I don't know the answer, but I am 62 and have only been quilting a year. I guess I am in those statistics somewhere!! :) Truthfully, based on how busy the fabric stores seem to always be, I don't think it is a dying art. I certainly hope not.

I think quilting is a changing art. I see more and more people quilting, but they seem to be making more art quilts and wall hangings than bed or utility quilts. Like all other crafts it comes and goes. I know personally I drift from one hobby to another from time to time. I do hope hand crafts of all kinds will be making a come back. I think it is important to know how to create and maintain items for our home and family.

Like many art forms, quilting is morphic and cyclical... from functional, to artistic, quilts have always had a story to tell whether following a pattern or creating a one of a kind work of art. Its an expression of the quilt creator.

My five YOD today, asked when I was going to teach her to sew and to make her own quilt, "I see how much fun you have mommy, cuz' you smile when you sew, and you make nice quilts for people".

Quilting a dying form? I think not!

We're dying? Not a chance! If you've any doubt, just go google quilting.

Darn, that article is gone :(

wht area of the country do you live

It started resurging during the Centennial and took off from there, increasing every year. However, in the last few years I've seen a decrease. The decrease was starting even before the crash of 2008 but has accelerated ever since.

Here's what I've noticed. Our state's quilt guild has fewer members and they've had to cut back on office staff hours. There are a lot fewer quilting books in the crafts section of the two bookstores I frequent. (There used to be 3 rows of quilting books; now there's not even 1.) Plus, I notice fewer and fewer new titles making it to the bookstores. I see fewer quilters buying fabrics at my fabric fabric haunts (can always spot a quilter by her fabric selection!). The quilt shops I get to are less crowded than they used to be, and several have gone out of business. I myself am not buying fabric, patterns and books in the quantities I used to. Also, there are fewer innovative ideas coming on the market compared to previous years. (Hate to admit it, but I think I was at one of the very first demo's of a rotary cutter and mat. We all thought it was a truly revolutionary concept, and it was! Still remember the guy demonstrating the pizza cutter and being amazed at how fast he could cut strips.)

There does seem to be growth in the longarm machines for home quilters -- many more options now than there were even just a few years ago.

I have found here in Australia that its actually really starting to take off. When I started quilting 10 years ago, you had to really hunt for supplies and decent fabric, but now its easy to find, and out local Spotlight (like Joanns in the states) has everything that a quilter needs. More and more LQS are popping up too.

I think all sewing was a dying art but it seems to be coming back over here, the quilt shows are getting more and more people visit them, and there is certainly more fabric and notions now than ever so presumable there must more interest.

I am in central NC - a mid size town/city. We just got our first quilt shop last year - three sisters just wanting to share their hobby. They have grown so much in the last year, so maybe that's a good sign! I'm fortunate b/c most of their fabric goes for $4.98/yd, with the Moda that they have at $8.98. They are great bargain hunters so they get some good stuff at great prices... hopefully that will be encouraging for some in our area since WalMart got rid of their fabric section and the other craft store seems to be decreasing. It's never really busy though... one day I was their first and only customer which was sad. I guess they are doing well enough to stay open though. We do have a guild, but I have no idea what size it is.