Quilt shows and men
 

I went to local quilt show near my home on Saturday and my husband accompanied me as I had entered a quilt I made for our grandson, it was his first quilt show. As we walked along I explained techniques and styles of quilting to him; pieced, appliqued, modern, quilted on DSM or longarm hand guided or computerized. He was in awe of the artistry of quilts and quilting methods, he pointed out methods and symmetry that he noticed. As one of the few men wandering the aisles it was interesting the number of women who commented to him that there was an area in the lobby with magazines where he could wait until I was finished looking at quilts and shopping. He commented to me as to why everyone assumed he wasn't enjoying himself or appreciating all the hard work of quilters. Yes there were men/husbands who chose the sitting area talking while their significant others strolled the aisles and seemed to be happy to be there.

My question is do your husband/significant other go with you to quilt shows and what has been their experience? Do they enjoy looking at the quilts or sit in an area and wait for you to finish.

Yes, DH goes with me to Quilt shows. He really enjoys them. I haven't noticed if women try to direct him to the sitting area for men and kids. He is a social butterfly and chats away with everyone. I separate from him. I want to freely walk around and not have to wait on him.

I don't know. I have never gone to a quilt show with DH. He would be like okay have you seen enough quilts now? LOL He is not the type to sit and wait either. He's best left out of my quilting.

My late DH didn't usually go to quilt shows with me, but when he did he enjoyed looking at the quilts. Sometimes his favorites surprised me. If he was in a fabric store with me, he helped find whatever fabric I was looking for. I remember he helped me for what seemed like at least an hour, searching Fabric Depot in Portland for the deepest black that they had in a full bolt.

Mine would be in the car waiting and probably asleep. He doesn't care to take me to quilt stores and wait but I think a quilt show would be too much to ask of him. I think I would have more fun with him at home. Then he wouldn't know how much I really spend at the shows. LOL

It is a minor bone of contention that my hubby has not been to any quilt shows with me. In his defense, he does go to fabric stores with me and supports me in my desires to cut up said fabric. But to be honest, I have other friends who have never been to a quilt show with me either and I don't hold it against them.

My son has a good eye and can draw, he would go to shows with me and point out things he liked, a lot of which was applique which I don't do... but he would remark on color choices or 3D effects and other things of interest to him.

A number of years back I made an Ugly Tie quilt. I collected tons of old ties, particularly favoring big bold 1970s ties with colors and textures. Mostly I bought them in bags by the pound at the thrift stores. Took them home, gutted them and washed them. Oh my... ties are dirty, or at least rejected thrift store ones are! I dumped all the cleaned and gutted ties into a black plastic garbage bag, swirled them around a bit and then took a stack of brown paper lunch bags and without looking at what I grabbed, took 10 ties out of the big bag into each paper bag. Then I sat down to make a crazy quilt and took whatever I had in that bag and made a block out of it. The size of the quilt was determined by a crazy piece of polyester double knit that had a huge jaguar scenic print on the back, I do love my crazy backs and this was going to be tacked down so didn't matter that it was largely impenetrable. Anyway, the ladies in the quilt guild were rather appalled when I did submit it for the guild show, but I can tell you it was a hit with the male visitors. Saw a number of them pointing out bits and pieces (maybe some of the company logo ties like Boeing), and my son loved that quilt even though the backing meant it always would slide off the bed.

My husband would be miserable at a show. I know he really loves my hobby and supports me whenever he can, but, to subject him to a day at the quilt show would be un-fair of me. After all, he doesn't make me go golfing with him and I am grateful, I would hate that. I suppose it is a matter of being loyal for some men.

My DH takes me to the quilt shows and drops me off and tells me to take my time and enjoy. He will go find a casino or if it is in a town where we have friends, he will go have lunch and a visit with them. Otherwise he will sit in the car and listen to sports. He is very good to me to take me wherever I want to go. He does know what a fat quarter is now tho'!!!

My husband is quite involved in my quilting life. Visits and enjoys shows, shops quilt shops. Both of my sons and my nephew are very talented Quilters. My nephew put a gal ( in her place) about 15 years ago- letting her know- Men have Ruled the textile world for centuries. Women are the newbies when it comes to sewing, designing, creating. Any women who feel ( justified) in being negative toward guys need to take a step back.

We went to AQS in Paducah years ago. Had bought a new travel trailer. So I asked him if he wanted to see how beautiful Paducah is in the spring. It's gorgeous. He went into the show with me and was squished by 35,000 women. A few men but after about a half an hour, he said he would wait for me in the car. Since then he drops me off. Last couple of times we went, when we pull up with out trailer, he jumps out and asks where the golf game is. About 5 of the guys went golfing and we had dinner with one of the couples.