Fast forward twenty years
 

I can't but help but wonder where the quilt industry will be in 20 plus years. I am not sure how many young people even sew on a button these days. Am I missing something somewhere on this? Will the quilting industry be anywhere near what it is now? I

It may not keep up the pace it's going at today but there are young quilters out there. My 19yo DD is quilting and belongs to an on-line quilt group of like-aged young women so there's a new generation of quilters out there. Her group is doing a block of the month right now, very traditional blocks but they also embrace modern and art quilts. I'm so happy to see the young people interested. As for young people not even knowing how to sew on a button or do small repairs, I know a lot of people my age that can't do that either and have no desire to learn - they just buy new clothes (or ask somebody like us to fix it for them!)

I know that 20 years ago I was certainly not quilting or sewing anything, but at some point I began to admire quilts and especially hand quilting. Probably after my mother had retired and began making a few quilts. She made hers with hand piecing and hand quilting which is probably how she learned it as a young woman. I was able to buy a few beautiful old quilts then when I was still working. Once I retired, I took a quilting class and it went from there. So my point is we don't know for sure when someone may catch the quilting bug, but I wouldn't count it out. Looking online at all the blogs, etc. it seems there are quite a few young women who enjoy the "sewing arts". Neither of my daughters sew at all but the both love my quilts and I have one DGD who loves fabric. We usually make something when we are together. So I'm hoping for the best and I think there will always be those who love creating with fabric!

I have been encouraged in the last few years hearing about young people asking for sewing machines for Christmas presents. I wonder if Project Runway doesn't figure in that somewhere.
My granddaughter and her cousin are learning to sew. They started this without any prompting from me. BUT, now I have someone to leave my stash to.!!!!
I think quilting will go on and on. There will always be people who love creating and fabric.

When I first started quilting, it appeared that it was a dying craft. But since that time, quilting interest has increased by leaps and bounds. I don't see any reason for it to slow down. I have tons of people asking me where they can take sewing classes for clothing as well as quilting. They are willing to pay for classes. That says that there is still interest. I know plenty of people that can't sew on a button as well. But I see people thinking of sewing and quilting as an art instead of thinking only poor people want to sew and quilt. That's an improvement as far as I can tell.

I didn't start quilting until after I had been retired for 5 years. I did know how to sew on a button, but seldom did so. (And it's still not a priority for me.) I think many of us don't have much time for a creative outlet while we're working fulltime.

Well, unless the USA decides to go naked someone will be sewing something somewhere. They still teach home ec in the high school near me, sewing is part of it and both my kids sewed an article of clothing, a stuffed animal, and a hat. My son sewed for a bit when he was younger, but that was it. I'm sure they could sew on buttons if they need to.

If I mention I sew, most people will hoist an eyebrow and say, "really? you sew?". Like, yeah, I sew. It's not hard, one seam at a time, sheesh. lol

This is the same for me. I never considered quilting until our daughter was pregnant with our first grandchild. As for the future, at 63 I am by far one of the oldest members in the local modern quilt guild--most of them are in thir late 30's to early 50's, so there is interest in the next generation or two at least

Well this makes me feel better. I know how busy young people are and working full time and families. I just hope the interest continues. I too didn't start quilting til 6 years ago, so who am I to say. I do wonder though.

Same for me. I quilted "pre kids" a bit, but gave it up for years...retired 5 years ago, and picked it up again. I suspect there's many of us "late bloomers" out there!!

3 of my 4 daughters sew. 2 have done quilts. but don't do it a lot. the one daughter that doesn't sew, surprises me because she paints her walls, and stains her deck etc. but won't pick up a needle. I bet she does someday, tho. her house is full of my quilts.

Hobby popularity may wax and wane. Each time it becomes trendy we see new products to make things easier. My first quilt was cut out using templates and scissors. Now there are a variety of options including precuts. I have no doubt that quilting will still be around for a very long time.

Fifteen years ago we went through the same wonder and worry about quilting declining.

Then more and more big shows were opened, fabulous new sewing machines hit the market, many new fabric manufacturers bloomed - including a push with organic fabrics and dyes, thread choices climbed to an all-time high, and a new style wave arrived - called Modern Quilts.

We are in this for along time, I predict. :)

Those whose eyes glaze over at the mention of sewing/quilting are totally unaware of this multi-BILLION dollar industry.....just as I virtually am about camping/fishing/mountain climbing/Nascar and who knows what else that many men and lots of women enjoy. Passionately.

