Our guild lets us attend at a visitor for one or two months first. That's a good way to find out what they're like, if you can do that. The one here that I joined was a great group of people, and I even signed up to help at our show the first year. That's a great way to get to know some of the people. Just give it a shot - you won't know until you do.

Advantages 1: spend time with people who love to quilt 2: learn from some masters 3: see some new techniques 4: do some charity work 5: see some beautiful quilts ,need more?

I joined in my retirement years. It was a good opportunity to expand my network of friends who enjoy the same hobby. I keep learning new things - now I have to work on remembering them too!

I love my guild! It has around 60 members, but about 30 are active. No one in my family even sews, let alone quilt. The guild gives me a chance to talk to others about new techniques or problems I am having with my current project. It is a fun, relaxing night out. We also have a Saturday Sew once a month where one person teaches a project or you can just bring whatever you want to work on. The Sat. Sew is how I have gotten to know the guild members. Try it - you can always just stop going!

I joined a Guild and volunteered on Committees. This way I was able to meet ladies who shared their talents with others. You will, always, have cliques in organizations. I have went so far as to ask if I could set with them at the meeting. Our Guild has a designer member. She presents sometimes and it is GREAT! Local charities are always receiving quilts made by us. So try a couple of meetings and I hope you'll become a member!

I would like to join one, but I am new in town and too chicken to go alone. Sigh!

I belong to a great group of quilters, and I love every minute of it. We do a lot of charity projects and have a very informative meeting. There's something you can do every week, or if you cannot attend these workshops, etc, you do not have to. I learn something each month. Love my Guild!!!!

I am Vice President of my guild and will be President come January. I have been a guild board member for the last 6 years mainly because no one will step up to the plate. We had some new members join this past year and it seems that they are more than willing to volunteer for different jobs. By volunteering it helps the group as well as the volunteer to get more out of the group. I am retiring the end of this month and am thinking on checking out an additional guild which is quite a bit larger than the guild I now belong to. The larger group has a meeting in the afternoon and one in the evening. I might be able to bring more ideas to my current group this way. My LQS owner belongs to at least 3 guilds maybe 4. I think 2 will be enough for me.

I've belonged to a Guild for a number of years and enjoy the people, workshops and programs. When I retired I joined another Guild so sometimes trying to keep up with both keeps me busy but it's fun.

It's worthwhile, but can be challenging. Many of the ladies in one guild weren't very friendly and even after going more than 1 year, many of them wouldn't even say "HI". But eventually I made a few friends in that guild and now I have someone to go to quilt shows and other "quilty" activities with.

I belong to a quilt group which has opted not to seek guild status for a number of reasons that I don't need to go into here. I should say, however, that I rather like the fact that it's not a guild. Since the structure is more informal, we are less tightly organized than guilds I have belonged to before. The downside is that we don't have access to the wonderful speakers and classes that guilds can sometimes arrange. I'd recommend that you do it. The support you will receive from fellow guild members an, above all, you own skill building, will be enough of a payback for membership. Add to that the fellowship and the fun and it's a sure winner.

I tried and found that the little groups within the big group were very hard to get into!

Exactly - I've found this with every group I've worked with - from Home & School Associations (PTA) to quilt guilds.

When I joined the guild I'm currently with, I knew no one there. I'm *not* an outgoing, scmhoozing type, and am very uncomfortable in groups. But my objective was to learn, and I also found they were looking for some of the skills I have (website) so it's working for us all!

And I've found what could have been perceived as cliquish - and some of the most brusque demeanours, are also some of the nicest folks - they're just abrupt!

I'm not much on organized groups. The local guild is very nice and has some lovely ladies and gents involved, but I don't want to be on committees. I prefer classes at local shops and retreats. I seem to get more from that. Everyone is different. Try it out for yourself and see if it fits for you! The worst that can happen is that you won't like it and don't have to return.

This board is my guild too. My local guild has a waiting list so I think they may be pretty selective and the next nearest is about 30 miles. Too far for winter evening meetings.

My guild meets tonight. I am in the middle of moving across town and it really is unexpected and it is the first move in almost 20 years. My sewing room alone gave people heart failure when they saw what had to go. But I am going to my guild meeting tonight no matter how busy I am. I did not join one for years because I feared the snobs, perfectionists and quilting police. They are not part of Raincross Guild. We have several surrounding guilds that are in easy driving distance as I am in so cal and maybe they all go to one of the others but they are not at my guild. I do not always do everything they do but I love it and have lots of fun. I found someone here that lives near me and she is now attending the guild tonight for the third time. Better get moving now.

