I am sorry you have met with negative reaction from quilters in your area. One place I go also has a "quilt police" but I don't let it bother me as I know we all started out somewhere....Luckily, she is willing to show how to do it right. LOL So keep an eye out in the paper for local yard sales (do they do that in DC?) esp estate sales, and sometimes they will actually note it is a quilters stash. But be early, those quilters will be there. smile...Also go to a site called Quiltingboard.com They are from all over the world and any thing you need to know....someone will give you the answers and they don't care if you are young. In fact they love newbies. Also they have some cute quilting jokes. LOL.. Hope this give you a fresh outlook on young quilters and some ideas to save money on quilting supplies. Remember...put out the fact that you quilt, maybe someone has a box of fabric from thier mom hidden away.

Oops. I just realized I am on the board site. ROFLMBO. Don't know where my mind went. Put it off to being old...But anytime I am telling someone of a place to go, this is the first thing I tell them...........

You don't say where you are from in NW Ohio but check the web to see if you are near a chapter of the Modern Quilt guild. these guilds are composed primarily of younger quilters and are very accepting of new quilters.
And.......put on you armor and ignore those "older" quilters to ignore you. Find someone in the group that you can bond with. thre is a new day for quilters and the older more opinionated ones are losing influence.

Wow! You must have hit a nerve (in a good way) to have so much activity on this thread.

I think most people have felt left out or even shunned. Everybody's been a minority and felt prejudice, be it age, national origin, sex, color of hair, weight, religion, style of dress, income, what side of town they live on, social rank. Every catagory has it's acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. If you're outside that group, you won't know the "rules" and unknowingly break some rule. Like going to a new church and sitting in someone else's "assigned pew". (This is a joke on ourselves, kind of shakes us up.)

I know I'm prejudiced but try to see past it and accept everyone. However, I already have found my circle of friends. Including someone new requires everyone in the group to also accept the new person. Or I can step out of my circle of friends and start a new group-that's risky. It takes time to be included. And just one key friend can change everything.

Give it time. Take part in activities that put you one on one with other people: retreats, committees. Seek out other newbe's.

This goes for all newbe's: Let them know who you are: show n tell (give some personal details about your quilt), personal pictures, bring a friend, be vulnerable. But also be confident in yourself-that's really hard at 20 when you're still learning who you are. By the way many 60+ yr old's don't know who they are either and feel vulnerable. Many are wearing a veil of some kind and feel safer with it in place.

Many older people have slowed down in body and mind. Young people embrace new things faster. It's a challenge for us older's to keep up, let alone see you pass us up and be powerless to do anything about it. I'd like to see the younger lead the older, to rejoice in your accomplishments, for the strengths of everyone be magnified and the weakness be supported. I think this is unity, love and team work.

Keep trying, don't give up. Find those who will champion the new. We'll all be better for embracing differences.

I think it is both, being new and being young. I've joined the local quilt guild almost 4 years ago. I've been attending the Wednesday meeting since then, attended workshops, made several charity quilts and even brought a new member. Well, last Saturday I am in a charity workshop and somebody approached me. She said that the quilt guild is starting a new "thing" which is to introduce the young new members and here she is asking me questions to present me on the next meeting. At the end of the questionnaire I told her.... I've been in this guild for 4 years, I am not new... but bottom line the initiative is good. I guess that each group needs to come to the conclusion that they need to accept and welcome new members young or not so much.
Don't quit, they are usually closed groups and eventually the will accept you. In my guild they accept you faster if you belong to a Bee which I don't.
good luck.
andrea

Hi, I'm a young quilter (29) and my husband just lost his contract work. I feed my quilting habit with ebay deals. A lot of fabric on ebay is found as estate sales and is still in excellent shape. I just search the term "fabric lbs cotton" or "fat quarter" and see what pops up. Some days there are a lot of amazing deals and some days I strike out. But I did get batik fat quarters for ~$1 each, a 10 lb box of misc blue & red fabric for $50 (about $2/yard), and a 10 lb box of 9 inch fabric square for $18.00. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it all but I've got plenty of supplies to work with. Hope this helps, especially with LQS prices being $12 - $18 per yard. I haven't found any quilting apps yet but I did splurge and purchase EQ7 for my birthday last year and I love it. You can also shop thrift stores for cotton fabric, fleece blankets for batting, and cotton sheets for backing. There are ways to do it on the cheap and quilting has a long history of being a frugal art form.