Isn't it a wonderful place to be! :D

Jan in VA

I'm another one who didn't learn to quilt until after I retired. I couldn't thread a sewing machine before that, although I do have vague memories of operating a treadle machine at school.

I had no idea quilting as a hobby existed, even though there was a shop called '******* Quilt Company' next to my local supermarket. I thought it was an industrial quilt company (as in duvet' what you call 'comforter'). The shop is upstairs and has no store front.

Quilting is often seen as an 'old lady' hobby, but I think it's more to do with the fact that we often have more time on our hands and less demand on our disposable income perhaps. More women work outside the home now, juggling job and children and have little time, money (or even room) for a hobby like quilting.

I can't see it dying out. In fact, in the UK, I think sewing in general, is becoming more popular. Television programmes such as, 'The Great British Sewing Bee' and 'Kirsty's Homemade Home' have been hugely popular (although you would faint if you saw the quilt, lol). Also, recycling and 'upcycling' is becoming more fashionable too. In times of austerity people invariably become nostalgic.

I think the quilt industry is safe for the foreseeable future. :)

I agree here completely. I didn't understand the appeal of quilting for all those years when it was so popular in the 70s and 80s. Not until I tried it a few years ago. :)

I don't think it is going anywhere. Have you (OP) checked out the quilting blogs? It seems like there are more under 50 bloggers than over 50 bloggers and lots and lots of them in their 20s and 30s. If those trends continue, I think the industry is okay.

A couple years ago my then 8 year old daughter asked for a sewing machine for Christmas and joined a sewing club at school. I went shopping to find her an inexpensive machine and instead came home with one for me! Oh, and a few days later ordered one for her. Together we took a few sewing lessons and I quickly realized how much I enjoyed piecing quilt tops. I finally actually quilted my first! My daughter is now 10 and sews almost daily - she's learning alterations and how to bling and personalize her own clothes. And yes, even sew on a button! She enjoys sewing "projects" but I think someday she will start quilting, too. Who knew two years ago either of us would be sewing or quilting? Certainly not me!

That's a great story about your daughter. If she's been sewing steady for two years now, she probably won't give it up any time soon. I kept up when I learned in home ec in 8th grade, 1971, and with the exception of some life interference, am still sewing!

I started learned about quilting in my 20s from when I would stop at my Great Aunt Maude's home in Kansas when I drove from CA to NYC many times. She used cardboard templates to piece quilts using scissors to cut. She had a GFG for her granddaughter hand quilting it on her frame in the Living room. If it hadn't been for her, I don't think I would have ever started quilting. Both my grandmothers and mother sewed a bit but none of them quilted. I was sure that quilting was going to die in the 80s but with new inventions, it thrived.

My daughter, who is in her mid thirties, just started her own business involving crafts etc. She purchased a truck and outfitted it inside as a traveling craft shop/classroom. She will be parking it on the street along with the food trucks that are popular in her area. The area is College Park, which is just outside of Washington, DC. She named it Craft Commons. The idea is that people can come inside and work on various crafts. She has it outfitted with counters and seating areas where you can work on projects to finish in a few hours or less. She has a Master's degree in Journalism and worked in that field for at least ten years. She does glass blowing and sells her glass items at a local craft market. She hasn't taken up quilting yet but she did make a patchwork looking cover for the drivers seat in the truck out of crocheted granny squares. I gave her a Featherweight years ago but I don't know if she has or will ever use it. I hope someday she decided to take up quilting.

Twenty years ago I was sewing like crazy as my children were small and I made a lot of their t shirts and pants. Twenty years from now, I will only be 71. Maybe I will have sewn up all of my stash by then. LOL It could be possible if I stop buying now! My two girls are into sewing and quilting. It is an artistic outlet for creative people, so I think it will be just as popular, or more so, it may go in a different direction if new technology appears. Look what the computer did for machine embroidery, and look how popular long arm machines are compared to twenty years ago.

I agree. 20 years ago, who even owned a long arm? Now, it seems that every fifth quilter has one.

I actually know quite a few younger people quilting. My stepdaughter's friend started quilting recently with her son in high school and she had the ability to stop work. She seems to have a good circle of friends her age that quilt too. I think you have to get to the point where your kids are at certain age to have the time to even think about hobbies.