I just joined one this last year to learn from the professionals that come to teach. I had several friends already in the guild so made it a little easier. Our guild is big, over 300 so most of the people already have their friends and kind of stick with them.That is OK with me as I have friends too. I try to go back and great any new people so they feel welcome! Advantage, you get to see lots of beautiful quilts and learn new techniques from professional quilters. Negative, there can be cliques. :wink:

I have joined the local guild this year -- very large, very active -- there are many charitable activities to participate in, as one wishes, and bees to join for weekly or so sewing -- I love the monthly speakers and the show-and-tell part -- I also get to visit with my quilting buddy and meet new quilters -- my experience has been positivie as it is a participate-as-much-as-you-wish organization -- hope you will enjoy your guild -- give it a try!

The guild I belong to is 170 strong!! It is a wonderful place to learn and share. We have a program for new members and this seems to help. Just go with the idea that this will be a good experience!!

I belong to one very large guild - hard to break in as they all have their little groups --- but I go for the classes which are great! Top name instructors. I am also going to join a much smaller guild that is very friendly.
Both do charity work. Both have great show and tells.

I also belong to a Church Bee- they are fantastic!

Very well put, and I agree, some are 'for you', some won't be. Try a few if available. Might just be a perfect fit, but go a few times before you decide. Have fun.

I have belonged to three guilds and they were different. One was great until the clique formed. I was very active and all, but didn't like the problems with the "clique", so I quit. I then joined a new guild, but we moved soon after, so didn't get much use out of it. I joined one here in Ocala, but they were down right rude to me, so I quit after attending several meetings. I probably won't join another because of these problems. I like to get involved and they didn't want me to "interfere" with the way they were doing things.

Go and see how you feel about the group. Try to get involved with their activities and see if you fit. I'm sorry to say, but old ladies are as bad as teenagers about new people!

I do not belong to a guild. However, when going to the LQS, they always ask if you belong to a guild. Belonging gives you a small discount. Why? Why do I have to join to get a discount? I'm not going to lie about. Somehow it doesn't seem fair. But what in life is?

I love my guild. We do a lot of charity work, lap quilts, turbans for cancer victims, christmas stockings, etc. Today we met to work on our raffle quilt. The raffle quilt is our only fund raiser. We have great show and tells. We try to make every one feel welcome. We will even sing Happy Birthday to you!

Hopefully you will find a friendly group to join.

There are advantages to belonging to a guild. One is that the one I belong to has an educational/informational program at each meeting (maybe they all do this). The last one was on paper piecing and now I can't wait to give it a try. And the show and tell is usually very good - it gives a person inspiration.

I'd say try it out a few times and if it's hard for you to meet new people (like me) look for someone sitting by themselves and join them. Most are friendly but some are a bit cliquish - getting a bit involved would also help a person to get to know others.

I felt welcome at my first guild meeting because another QB member was there waiting for me! I'd seen a post by Jeanie (jpthequilter) and saw that she lived in the next town down the coast...one big enough to have a quilt guild. So now we're in the same guild and I see her every month!

I've enjoyed all of the meetings and found everyone friendly and welcoming. Maybe that just the small town coastal mentality, but I'm so glad I joined.

Anita

Small towns can be very cliquish and don't have the numbers for multiple cliques. I found a great guild while in Florida house/pet sitting for my daughter, thanks to a wonderful quilter I met online. The best part is the bee she hosts at her home every week where 7 or so of us get together to sew, go out to lunch, shop hop and just chat. Finding a warm and welcoming heart in a fellow quilter has made a world of difference in my stay here in Florida. I am much closer to my Sew What group in just a few months then I am to my guild back home after 3 years. The guild has monthly meetings with great speakers every month...June was Bonnie Hunter :shock: who was fabulous!!! Small guilds can't afford to have speakers like her every month, so maybe you need 2 guilds!

If the first one isn't what you are looking for, keep hunting because there are wonderful guilds out there. The larger ones allow you to remain anonymous if you'd like, but they do provide opportunities to get involved in different smaller groups so you can get to know people better.

Yes-me too!! Also, I don't drive here so it makes it hard unless someone is willing to take me (DH will if I ask and pick me up), but we live in an area that it is at least 30-45 minutes away from any I am aware of. The one I was put off at was the closest-30 min.

