Attitudes towards young quilters
 

I'm 20 years old and I've been quilting for about 5 years now, and as a young quilter I've experienced many different attitudes from other quilters because of my age. It's only within the last year or two that I've actually become involved in the local quilting community.

A little over a year ago I joined a Thimbleberries quilting group with my aunt in hopes that we would grow a more serious bond over our love of quilting. Long story short, my aunt slowly stopped going with me and my the quilt shop no longer does thimbleberries. Anyway, at the beginning I got a lot of weird looks from the women. I felt sorta un-welcome, but thankfully this was only from a couple of women. Many of these women were happy to talk to me and make me feel welcome. And then once I did show-and-tell for the first time with my black and red log cabin quilt, I truly felt accepted into the group for they now knew I could ACTUALLY QUILT! Some of the women have begun offering my fabric and books and they are always open to helping me with any quilting problem.

But on the other hand I haven't had great experiences with some other quilters. Almost two years ago I joined a local chapter of Quilts of Valor. Unlike at Thimbleberries, I felt welcome at the very beginning. But slowly after time the ladies talked to me less and less and I could feel those judgmental stares. I've also found that when we have collectedly worked on projects I'm given "busy work" I guess you would call it...nothing that actually helps all that much. Not all of the women are like this, but it seems some are more than not. Now I don't even want to go to meetings. I'd rather sit at home in my own room doing my thing, than being ignored with all those women around me.

Honestly, I feel sometimes some of older quilters aren't to welcome to young quilters and it pushes some potential quilters away. I'm not like a lot of people for if they tell me I can do something I prove them wrong, but I know a lot of people who would be put off forever because of these attitudes.

Sorry this is soooo long, but to get to the point, please don't count us youngins. I know we are hard to find, but most of those who do come around love quilting just as much as the next person. And just because we are young doesn't mean we are unskilled or unexperienced.

I have always had a good experience, ladies are always nice, I even enjoy the funny comments about my age sometimes. Like one day all the ladies were like isn't everyone hot and I was like I'm freezing, and then they were like yeah she's young no hot flashes yet. It is rather odd though when your the only person under 50 in every quilt class, but I just had to get over it. Its just the way things are. One day a lady brought her 13 year old daughter, I was like yeah I'm not the youngest. The sad thing is I look super young so people will probably still think I'm super young when I get there. My first quilt class they thought I was twelve and I was 20. I think it might just be dependent on location. I have found quilters to be some of the nicest people I have ever met

I'm so sorry you don't feel accepted in that particular set of quilters, but there are so many places on the internet where you would be welcomed with virtual open arms ;-) Join us!

I'm many years older than 20!! I found quilters in my local guild to be closed to "newcomers" (I was about 55 when I joined the guild) so I quit attending the meetings, and it had nothing to do with age. I am more of a loner and introvert anyway, so I actually do better on my own.
I would encourage you not to give up, however. Look at Leah Day, her skill, and her age - 27 or maybe 28. She commands great respect for her quilting skills. So even though you feel age is a factor, and it certainly may be with some women, stick with it. Don't become discouraged. You may be the next Leah Day!!

Definitely don't give up -- maybe you could start a group of your own!

As M.Elizabeth said, some people are just obnoxious in general. Maybe some others think you'll get bored and stop soon because when they were you age, they would have. Maybe they just don't think they have anything in common with you. And then we're back to obnoxious.

Keep looking for the right group, or create one yourself. I bet you aren't the only person in your area to feel this way!

Wow does your story ever sound like mine. I started quilting many years ago and it was very hard to find a group of ladies I enjoyed being with. I continued along on my own and now some 30 years later I still don't belong to a group. Except this one that is. I will say that I know many of the quilter's in the area today. I enjoy the shows and an occational class, but, I guess groups are not my thing.

Just keep up your sewing and quilting. I know you will enjoy it your whole like though.

Keep those who have been friendly and helpful as quilting buddies, but continue to expand outward. I have found that some quilters are the type to only have a few friends at a time, but when you find someone really sociable -- hang onto them. Your LQS might be interested in seeing if you could help them develop a class for young women in your area. Don't give up! No way. Your future quilts need you.