My oldest daughter is one of those that can't sew on a button, she is 42. I was just thrilled a couple of weeks ago when she told me she had signed up at our LQS for her and her 13 yr. daughter to take a class, to make a small tote. They had never sat at a sewing machine before. They stopped by after the class and were so excited to show me what they had made. They were so proud! I told them they could come over any time and shop from my stash, and use any one of my machines and I would help them make whatever they wanted. The seed has been planted!!!!

I think certain aspects of the market will become saturated. Longarms for example. There are numerous LA manufacturers but a very finite number of consumers for them given the cost, room needed for a rack setup and those of us willing to take on the task of learning it. I started quilting a little over 20 years ago but always loved sewing ever since I took sewing in high school as an elective (back in the 70's). I did not have relatives who sewed so I was the first in my family. At that time I was completely oblivious to quilting, I sewed clothes as back then it was more economical to sew your own then to buy. Now it is the opposite, costs much more to sew your own clothes then to buy. Anyway, I think growth will slow down but quilting will not go away. There are way to many that are absolutely passionate about it and fiber arts.

I feel fairly sure that 'retirement age' quilters in the 1950s/60s/70s were saying the same thing.

Speaking in a general, global sense hobbies go in cycles - sometimes they become all trendy and are flavour of the month, then that dies away as the next 'big thing' bandwagon is jumped on. What could be termed 'domestic arts' such as sewing/quilting, cooking and gardening all seem to be pretty popular in the media (TV etc) and so in life right now, but it'll change to be something else over time probably evolving through various different stages of the original so that we end up with metalwork quilting (art quilts being the precursor?!) or something.

Also as others have said, your life goes in cycles and at some points you just have more time for non-essential time-users (and I'm including kids in the 'essential work' category - not that everybody has to have them, but once you do they kinda need looking after until they are of an age to be a bit more independent). I bet most people have most hobbies when they are pre-late-teen and retired. If you're being pulled at from all angles by essentials like work and children and other responsibilities you need to be pretty dedicated to maintain a hobby like quilting - not saying it can't be done, and I'm sure a lot of you are thinking 'but that is when you most need a hobby' but there are times when it just takes everything to get the essentials done and manage some sleep. Trying to keep a hobby going at those times could actually be more of a stressor than anything else.

I suspect that there are a lot of pre-retirement-age quilters out there - maybe started off by Grandma/Great Aunt/whomever - and they may stop during the years of building family and career, but that doesn't mean that they won't start again when they have time. And then they can infect all of their friends. :D

I made my very first quilt from a kit while I was pregnant with our first baby 35 yrs. ago. If I remember correctly the kit cost me under $20.00!! That says a lot. I am self taught and I also subscribed to the Quilter's Newsletter back in the 70's which was the first quilt magazine I think to come out. No one else in my family made quilts. I am still the only one in my family that makes them. My 11 yr. old Granddaughter shows interest in sewing so that is good!!

I have sewn some clothing over the years for myself and my daughters but I find it much easier to just buy clothing.

I can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't involved in sewing or some sort. My mother was a beautiful seamstress although she never quilted. My daughter has no desire to sew anything. My daughter-in-law on the other hand enjoys sewing but has never had anyone to really teach her until she became a part of our family because she was never around anyone who sewed. It is fun doing things with her.

I spent years in the college environment as a professor. What I noticed about younger people in recent years is how impatient they are and their perception of being busier than anyone else. Products have been developed (cell phones, texting, computers, instant food, etc) to address this. I think this will also impact all sorts of arts, sewing and quilting included. We can see that in patterns today - quick and easy; equipment - die cutters, machines that go faster, thread themselves, cut the thread etc. I don't think quilting will die but the way we quilt will likely change.

There are a lot of activities involving needles and thread and textiles, whether it be practical garment-making, quilting, upholstery and drapes, or arts and crafts. It is all way beyond mending ripped hems and sewing on buttons! I can sew and quilt and the rest of it, but if I needed a suit jacket altered I would run right to the tailor! We all have our limits.

Fads and styles may change but I can't see quilting fading away ever.

I hope to still be quilting in 20 years. I can't wait to see the new tools and the intuitive sewing machines that will be available.