One of the best parts about belonging to a guild is everyone there is interested in quilting. Most are passionate about fabric and the talent is amazing. I am not very good but learn something every month. The group I belong it to has a variety of personalities. Some are easy to talk to and others aren't so much. Some are perfectionists and some think riding by on a galloping horse is close enough inspection. They are fun to listen to and you pretty much have to speak up and visit with them before being accepted. I am very sad when I have to miss a meeting. It is always a fun experience - even when I feel like I have not participated. Just watching and listening to everyone is a joy.

We have a program each month. Sometimes the program is outstanding and then other times it is a miss but I always learn something at the meetings. I love to see the quilts members bring to show.

My suggestion is try one for a couple or three times before deciding it is not for you. You might just have a wonderful experience!

I have had good times with both of the guilds I belong to. One is in a small rural town about 40 minutes away, the other in a large northern city about 1 hour away.
They are both full of wonderful quilters who really do care if you come. Both have friendly people who love to sew/quilt and teach the craft.
BellaBoo said "Don't be a wall flower at your first meeting."
I agree. The guild can only welcome someone who is happy to be there, and willing to learn the group.
Quiltinvaca said "When you want to be part of a group- put yourself out there- ask what you can do."
It is a give and take in a new group. They need to know you as well as you knowing them. They can't if you sit and wait for things to come to you.
That said, the groups are as different as any group can be.

go a few times and if you don't find it useful then stop going. They all have their pro's and con's and many times it is what you make it. And it depends on what you need to get out of the guild. - fellowship, learning, interesting program, partipation in charitable actiities, etc.

I so agree with what you say. I often hear folks say, I went there and no one spoke to me. Maybe you just sat next to someone who is shy and you are faulting them for being just like you. The way to get to know folks is put yourself out there, don't just sit and wait for folks to find out how great you are, let them know. Be a part of the group, not just a guest. A guild is what you put into it.

The guild I attend does quilts for veterans, comfort quilts & other types of quilts. Fabric & batting is usually provided for these projects or you can use your own.

I was well received in Texas at the quilt Guild in Port Lavaca. I've given class there and taken a couple. I'm looking forward to getting back there this winter so I can enjoy the things that go on in the group. I'm only there 4 months so I miss it when we come back to Michigan;
Go you might like it and they might like you.

twilight

I belong to a small quilting group. We meet twice a month and have 12 members max. We have all the original members except one, so it seems like we're doing what this certain group needs. We learn how to make different blocks and go to shows with each other, but mostly we encourage one another to hang in there and keep quilting. None of our group desires to join a guild because of the size and the cost, since most of us are on fixed incomes.

mine has been fine ,joined when they were small, but have been shocked to find that some members are not what they seem and have upset me terribly.
whilst it is working it's fine but beware of this and cliques.
good luck.

I've tried to join a Guild, twice, and have had terrible luck. When I took my first quilt class years ago someone asked about Guilds. The gal teaching the class was on the Board of the local one in my area and she said we were not candidates because we were not serious quilters and no one would dare sponser us. OK. Then about 10 years ago I was invited to another local Guild, one that supposedly hated the snobbish one of the aforementioned group. That was a humiliating experience. Rudeness abounded. I was so surprised because the woman who had invited us (my Mom and I) had known us for decades and was such a lovely person. Apparently I broke some sort of etiquette by 1. sitting in a row that "belonged" to a particular group of members, and 2. winning the meeting raffle - the one the Membership Chairman said would be a nice gesture to purchase tickets for. The woman pulling the ticket actually said to the group "now doesn't that just frost you - a guest wins and probably won't appreciate the work that went into the blocks". I was mortified. I was talked into trying again the next month, supposedly my first visit was during a full moon or something along those lines. I went straight to the Membership Chairman and offered to join, pay dues, and find out about volunteering. She told me she would have to check to see if there were any openings for new members...she never came back, so I just gave up. I am a clean, well dressed, articulate person, non-threatening, congenial, team member oriented, etc so I cannot for the life of me understand the snobbishness.
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I would love to belong to a Guild. Or a small group. I am though expremely gun (or maybe seam ripper) shy.

I have to add that one of the cons to quilt guilds is when they meet. If they meet in the day, it may be difficult for you if you work or care for someone. If it is in the evening, it may be too far and let's face it, a lot of people can't drive in the dark unless the guild is close by. That's my problem. I am night blind now and by the time the interesting speakers start to show up around October, I can no longer see well enough to drive that far. Because of its location, people who live by me go right from work, so nobody to ride with either. :-(

I am so saddened by those of you who have had bad experiences with guilds. Wish I could make it possible for you to come to ours. We have such fun together, sharing and laughing. No back-biting and no cliques. Just lots of sewing, quilting and sharing wonderful help.