Are machine quilted quilts really second class?
 

By chance this week, I met some quilters from the guild I used to belong to. I no longer attend because of this same attitude. Can someone please let me in on the secret? Are machine made quilts really second class? Quilts made entirely by hand are somehow in a higher class, those quilts are better than mine? Quilters who only hand piece and quilt are really better than those of us who use a machine?
I really do appreciate hand quilted quilts, and I always have a hand quilting project on the go, but most of my quilt projects are pieced and quilted by machine. At least, this way, I complete things. OK, they are not heirloom quilts, but I think that my had pieced and quilted ones are.
Maybe I am just too sensitive, but the elitest attitude really makes me sad. I am surely not a pro at quilting, but I have been quilting for 24 years and have completed many projects, which have been received with positive comments and thanks. I think my work could hold it's own with most others.
Why is it that we all just can't play nice and appreciate each other's work? I have seen some magnificent machine made quilts and some gorgeous hand made ones too. I must say, though, that my friends on this board are encouraging and so willing to give praise and positive feedback. I am so glad that I am a member of this group. Thanks everyone.

NO1

NOO!

NOOO!

NOOO!

In spite of what my former friend CLK tries to tell everyone

I would have also made that a guild that "I used to belong to". Yes there's a difference. There's a difference between professionally landscaped flower gardens and the ones I work in too. But both are beautiful in their own way. I can't master hand quilting and yet I think it's truely beautiful. I am trying to master machine quilting and have seen some that truely beautiful. There is a skill set needed for both types and both should be celebrated. Maybe if the hand quilters tried machine quilting they would better understand that it has an art of its own. I know that's how I cam to appreciate hand quilting!

Besides that, you can find some completely horrendous hand pieced &/OR hand quilted quilts.

When I joined my first guild, the majority of the ladies were older and did all hand quilting. When I showed a few of the quilts I made all machined quilted the President said you know we will teach you how to hand quilt your quilts. I said No Thank you I don't want to hand quilt. I kept on showing my machine quilted quilts. I got a few converts and made sure to show machine quilted quilts when we had visitors. I got a few humphs and snarks from the know it all old timers but I didn't pay them any attention. My quilt won Viewer's Choice at the first quilt show I entered at the Guild. That really knocked a few for a loop and changed their minds a little. The guild still has hand quilting classes for those that want to learn from the older members. Now the majority of the guild is all machine quilters and a few long armers!

No!

Next time you see those lovely ladies (I use the term loosely) RUN!

They are the dreaded Quilt Snobs.

As my Mom always said: "If you can't say something nice, keep your trap shut!"

If you've been to a quilt show you've seen gorgeous quilts win prizes. Good grief some of those blue ribbon winners are machine made and quilted! :D

Keep on making quilts and making yourself and others happy.

BTW, did it occur to you that those women could be jealous of your work?:)

Can appreciate and enjoy both. Sometimes I do one and sometimes the other as far as piecing. The machine quilting has been difficult for me to learn and become any where near accomplished at. I really admire all aspects of quilting. Some of us are gifted in one area more than another. Just like any art form, there's room for all. Color is also something I struggle with...have learned to ask for others' input sometimes because I don't have the natural eye for color that some have. I love vintage quilts, modern quilts, etc. We all need to learn to enjoy beauty where we find it and LIGHTEN UP!

I have never hand pieced a quilt. I have hand quilted and I have recently learned needleturn applique. I also LA quilt (hand guided,not computer guided). I never could master FMQ on my domestic machine.

The attitude is difficult to overcome. I do not feel machine quilted quilts are second class BUT I do have an enormous amount of respect and admiration for hand quilted quilts knowing the time, dedication and skill it requires. Because of that time, dedication and skill I perceive a higher value for quilts done by hand. Just as I would place a higher value on an original painting over a print or a hand crafted piece of furniture over an assembly line made one.

All are functional but one took a craftsperson years to hone the skill and then the time, dedication and love to create it. Quilters, both machine quilters and hand quilters do instill love into our craft. I have an enormous amount of respect for the LA quilters and domestic sewing machine quilters who are making heirloom pieces. But I can speak from experience here... To LA an heirloom quality quilt can take up to 120 hours of work if done thoughtfully and well but to do the same caliber of quilting by hand would take 10 times that long, if not more. So I believe this may explain part of the attitude of the ladies from your guild who consider hand work better. They are placing a value on the amount of time it takes.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with machine made quilts. I embrace them wholeheartedly. I think to compare the two is where the problem lies. They are both quiltmaking but approached in a completely different way and require different skill sets.

everyone does things their own way. Many years ago, things had to be done a certain way(for some). It's just the way some people are. I wouldn't let it bother you in any way. Look at some of the modern quilts, raw edge applique, and the neat tricks we have all learned on the way. Some people will look at them as bad because "that's not the way its supposed to be". Well, it doesn't stop us from doing it. We learn from each other and adapt our sewing to what fits us. It's supposed to be fun and rewarding for us to sew/quilt.