I am very sorry that you were treated like that. I LOVE it when I find a young quilter, they always have a different view and get me out of my old girl panties and into something new and exciting. I am thrilled that the younger generation is embracing quilting/sewing and will be there to carry on the tradition. Don;t let a couple of bad eggs ruin your experience. I would go where I felt welcome and after giving a couple of trys if I still got the cold shoulder, I would just go down the road.

Totally agree here. In our town we have a guild too, and as a new quilter I was hoping to learn from this group of women. I was close to 40, but my age wasn't the problem. It was because I was new. They were not interested in helping a newbie nor were they accepting of newcomers. I quilt going too, because I didn't feel welcome. I kept searching for help in other ways, and here I am six years later still quilting! Don't give up, there are many online groups (like this one) who are very excepting.

I can totally understand what your saying. To those of us who are under 35 the quilting community, as in groups and meetings, are truly unaccepting of us. I found a lot of them are very set in their ways and they feel like us youngeons will bring change and well people don't really like change too much. However, after about a year of being pushed to the side and ignored I decided that I was going to pursue other ventures with my quilting. I did some research and I went to my local YMCA and asked if any of the young girls might be interested in learning how to quilt or how to sew even, thought I'd take it slow and see how it went. Well by golly the first class we had 25 young ladies and a couple young men who ranged in the age of 13 to 18. They all had a great time and we even made quilts to send over to the service men and women. Needless to say this is still going strong and we meet up a couple times a week. I found people who were accepting of me and it truly feels great. So my suggestion to you, is look on Craigslist forums see if there are any younger people in your area who get together to quilt, or even start your own quilting circle. I'd bet you'd be awesome at it.

I pretty much agree with what everyone has already posted. In my experience it has more to do with being new rather than age. At least that has been my experience. Maybe you can find a friend close to your age that wants to learn to quilt and start a group of your own. Or, the other option is bring a friend with you to the events. You'll be surprised how things change when you're not just on your own!

Its not your age...don't feel alone...I stopped going too....its that they already have their quilting buddies....

Don't give up. I to feel that it has more to do with being new to the group more than age. I am 60 and do not belong to any groups for this reason. I guess I do my best work alone. Would be fun to belong to a group but not fun to get involved in the politics and petty coat wars!!!

keep persisting keep looking---look around there is very little mixing of generations in normal life so in quilting it may reflect this --but quilting will eventully win out ---i found asking advice makes people feel wanted +good try the simple lines of communication--but if they show no warmth move on

I have found that the quilters seem to not want someone who does things differently. As Sierra said, they don't appreciate quilts that do not have a label, that they don't recognize the pattern name; if a quilt hasn't been made before in some version they do not seem to be very interested in someone who can design it and make it. There are a lot of "quilt police" out there that don't like people who are new, young, different, and who always think outside the box when defining and making a quilt.

I am 64 and I love being around young women who are either just learning to quilt or have been doing it for awhile. Their enthusiasm inspires me, and the newbies are so hungry to learn everything they can. About 30 years ago when I first moved to In. I was like you, looking for a group of Quilters, I joined 2 different Guilds, with much the same out come as you. Finally I joined a group at our LQS and I loved it, there were women of all ages. Like some of the others said, start your own group, we need you young people to keep the art of quilting alive. We're not going to live forever!

Sorry you have that 'stuff' going on in the QOV group. Keep in mind, though, that there are cliques of people in every walk of life. Quilters are no exception. I belong to two groups and both have very different group personalities. One is more social, the other is social and more active with charity quilting and classes. You just need to find the right group or groups for you!

Keep quilting!

Me, too! My then 7 year old niece picked two fabrics that I didn't feel went well for her first quilt. It was a big 4 patch, a cat fabric and a pink zebra stripe. I gave gentle direction, but she persisted with her choice.

In the end, she was right! The quilt was very striking! I loved it! She taught me a lesson that I won't forget that day!

I have an angel by my side! I took a friend with me to the new guild I joined. Her name is Angel, and I like to joke and say, I know I will be fine with Angel by my side. It is always more fun doing it together with someone. Good luck!

