I really have nothing to compare to as to how it was, as I am the only one in my family that owns a sewing machine and been quilting for less than two years. But, I travel around the country a lot for work and stay in different places, and I can tell you the quilting scene is defintely varies.

Wow, moonangel, those are GREAT prices!
I live in Southern Wi, and I think its doing pretty good here too. I think the recession here and high unemployment has made people change their spending habits....we dont spend as much. The quilt shops arent busy, but anything listed on craigslist sewing related goes fast! I worry about the quilt shops, I try to buy there when I can!

It's a multi-billion dollar business.
Leads me to doubt it's dying.

Quilting seems to be changing, but certainly not dying! Just look at all the quilt magazines in the local grocery stores! And sites on the internet.

The advent of machine quilting has made it far more (what's the word?) possible? for working folks, too. Some great progress can be made in hours instead of days.

There are so many variations of themes and sizes and styles. It is/has evolved into an art style for many rather than for utility.

Quilting seems to be doing rather well!
How many newbies (me included) do we welcome here every day?!
Keep on stitching!

do you think the internet has changed quilting? how about all the new computer sewing machines that do everything except kiss you good night? maybe we were all out there but didn't know it until we found this board! i do see a lot of art quilts and they're georgeous but when i make a quilt i want someone to sleep under it. i'm trying to interest everyone i can in quilting from a group at church to a group from our local wilbur d mills rehab center.

15yr old GD is very creative and had opted to take Art for her GCSE exam, however now she has discovered my fabric stash and has made some cushions she has changed her course to Art and Textiles!!! How proud am I!! Her younger sister(13) has made a patchwork cushion for her mum and with the leftover scraps made a little bag!! Hopefully they are inspired to carry on. They both are confident using a sewing machine. We bought a basic machine for eldest GD to help with her coursework and she uses it a lot.

In our area, there are two guilds and four quilt stores. So, I don't think it's a dying art. But, I do think sewing/making clothes is not as great as it used to be.

I think its a changing art not a dying art. Our grandmothers made quilts to keep the family warm but now we make them for show.
Does anyone hand quilt anymore? Everyone seems to have their quilts machine quilted.

Hi Moonangel12,
Here in Britain it is a fast improving art, especially machine quilting ! The last 20 years or so it has really grown all over the country. I am a very late - commer to quilting, I started last year when I retired. I am completely hooked, it has taken my entire life over, I just love it ! I am still doing everything by hand, which I like . The only sad thing is that our avalability and choice of fabrics is nothing like as good as yours in the US.
Mad Gertie from Kent

I stopped in Bloomingdales Department Store yesterday to take a look at the Ralph Lauren Fall/Winter quilts that were advertised. 9 Patch, Log cabin, and some additional that I can't recall. Can it be that a top retailer has hit a nerve, that quilting has such a special look that it is important? Can his design be reflecting what is really going on in America? I think so.