I have done both and love both..I appreciate all the hand stitched quilts my dear mom made all her adult life..and I have a lot of them..but then she machine pieced also...so it's all good for me...

I think attitudes like your quilt guild has is why I won't join one. I personally think that machine quilted quilts are just at beautiful as hand quilted. So much time, work and love go into both kinds that it seems so wrong to judge one less than another.

I mainly machine piece and quilt (most STID, very little FMQ) my quilts. I am giving hand piecing and quilting a try and find that I really enjoy it.

I was also told a few years ago that my "all machine made quilts" weren't "really" quilts.....who cares call'em what you want blankets, snuggies, lovies....I don't care, I don't make them to win prizes. I make them to be used and loved and washed and dried until they are in tatters and I'm proud to say most of the ones I've given away have been done that way and when they are worn out most come back and want another one....and I'm proud to make them another to love!!!!!

If machine quilting isn't first class, then someone needs to tell the magazine editors and quilt pattern makers. I looked at magazines when I shopped today. I think every quilt featured on each cover was machine quilted and one was stitched in the ditch. We all need to happy with works for us!!!!!

Just don't understand why some people have to look down their noses at other people's efforts. I don't particularly want to do art quilts even though they are beautiful. I don't hand piece because I just never had the time. If the snarky ladies make any more comments just nicely say "it's really too bad they never learned how to operate a sewing machine." All of these art forms need to be appreciated for what they are and what they mean to the people who make them.

I have been a lifelong "handquilter" but I piece when I have to and certainly sew by machine. I make at least ten machine assembled and quilted Linus blankets a month as well as another ten plus that are fleece with a crocheted edge or totally crocheted ones. When it comes to quilts for me or personal gifts etc. I assemble by machine and then handquilt. My favorite quilt is a wholecloth that I can handquilt without having to worry with seams etc. Piecing is s not my strong point so the wholecloth , especially cloth printed to look like piecework is the answer for me. I have seen many machine quilted quilts that are masterpieces and others that are just simple but they got the job done. We are all different, why shouldn't the way we make quilts be different as well?

I love hand quilted quilts. hand or machine pieced dosn't matter. I don't think anything will ever take the place of the old time quilting frame my grandmother, mother, and aunts used. But I also love machine made quilts, too. I piece on the machine and quilt on the machine. I love them all. I get many raves for my quilts. It's all in the name of modern living. Who wants to go back to the horse and buggy days?

And these folks also wear only hand tooled shoes I assume? Shoes made with a machine would never work.

:P at them all. It's like painting in acrylics, oils or water colors. They are all art. Just different style

Machine quilting has come a LONG way since it was introduced....from simple patches all the way to beautiful art quilts and whole cloth quilts. Nothing wrong with hand quilting, but there is no way it can match the true artistry in those quilts.

well if they think that, how lowly are quilts finished on Long Arm machines? sigh. I do wish I could do hand quilting. It is an art. I do agree. But so are other quilters work. No matter how they do theirs.

No they are not second class! Regardless of what the "elite" say. Machine quilting is just a different way of quilting....not better or worse....just DIFFERENT! Don't let the quilt police intimidate you!

I would just smile sweetly and say "my goodness, you ladies are certainly behind the times."

It's the quilter behind the needle that makes the quilt special, not the tool. I've seen magnificent machine made quilts, and poorly done hand made quilts. If it's a well made, good looking quilt, who cares?

Janet

I really think it's a small but vocal group of quilt police. They think there is only one proper way to do something, and it's their way. When I run into someone like this, I just smile, nod and think to myself that it takes all kinds, then just ignore whatever they've said. It would be great if everyone would just play nice, but that's not the way the world works. You can't change them, but you do have control of how their words affect you. If you can't ignore them, then avoid them! Sounds like you made the right decision by leaving that guild. Toronto is a big place, is there another guild you could try?

I would think that even machine quilted quilts could be heirlooms it all takes time patience and skill

They have been quilting by machine for over 100 years. Used to be a sign of wealth to have a sewing machine, so it was used to show off.

Our grandmothers hand quilted because they had a group of friends get together & work on it all at once, & finish in a day. I can appreciate the time and talent it takes to hand quilt. But it takes talent to be good at machine quilting, long arm or domestic.

Don't let them get to you! It's no wonder the younger people have created a 'new' movement with the modern quilts.

Thank you for your thoughtful response. You managed to say what I feel without being able to put it in words. I'm envious over my friend who handquilts. Her work is beautiful. Yes, it takes her a long time to finish a quilt, but it is beautiful. She's also been doing it for 40 years. When I did my little doll quilt by hand and it took me what felt like months, I thought there is no way I could ever do a full size quilt. It's not that one way is better then the other, but in either method, the work and craft should be appreciated.