So sorry for your hurt feelings. One of my guilds does not like new people as they interrupt the meeting and often don't own a sewing machine or know how to sew. I am not saying that is what happen with you. But being an older guild they have short timers who don't help and only there to get their wants satisfied. They don't care what was planned. It is best to call and ask what is expected for newcomers. If there is something you can do to help the guild. There is a lot of work keeping a guild running. Workers are always needed. Sitting up and taking down chairs is one area of need. Be a friend and Willing to help with the madane jobs.Everyone wants to be the queen bee but few want to be a worker bee.

Dear MissSongBird,
I'm glad that you are passionate about quilting. No matter what your age, quilting can be very therapeutic. I think I started in my 30's. I'm currently 42. I attempted to join a local quilt group. Long story short, I don't fit in with the snooty quilters in my town. Nor do I want to join a group of religious women who quilt. Not into that either. I am content to go on shop hops with my quilter friends from work or personal life who (incidentally are quite older than me), but who are wonderful company!
Again, I'm glad that you've found something that you're interested in and have stuck to it! May you have many happy years of quilting ahead of you!

unless someone has actually said something to make you think it's an (age thing) it may have nothing to do with your age...i'm in my 50's and have gone through the same things in some settings---sometimes groups have been together for a long time & they are just not real receptive to anyone new---doesn't matter if your 15 or 60...some of them will snub the new person- be friendly (pretend to accept) in the beginning- but then really not accept them into their little (click) don't take it personally & don't worry about your age...at some point you will find the right group for you- or with preserverence and time you will finally fit in (& hopefully not turn into) the 'group'. i stopped going to our local guild a number of years ago because although people were for the most part friendly enough---they were also at times quite rude---oooh & ahhh & comment on one person's show & tell- then not even look- talk among themselves-totally snub the next person's...age really was not a factor-
just keep on doing what you enjoy- show it off & try new groups, exposure...with time you will fit in like a glove when the right group realizes what a treasure you are! (our guild has memebers from 15 years old up to 80's+...they are rude to all ages equally)

I am in my mid 40s and have never even attempted to join the local quilt groups as they always schedule the meetings Monday thru Friday between 9 and 5! Sadly I need my day job to support my quilting habit! :) I have signed up for classes and thankfully have a very willing partner in my mother in law! She is also my only sewing buddy as none of my other friends sew. They are veery supportive if my quilting though. :) the ladies at the classes were either clique-y or there alone so we tend to talk to the ones that are there alone and ignore the ones that seem uninviting. I can honestly say it was not an age thing since my MIL is older than I am and they didn't seem very welcoming to her either. Hang in there and don't give up your quilting for anyone!

The one person who has not been supportive of my quilting hobby was my sister who once told me that I needed to find a more "age appropriate" passtime... ? Have not figured out what that means yet!

We have two new stores in our city that were started by young women who are so interesting and interested in good customer relations. They are out there.

I encourage you to stick with the quilting. I enjoy having young people in the group. We need to have young quilters to encourage businesses that quilting will never die. And I even get excited by seeing young people enjoying the love of quilting. One lady in our group brings her 10 year old granddaughter.....I always make it a point to chat with her and see what she is making.

I expanded into quilting in my late 20's (have been sewing since I was 10) and I was by far the young one in anything that I attended at that point. Yes, quilting groups can be clinky but I have found so much inspiration and feed off the energy of the group that in my experience, the good outweigh the bad. I just joined a new group in 2012 and I have not made any new friends but the energy and renewed sense of getting projects done makes the group well worth my time.

I get discouraged by other people in my life (young and old) that talk about they can't sew a button on something blah, blah, blah and how nuts I am for making quilts.....blah, blah, blah. So I love to hear when young people talk about how they love quilting. I would be hunting you out and chatting with you!!!!!

Honestly in my guilds and sewing groups when we get a new person, we can tell in no time if the person is serious about quilting, want to be the quilt police, play the group victim, or will contribute to the group. Age has nothing to do with it.

My quilt guild has a group for young quilters your age!