I will agree with all those who are assuring you that it is not an age thing, it just a 'New kid on the block' thing. It happens in any kind of established group. Certain groups are more accepting and welcoming than others, and you never know going in which kind of group you are going to find. I've found that many people feel very threatened by any upset to the status quo. And as a newbie to the group, you represent a possibility of change. It is especially difficult if the group has been meeting together for a long time. That being said, you may find there are like minded individuals in the group who have just never spoken up and with whom you might develop a friendship and 'kinship'. It just takes time and effort to discover those folks.
I haven't found a group close to me that I feel that bond with, but my crazy schedule/ lifestyle doesn't lend itself to being part of a group other than this awesome online community either.
Best wishes on finding a local group of like minded quilters! And on the mean time have fun with us here.
By the way, you and my best friend of many years would get along great! Wish she were more computer savvy so you could get to know each other. Yes, she is most likely your grandmother's age, but loves doing the modern, artsy stuff. And complains about the "ole fuddie duddies" that won't try anything new!

Keep looking, you will find a group that accepts you, even if you have to create it yourself. I quilt with 5 other gals that came together because of interest in quilting, being friends with someone else in the group at the beginning. We have a great time. So keep looking, you'll find them. I don't mind quilting by myself, but I find it fun to do it with friends and I learn more about colors and techniques from them.

I have not gone to a group yet but honestly I'm more of a loner when it comes to my quilting and art in general.

That being said any time I've gone to LQS or a sewing machine shop I've been treated very nicely and respectfully. In fact once they see what I've done they are very encouraging.

I think some people are just rude and spiteful and just because you are a quilter doesn't mean you can't have those qualities.

Sorry that you have not found nice people.

Who knows I might be saying the same thing once I come back from my first quilting group meeting...

I should add that I'm 32 years old.

First off let me say that being on this board for a short time I have found everyone here to be helpful, friendly, honest with their advise whether good or bad. I think I'm in the middle rang of the age of most of the women on this board (55). Quiet honestly their are not many Guilds here locally in New Orleans,La and if there is I don't have time to attend. With that being said, I have noticed that the Quilting community is largely in the upper states where it was a necessity due to weather conditions. Okay to the point, when I would visit my daughter in Boston for her spring break while in college she would take me around many different places. I remember one day we were riding on the "T" and as I was looking around at the people she looked and me and put her right and left index finger on her lips and pulled a smile. Being from the south we tell everyone hello, we make friends with complete strangers, but my experience in going up North it's not the same. ONe day we were walking around and I told many people passing by "Good MOrning" and you could have sworn I was about to rob them. I am not saying that all northern people are this way, please don't get me wrong. I am saying that people in general who live in areas where there is more inside activity due to weather verses outside activities, they just don't relate to people in general. It's not a wrong thing, you just have to realize where their coming from and I do. I think about them being confined to their homes due to extreme weather situations and they don't venture out unless necessary. When people of that type do venture out and find someone who shares their interest, they set a bond, one of necessity. BReaking that bond or joining it requires some very smart reverse psychology. Next time try to just praise them, not anything more, something like meeting an older scared dog for the first time, let them make the judgement of whether or not you are there to harm them or put them out. You will see a difference. But never, never, never, let anyone's else's behavior change your dreams or needs. Okay I'm off my soap box.
Once again, I hope NO ONE on this board takes my opinion personally. You have ALL been the most helpful group any young or beginner quilter could ever hoped for. Thank you to the Seniors, we need you.

Try another shop or guild. My Modern quilt guild has many younger, newer quilters and I really like their fresh outlook, enthusiasm and creativity. I left my old guild of many years because I felt they were very cliquish and close minded to new ideas. The new one is much better. Google 'the modern quilt guild" and once you find the website, there is a link there to search if there is group near you that you could visit. Good luck and don't give up just because of a few unfriendly quilters!

