Handwork will never die out. I think there are quite a few factors at work here, though. Many people choose to work by machine because of the time issue. Also we quilters are exposed to SO much new...new fabrics, tools and techniques, we want to try it all. I do most of my work by hand. I like working by hand as I really enjoy the process although it is slower than using the machine it's very relaxing.

I wish you lived in the U.S. or I lived in Germany because I would be the first one to sign up for one or more of your classes! Your work is exquisite!!!!!!!!!

We live in an age of everything "instant". Even books are becoming electronic. I just can't imagine dragging around one of those "kindel's" with me everytime I want to read a book. Since a read as much or more than I quilt I guess I am a dinasour. Aside from Linus quilts and baby quilts for mothers who don't know how to wash nice things I usually handquilt. I even take small items along when I go on a cruise. I love my sewing machine with it's decorative stitches and use it at least three days a week to make something. But hand quilting is my first and last love. I recently made two T shirt quilts for a client. While the majority of the work was done entirely by machine I actually handquilted around some of the motifs of the T shirts just to make them stand out. The weight and size of the quilts made them very hard to machine quilt more than basic securing of the blocks.

I hope you take lots of pictures of the quilt show, and your quilts. I'd love to see them!

Janet

Andrea, I hear what you are saying. I always wanted to hand quilt. By the time I was ready to, I had arthritis in the base of my thumbs. Holding the needle with my thumb and first finger in the pincher mode kills my hand. How I admire those who are able to hand quilt.

However, living a little more in the fast lanes these days machine quilting is important to many. I have learned that there is an art to machine quilting also. Bless you for your concern and I hope more will take on handquilting. It seems there are many on this board who love handquilting. I love seeing your quilts and am always amazed what you do. :) :) :)

Everything seems to be evolving, but some things fundalmentally remain the same. There will always be those blessed with patience to sit and quilt. While others (like me) do not. But right now, I am short of money to have them quilted.

I hand quilt and have taught my DIL how to,she loves it.

it seems hand quilting is a dying art in this area also very few people doing their own quilting most are sent out I have lost interest in quilt shows as I use to go to see the stitching and creativity of people now you get to see what computers can do just not the same

Hand quilting - hmmm? IMHO, it will never die out. The art of quilting seemed to die out in the last century, but look how strong the movement is to keep the art alive! Granted, more people are doing the quilting by machine, but many still treasure the process of doing it by hand. When a quilt is going to be used a great deal (baby blankets, etc.) the machine quilting makes sense. But the treasures of the next century, I think we will find, will be the hand-quilted quilts.

It may be a moot point anyway if the price of fabric gets too outrageous - you can't quilt on something you can't afford - and $10 a yard or better fabric is right up there in the "can't afford" catagory....