I dont think its your age..(im 54).....I only recently (last couple of years) found a group that i was comfortable with, up till then i just did my own thing. We have a young lady (mid 20's) that will join us a couple times a year and everyone in my group is just gaga over her -everyone is offering her advice/help if she needs it. We love to see young people into quilting, to know that the craft will continue and to appreciate what the older ones leave behind. Don't give up - you can join us anytime :-)

I think this is true or many people from 20 to 90. Quilt groups seem to be very clickey. Certain people know each other and make a beeline for each other or come together. When you are not pushy individual then you have trouble mixing in these groups. Just think you are there for the speaker to learn the chat comes in time when your ace be omes more familiar. Offer to make tea or drink. This way you meet early every one and they all have to alk to you.

PLEASE dont give up! I am in 3 groups at the moment. One group I stopped going going to due to family time conflicts and I just didnt' feel like I clicked with that group. That was more MY fault than theirs as I was not there consistently and didnt' have the time to devote to the the projects they were doing. One of the groups I started. Being an former AF brat, I talk to EVERYONE (just ask my family! You never know when you will have to up and move, so you BETTER make friends QUICK! lol) I would meet someone at the quilt shop or even in a coffee shop if I was working on a binding. You never know where you will meet someone who quilts! (Ask me how I know!!) If you find some one you DO click with, ask them if they know a welcoming group. There are alot of groups out there that are not guild related, so don't count that out either. ONly one of mine is a guild group. There are pros and cons on both sides.

Finally, you might search your area on this group and see if there are any quilters from around you that are members here. You might be able to start a local Quilting board group. (PS WOMEN are sometimes hard nuts to crack! I have been known to coccoon in my sewing room to be alone. Don't let a few crabby ones force you to quilt alone all the time.)

I have no plans on giving up. That was never an option. I love it far too much.

Chiclet - I've gotten the whole "age appropriate" thing many times. I'm a history lover/ student so I enjoy going to antique store and listening to really old music (plus of bunch of other things). I love to knit and crochet. I also ballroom dance and that has sometimes that's been thought of as something "only old people do". And then I quilt. I've had people my age tell me I act like an old lady. And I'm honestly ok with that. haha

I have yet to find a quilter my own age. The closest I've met face to face to is a women who had to be in her late 20s, early 30s (and I only met her once). You think it would be easy finding at least one person in a university full of people who quilts.

Like everyone else has said... do not give up on finding a group that "fits".
I'm fairly new to quilting and have found part of the process is being with other quilters. While internet groups are wonderful, it's also good to have face to face quilting friends.

I expressed an interest in learning handquilting to a friend and was invited to join a group that that's their main focus. First time I go, I'm told in no uncertain terms "we are a strict hand-quilting only group". I'm sittin' there thinking, whoa this isn't the place for me. As I want to learn all techniques. Then, low and behold, a couple pull me aside and say.. that's not true. As I sit and do my thing, listening to the various conversations I quickly learned who was open minded and who wasn't. Still, I enjoy being with this group (the one crumudgen is a lesson in patience for me). :rolleyes: :eek:

So consider starting your own group, but do not give up on time with other quilters.

I wish there were more younger quilters out there..luckily one of my 7 daughters is interested, and I hope noone ever discourages her!~!

I don't think it is your age. It's been a long time since I was a young quilter, but I still feel like an outsider sometimes. It seems like forming new friendships gets harder as time goes on. I don't have a lot of quilting friends, 2 to be exact, but that doesn't stop me. I don't mind quilting alone at home, so that's what I do. Keep it up and enjoy the journey.
Sue

If it is your age - it's probably not your quilting capabilities, it's your life experience! If you are not married, don't have kids or grandkids, then you don't have the experience to discuss what they are interested in besides quilts!

I have the same problem - I'm simply not interested in life experience, find most of the conversation to be gossip.
I'd rather argue about rooting a cell phone, technology, astronomy, cars, than family and life. Since I won't gossip or communicate any personal stuff, I don't bond.

Most of us love younger quilters. We try to involve aslant as possible. Don't let a few spoil it for you.

Nothing to do with age. Some people are just a pain!! Keep quilting!

MissSongbird, I am glad there are young quilters!! I am glad you are not going to let the attitudes of the ladies of the guilds keep you from quilting. I was going to suggest you might sign up for a guild workshop or project, but it sounds like you have already done that. If you really want to become part of the group, you might consider being an officer. That would get you involved more. (Not speaking from experience...from observation. :) )

Anyway, you always have us! I get pleasant vives every time I am on here....and that is a lot!!

Dina