Forgive me if this has already been discussed... I know there was a topic on hand quilting possibly being a dying art, but what about quilting in general? I have turned one friend on to quilting, and have another one that's shown interest, but never got bit by the bug (she has memories working alongside her grandmother, but hasn't done anything in recent years). I am younger so I know I am in a different generation, but I really don't want to see it disappear. In recent years it seems like crocheting and knitting came back around, but I don't know about quilting just yet. Maybe it just hasn't caught on in our area? What do you think?

It think it could be a dieing art in some areas, but is definitely growing in other areas.

I think all of the fiber arts are making a comeback.
It seems to kind of go in cycles which one is on the ascendency at a given time. With all the interest in the pieced totes, it looks like mainstream fashion is picking up on the interest in quilting.

Hopefully growing again with Boomers retiring and more time on there hands, might as well be filled with fabric :)

I hope not. I've noticed a huge shift from hand to machine quilting since I started around 20 years ago. I still hand quilt but the reality is that it takes a looooong time to do!
Machine quilting is very exciting to me. I can finish more quilts!! I will always hand quilt though. Great relaxation for me.
I think people will always be creative and that makes me hopeful that while quilting changes and evolves it won't disappear :)

No I don't think it is a dieing art at all. It is big in this state!

I think that maybe sewing of garmets is not popular, but a respect for heritage is growing. Quilting has so many facets and can fit in with modern or traditional styles. There's something for everyone

I doubt it - there are 380 people on this website right now!

That's exactly what I was thinking -- not according to this forum.

That's so good to hear! I guess in my area it's either not caught on, or maybe I just don't get out enough :P

It's not a dying in my area. But I live near Paducah so you know it's big here.

At over 3 billion a year I don't think it's dying.

This blog has some of the survey statistics.
<http://with-heart-and-hands.blogspot...y-results.html>

I also want to say that in the grade schools here one of the art projects they do is to make paper quilt blocks then they glue them to a larger piece of paper.

Quilters Newsletter released a study a few months ago on the average quilter and if you take a look at the average age of 62 and the market share of 14% you'd have to say that its a dying art.

here's a link to the report

http://www.quilts.com/announcements/...0_OneSheet.pdf

Maybe it's because I've recently started quilting and am looking for shops, magazines anything quilting, but I think it's coming back in this area of NC.

Just look at the pictures of national and international quilt shows. Quilts are more and more turning into fancy and sophisticated works of art, some worth thousands of $$. Is possible that traditional quilting may be slowing down, but I guess is to be expected. More and more quilters want to do their own designs, just like on any other form of art: creative expressions are worth more than copies.

I think sewing in general has really declined in the last few decades. It used to be a requirement in school for girls (& sometimes boys depending on the school) but now in many places it is not even offered. In the 80's there were fabric stores in most malls- where I lived anyhow & you never see that anymore either.

In my area of Connecticut it's pretty big. We have at least 6 quilt shops within driving distance along with Joann's.

I used to cross stitch (since the early 90's) and that seems to be fading a bit, but that comes and goes.

Since I'm relatively new to sewing and quilting, and because of the availability of shops in my area I'd like to think it's on the up side.

When my DD went to high school several years ago - their Home Ec teacher asked the girls if they wanted to learn to sew clothes or quilts and all the girls said quilts - so they all pieced quilts. My DD wound up making 3 quilt tops in three years. I had the first one machine quilted for her and she took it to her college dorm with her. Then the other tops were here after she graduated from college and moved to Paducah - so I had them machine quilted and gave them to her at two different wedding showers tha she had.

I think its thriving - but they may just be me with all my fabric purchases (wink wink) - I think it cycles like anything else - but once you are bit by the bug its hard to shake and there are so many ways to be creative with quilting - so I vote for thriving. just my opinion.

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.

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.