I was worried about the quilting industry about 10 years ago. When I'd go to shows, it was mostly older people in attendance. It's exciting to see young people now involved in sewing and quilting. And even the "modern" magazines are showing traditional patterns in a more contemporary look, like hexagons or DWR. I hope to be around in 20 years to see how the industry evolves!

I'm not worried about it one bit - hand making things in general is really popular with people of all ages. I know my 9 year old niece & 13 year old nephew both have that itch to create, so I made sure to hook them up with a sewing machine and a whole box full of fabric and supplies. :) I can't wait to see what they make! (I'm really hoping for some handmade gifts from them this Christmas, lol.)

I believe it will go on - the Modern guild and conference has generated a lot of interest. Yes there are some older members but I would bet that at least 75% of them are young. The couple of meetings I went to here (conflicts with my work schedule) it was 95% young women. A lot of them had brought small children with them and there was more breast feeding than I had seen in one place in quite some time. If you look at the designers, there are a lot of younger people there so I believe that they will hold their interest.

I got my first sewing machine for Christmas when I was about 14. It was a used one, but it was probably one of my favorite Christmas gifts EVER! My sister taught me how to sew when I was 10. I used that machine for nearly 10 years. Of my two girls, the older one has gotten her own sewing machine and actually made her very first quilt a few months ago. I taught my younger daughter's girl scout group how to sew for their Silver Award project. Each girl put together 2 baby quilts which we donated at Parkland Hospital. I'm always trying to plant seeds with younger folks about how enjoyable it is to quilt.

I think there is an ebb and flow. Quilting gets really popular then something else is more popular but quilting always comes back.

I'm young(er) (mid-20's) and while I can't say I personally know people in my age range that quilt, I do know some that sew clothes (one sews Civil War era clothes). I think sites like Youtube and blogging have made it more accessible; puts it on the front burner, people see it and think "I want to do that." Plus, there are a lot of fresh, modern prints on the market too.

Edit to add that I think cost may be an issue as well...there's a pretty high start up cost usually, and it doesn't get much cheaper from there. It really is an expensive hobby, best suited for those with steady incomes or retirement funds. That can keep a lot of younger people out.

I think that in 20 years quilting will be appreciated for the art that it is. Kids aren't automatically being taught sewing in school anymore -- at least in my neck of the woods. So sewing will be viewed as either a skill or an artform depending on what's being sewn. That's a far cry from the necessary know-how it was seen as being when I was growing up.

I love the modern quilt movement and how it's affected everything. Just the plethora of fabrics we have to choose from is exhilarating. Making a traditional pattern with modern prints or batiks makes everything old new again. I love that younger quilters question old ways and explore new ideas -- which redefines how a quilt should "look". They have fun which is what it's really all about most of the time. And as long as they're having fun, quilting isn't in any danger of dying.

Quilting and sewing is alive and well. "Cotton & Steel" is the new generation taking quilting into the future. Lots of bloggers, Etsy, Pinterest activities. Shops are popping up with modern quilters sharing and teaching others. (Crimson Tate in Indianapolis, IN, GInger Threads in Bedford, Indiana come to my mind) all have and use Facebook with much success.

Notice the new look of quilting thanks to MO Star. Even Fons & Porter magazines have brightened up from just a few years ago. Qeneration Q magazine among other new pubplications have shown up on newstands and in shops.

Sewing machines get more sophisticated. Social media is a buzz. All is well!

sandy

None of my family is interested other than to compliment something I have made. Everyone thinks it's too much work. I imagine my stuff will go to the Goodwill. It's sad.

I have four daughters. Two don't sew a thing. One of the two owns a sewing machine but doesn't know how to thread it even. The third daughter works so many hours it's pitiful but she does sew occasionally and does a fine job. She is interested in quilting and has made one quilt top and did a great job. She sews for her grandkids when she can get the time. The fourth was such a tomboy when she was young, but has grown into a wonderful quilter. She has done other sewing too. She owns a commercial embroidery machine and does custom embroidery and now custom free motion quilting and does an astounding job. You can never predict what your kids will want to do. The grandkids at this point in time, are not interested in sewing or quilting, but they sure love getting a quilt. So who knows maybe in the future some of them will take it up.

I don't think I'm that young (36!), but I really became interested in quilting at 30. Didn't start quilting until I was 33, but since then have taught (and hooked!) two ladies my age. I guess we're the inbetweeners?!