How do you start a new quilting group/guild?
 

I moved to a new area a couple of years ago where everyone lives far out and away from each other. We have a tiny town where we all meet occasionally to get the mail, etc. I'd like to start a local quilting group, or possibly an official guild, so that I can meet other quilters an share the fun of sewing. There used to be guild in town, but it folded a few years ago. I'm also planning to open a very small quilt shop to carry supplies and a small amount of fabric. Any tips, ideas?

Thanks, Cindy

All it takes is 3 people. Find a place that has the room for the group to grow. Find people/quilters who want to meet other quilters and are welcoming.

Even if you meet in someone's home at first. Start and see how it goes.

If you are opening a store let the class area be the group meeting place at designated times. Be aware that there will always be detractors, so don't expect the new group to be your source of business for your quilt shop. Have fun with it.

Whereabouts on the Mendocino coast are you?

My DH & I love to travel & vacation out there; you'll have to let me know when your store opens so I can come check it out!

Adding on to Alikat's suggestions start with 1 or 2 friends that sew or just want to sew and start with sit and sew type gatherings. Does your small town have a community building of some sort like a library, or club house you can meet in? Post a large sign where people can see it with the days and hours you meet and inviting them to join. Post notices on bulletin boards at the post office, coffee shop wherever people gather. Does your town have a small news paper post notices in that too. Do you belong to the local church or have a friend that wants to sew with you that does, Is there a newsletter that goes out post notices there too.

I imagine it will be slow going at first and as you gather new friends and attendees they will probably have ideas how to make it grow. This may help you decide if your town can even sustain a small quilt shop

One last thought do you know why the last guild folded? Can you find out? Knowing that could help you to avoid making their mistakes.

Thanks so much for all of the tips everyone. What about the bureaucratic (augh...I hate that part...) part of it? How do you set up the group structure? I'd like to keep things very loose, but I know that's not always such a good idea.

~ Cindy

I just started one yesterday! I made a group Facebook page with the info about the group, where the first meeting of us together would be, and to bring ideas for what the group would like to do. I posted on my town's facebook page about it, put a notice up at the local Library and this morning called many of the local churches and asked the church secretaries to tell the ladies. They were all very supportive. I have started two other groups, one knitting and one community program. I want this one to be more informal, no business meetings, budget etc. I have 6 confirmed will be there from the Facebook page. I will make it 7 so that's a group!

Oh forgot to say it will be a tatting group. I have no idea how to tat and want to learn. Someone that shows up will know how so that's all we need or we will learn together.
That's how I learned to knit by forming a knitting group.

Check out meetup.com. That might be an easy way to get started. You can create a meetup group for quilters in your area and see who responds...

I have no idea. Just wanted to wish you luck. Sounds like it will be a lot of work but worth it. BrendaK

The group I belong to started with 3 girls. Now we have over 30. We meet at two local churches. It is not a formal group just girls that like to quilt,knit etc. sometime we go to lunch other times we bring brown bag lunch.
Start small,it will grow as people hear about it and come. If you open a quilt shop offer lots of classes and open sewing days.
Good luck with both.

Wonderful! We'll have to share ideas. I think that mine will be informal at first too. I just want it to be easy and friendly. Maybe I'm just dreaming though. It's probably a lot more hard work than I think it will be.

I really admire the fact that you started a tatting group without knowing how to tat. Now, that's gumption! :D

~ Cindy

Oh, we also have a lot of spinners and weavers here. (There's a few sheep ranches in our area.) I'd like to include their wares and expertise in my shop, group, guild. Maybe that will be too complicated.
~ Cindy

Several years ago, a bunch of quilters (I think there were around 15 of us) who were all members of a large guild decided to start a small guild. We didn't want to copy the large guild, which had a large operating budget and funding which could bring in nationally known teachers, but something small where we could plan meetings around sharing our skills with others by having mini-classes and demonstrations by the members, we planned to have local teachers come in, and we decided to include non-quilting speakers on subjects which were of importance to women, like breast and cervical cancer, heart health, diabetes, personal safety, etc. We had our 4th birthday last August and our membership stays around 55, with about 35-40 who come to the meetings every month. There are only 5 of the founding members still active in this guild, and none of us are officers, but we watch to make sure that the guild doesn't stray too far from the original purpose, which was for quilters to share their expertise with other quilters.

We had a very loose organization for a while, but after about 2 years, we approved by-laws and an organizational structure with officers and committees. We charge $25 a year dues, which helps to pay for the PO Box, the refreshment supplies (paper/plastic goods, bottled water, flavorings, etc.), banking supplies, etc. We distribute a monthly newsletter via email, so there are no printing or postage costs. We have 2 major fundraisers a year -- a raffle quilt and a silent auction -- to pay for the 4-5 local speakers. Since we are in the greater Houston area, the November meeting is always "Look What I Found at the Quilt Festival" meeting, which is always a lot of fun. One monthly meeting is a challenge of sorts but is also a "runway event", where we make an item, then show it. So far, we have done aprons and tote bags. We have a Saturday sew-in at one of the local libraries once a month; we have 3-4 road trips where we visit quilt shops and go to other guilds' quilt shows; and we have a retreat once a year.