Big reason I don't join a guild. I was in one of my LQS the other day and there were 2 ladies from the guild in our area. They asked me if I had ever been to a meeting I said no that I am not an expert quilter and I have heard some of the ladies talk about this type of thing. The one said that is why we took guild out of our name. We want all quilters to feel welcome. I do think I will visit a meeting to see if the others are as nice as these 2 ladies. I am sure there will be some that aren't, but I can visit a couple times to see if I want to join. I am starting to enjoy art quilting I can imagine what your ladies would think of that. LOL

I do think there are different classes:
machine quilted vs hand quilted vs long arm quilted
large vs small vs medium sized
bed quilt vs wall quilt vs home furnishing vs clothing
traditional vs contempory vs art
There are lots of different classes not better, just different

I quilt for enjoyment, creative expression, companionship. If it's a great quilt, I'll show it.
Whatever floats your boat.

There are classes of people:
Snobs vs kind
I forgive the snobs and enjoy the kind.

Not all guilds are like this, in fact I think this narrow mindedness is the exception rather than the rule. I belong to 3 different guilds, and although they all have different "personalities", they all embrace all types of quilting.

I machine piece my quilts and send them to the longarmer to be quilted. I really do admire hand pieced and hand quilted quilts. Those things being said...If anyone dosen't like my quilts they don't have to look at them. I enjoy making and giving them and that is what counts for me.

I've been a member of my guild for over twenty years. When I first joined the older ladies were who I learned from. Lol they were pretty set in their ways but I don't remember them ever being rude about somebody else work. They just always thought theirs was best. One in particular told my husband at one of our shows "if there is a prize to be won I usually win it" lol. All these years later most of them are no longer with us, I miss them.

I can just about guarantee that if our great-grandmothers had the tools available to us now, a very good percentage of them would be machine quilters.

Dont mind those type of people, the world takes all kinds......remember that "value" is subjective. It is different for all people. I admire those who do hand work, cause quite frankly there is not a person alive or dead that I love enough to put that kind of time into something. However, I have no issue "throwing" a machine quilt together for anyone at all and sometimes just for the pretty fabric itself. Find a new group, there are several. Or better yet, start a movement inside that group. The older ones will eventually fade off......and they will need younger blood to keep the guild going.

Absolutely not! Also what gets me about when people say their quilts are not 'heirloom' quilts. YES they are!! I have a newly made friend who just made her very first quilt for her daughter, a beautiful strip quilt, stunning! And it is a heirloom it is her very first one, made just for her daughter, and her daughter will love the quilt and bet you dollars to donuts passes it down to her kids or grandkids. I know my kids love my quilts and plan on passing them down to their kids, to me that is a heirloom quilt. Any quilt that is loved and cherished is an heirloom. Now, don't get me wrong I love the quilts people spend a ton of time on to make just right and hang them on the walls, I truly enjoy looking at them, but just is my humble opinion that to call those heirloom and other quilts are second class is not right. Ok stepping off my soapbox.

The simple fact is that if I piece a top that is too big for tacking----------actually never too big--------I will send mine out for machine quilting. I HATE HAND QUILTING.

It took me 36years to hand quilt 25 quilts, mostly crib size. While also raising three kids. Then I started machine quilting, in about 10-1/2 Years I have made 92 quilts. I always machine pieced. I am almost 68 years and don't know how many years I have left. No way am I spending that kind of time and effort. I have a huge stash and want to use up as much as I can.
I can't believe hand piecing would ever be better than machine piecing. I almost always do FMQ, love the look and love doing it. I have knobby fingers and arthritis now. Hand quilting would sure help that along. I think that might be the reason.
Different strokes for different folks.
Lots of snobs and I try my best to avoid them in all walks of life.

I can truly say that MY machine quilted work is inferior to my hand quilted work. Doesn't mean that there may not come a time when my machine quilting will improve enough for me to be proud of it!
In fact I'm not totally pleased with my hand quilting either.

I've seen some absolutely superb quilting posted on this site. Some is done by hand and some is done by machine. Both are works of art. As someone earlier stated, different skill sets are required for each. I would like to become proficient in both. Not sure it will ever happen, but I can dream big. Lol!

No hand piecing for me. I've seen too many fall apart. I can hand quilt and I can do FMQ, prefer machine quilting any day.

I totally agree with you SherriB...I just gave my 33 year old son a "machine quilt" for his birthday today, and he actually cried...he thought it was beautiful, and so did I. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. I probably will never be a hand quilter, but every quilt I make is a labor of love....and I don't think of it as "second class"!!

To me it should be everyone's choice as to how they want to do their quilt.