When I started to quilt a few years ago I tried 2 local groups. One of them was unwelcoming to inexperienced quilters, the other couldn't cope with me because I'm single. As soon as they'd found out that I didn't have husband, children, grandchildren (their only topics of conversation) I was ignored. I tried very hard to find common ground (I do have neices and nephews), but they obviously just couldn't cope with this exotic "different" person. Quilting groups are thin on the ground around here, so since then I've worked on my own, with this board and Leah Day's site as my companions. I can imagine that a young person wouldn't have been welcome in that group either. Some people are just very insecure and easily feel threatened, or just too narrow in outlook to take an interest in those who are different from themselves. I'm 59 and have friends in every decade of their lives from 20s to 90s. I learn so much from both ends of the age spectrum.

Well, I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I am 73 and enjoy doing new things. Many times I am the only "great-grandmother" in the group with the next oldest may in their 30's. If they look at me funny or ignore me, I just let it roll off my back and keep going. Hopefully, they will be old someday.

I have set up a blog with the goal of educating shops and brands the importance of using Social Media to attract younger quilters. This is a monumental task (as is indicated by all the comments to her post), so I am looking for anyone who would like to help in the mission of growing quilting into the next generation.

This would involve:
1) If you are a brand, shop, guild or industry professional who is using social media today to reach out to the younger generation with success, you may be able to post on the blog to encourage others.
2) If you know of a brand, shop or guild that should be using social media, you can send them to QuiltingHub.BlogSpot.com to see how others have used it for success.
3) If you are a brand, shop or guild that has not started social media, I would be happy to help you (for free) to figure out which one would be best to start and how.
4) If you would like to give me guidance, tips or advice you think would be useful or join the mission in any way, contact me through QuiltingBoard or reply here.

Together we can grow quilting and make it more welcome for the younger generation.

Feel free to reach me or reply. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.
--Paul

Paul. I think you have a great idea. I don't participate in much social media....part of my generation where statistics show low participation. For your target group the statistics are very high....so great idea. I think the web videos are very helpful for people with full schedules, they can watch on their schedule.

I'd love to have my daughter be interested in quilting. AND we NEED young quilters, both male and female, to carry on the age old traditions. SHAME on those quilters. They should have embraced you and made you welcome. I'm also a QOV quilter, but very new at it. Will be sending my 1st quilt to a LA gal this week. Hang in there and keep sewing/quilting.

Oh my heart goes out to anyone who has felt unwelcome! It is very hard to keep going when you don't feel accepted. I'm happy that maybe you can find friends here on QB! I have and it's been a marvelous experience! Keep looking for guilds that are accepting and make you feel welcome! They are out there for sure!

I had this experience with one guild here. It wasn't my age. I was well into my 40's but they definitely weren't welcoming to newbies. I did all the stuff that supposedly helps you fit in but I didn't. I finally just decided this wasn't the group for me and went looking for another. I found one that was great. The ladies helped me with my projects and I learned so much from them. Some groups are just more welcoming than others. Keep looking and you'll find one where you fit.

I'm not sure it's always narrowmindedness or insecurity. People like people they have a lot in common with. That's pretty normal. It makes conversation easy. I'm past 60, don't have children and thus no grandchildren and love to show cars. I don't find many women that I have a lot in common with. But it's all right. I can sit and listen politely and make the correct responses and enjoy other's company. The world doesn't have to fit me and what I like for me to to enjoy myself. I've also learned over a lifetime of being decidedly different than my contemporaries that I sometimes have to be the one to find some common ground between myself and others.

As a past president of a large guild, I've found all types of personalities in guilds [and every other "womens" groups].... some are just jealous of your age/beauty/knowledge or they wish they had learned when they were much younger, etc. Some are jealous because your talent outshines theirs...........sad but true, women should support women [and some due] but I've found a lot of over-bearing women [I won't use the term 'ladies'] I've also found some life-long friends. My best advice for what it's worth, going through life you will find maybe 5 true friends you can count on........the rest are all in the 'acquaintance' category. Enjoy yourself with those you like and ignore the others attitudes or it might start rubbing off. Treat any new quilter, whatever their age, with how you would like to be treated. [actually any old quilter either.............kill them with kindness].:hug: hugging you, Jennifer