Putting

We have a great group here that has basically no bureaucratic structure. We meet and eat and talk and sew and enjoy each other. We sometimes have ongoing projects, we do CASA quilts for donation to kids, we work on our own stuff. We help each other. We are now meeting twice a month, once to eat and talk and once to sew. Good luck with your group. Women supporting women, sewing and sharing, is woven into the history of quilting.

Christine

When I started the knitting group, we sat around a table. I asked who here knows how to knit? One woman raised her hand. I said great, show us how to start. The group met for nine months, we all made a dishcloth, and a baby sweater and one sock. I still see members and they are still knitting. The knitter who taught us started giving knitting lessons at the local Shepard's Center, she didn't know she loved teaching.

Thank you Putting for the wonderful ideas!

Onebyone...I love that you only made ONE sock....that's so cute! It' amazing that some of you are still knitting. I'd like to include knitting in our group too. Gosshhh...I haven't knitted in years! We have a lot of artisans around here that clip the sheep, dye the wool, spin it and knit the most gorgeous items. I'd really like to get to know some if these people and pick their brains.

~ Cindy

Update: The tatting group I started has 14 saying they will be at our first meeting. One lady said her church has a unused room in the back of the church that is never used and her pastor told her we could use it for our group as much as we like. She also said she had a box full of shuttles and tatting needles and supplies and she was glad she found a good use for them. She is bringing her friend who has won ribbons with her tatting. They are both excited about the group and assured everyone on our Facebook page it is fun and easy. One lady is bringing soup and bread and one is bringing cake. I'm so excited!

I read several years ago about a woman who wanted to open a store at a particular place. She put signs out in the neighborhood asking people if they would shop at a store at that location. She received lots of answers, got lots of advice and when she opened her store, had lots of customers. If I were you, I would put a sign on the bulletin board in one of the places people usually gather asking people who are interested in a quilt guild to contact me. Of course, I already know that some board members will be appalled at the idea of making a public announcement about where you live or what your phone number is, but if that worries you too much, give them an e-mail address that you don't use for anything except replies to your inquiry. froggyintexas

Check with your County Extension Office. We started with one night Quilt Group and now have three groups -- the original night group and two day groups. Each group has its own structure.

Summer is coming. Collect names and towns (addresses if you can get them) from your county fair, area quilt shows, State quilt shows, etc. Then try to trace them in the phone book or online. Ask at the nearest quilt store about local area quilters and their location so you can contact them. I started one almost 25 years ago and it is still going strong.

I'm just jealous that you are living on the Mendocino Coast. I loved the town of Mendocino when I visited it. I think you have gotten a lot of good tips. Best wishes.

Yes, I had that idea too. Thanks! Our county fair has a whole building devoted to the wool people and another almost entirely filled with quilts. I've never been to a quilt show. I'll have to make it to a couple over this summer and check it out.

~ Cindy

Thanks so much, Seaside Gal. I grew up going to Huntington and Newport every summer, so there ya go. I love it! :D

~ Cindy

In a small town, I have made a practice of finding the local coffee spot, and go have a long slow cup while I go through the fabric and pattern (which I just happen to carry in with me) that I am thinking about making. That always starts the conversation, and helps me find other local quilters. Good luck and remember to have fun.

Three friends and I used to go on road trips to get fabric. We decided to get together once a month and I volunteered for the first meeting and made a simple lunch. Since I had room we added two more which is where the problem began. We had originally agreed to stay small, to share hosting and to do sack lunches except for special occasions. All of a sudden one of the new gals invited a friend without asking first. Then no one else wanted to host and lunch was expected. We stopped for the summer and never resumed. All that to say be sure of the ground rules before you get started. What started as a wonderful time ended as nightmare which still hurts me.

Great timing for this topic. I've been wanting to join or start a group for a long time. There is one lady at my church who asked me to teach her how to quilt. I said I'd love to, but I'm no expert. I can show her the basics. Now I want to put a notice in the bulletin to see if there are others who want to participate in a very informal group. I'm thinking once a month, at least to start. We'll see how it goes!

Good luck with your group!

Thanks, Anne...good luck with yours too. Please keep me informed on how it goes. I won't be starting my group until at least this fall, or later. However, I'm busy as a bee gathering my notes. :)

~ Cindy

These are all good suggestions aren't they? When our group started we also carried information about our group on coloured paper. We did four notices to a sheet of coloured paper. We kept them in our purses in case we ran into people who might be interested. We also put them in every quilt store within a 75 mile radius. Have fun. A coffee pot and cookies helps.

Yes, a coffee pot with goodies is always a plus. Music is good too! :) I'm definitely going to start informally and just see what happens. I'd like to have all the textile artists, weavers, sewers, quilters, knitters, fabric painters, etc. A "Textile Arts Co-Op." I'm thinking that one day can be set aside for each group, so there's enough space to spread out. (I wouldn't want the fabric dyers setting up next to the quilters on the same day.) I already have a large space to start in.

~ Cindy

I'll probably wait until fall, too, because it's so close to summer now that I don't things would get a good start before school is out and people get too busy. I might just make a half-sheet notice to put in the church bulletin that asks if anyone is interested in joining a group. I'll see what kind of response I get and go from there. Or maybe Angelina and I will post a time and day and just see who shows up. Heaven knows I've got plenty on my plate to keep me busy until then!

Good luck!