if he's interested- and you are not (threatened) of course you should!
all of the 'guys' in my world are quilters (and a couple of them sure challenge me!)
my nephew & 2 sons have been quilting for 6+ years they are adventurous- fearless- and GREAT with color! i read so many people's comments about not being able to choose colors/prints on their own for a quilt- you simply need to get a guy involved-
so many times i have spent a couple hours trying to choose colors for a french braid or lonestar and they just ... are not right....
one of the boys would walk in- i would show them the picture of what i wanted to do-and show them what i had out---9 times out of 10 they would gather my whole stack- and disappear to the fabric shelves---come back with a whole new stack- say there you go- and leave again- (i am so proud of my newest french braid quilt because i did it with no help from any of them) guess i'm finally learning :)
i (personally) am never threatened-or upset when any of them help themselves to my stash- if it is on the shelves it is 'free-game' if i am working on something i have everything pulled out already- they are always welcome to visit & shop my shelves-
the only rule is no wasting- if they take it i expect them to use it- not cut it up then walk away without using it- because of this 'rule' they have learned to make one block and decide if it's something they want to make a whole quilt of before choosing/cutting for a whole quilt-
i figure if they use up something i have reason to visit the quilt shop :)
it's a win-win
anyone in my world who shows interest i work hard at getting involved and am always willing to share- make time for

I should teach him the things I like the least. I think I'll have him watch me make a nine patch and see if it interests him. I'll cut the strips 2 1/2 x width of fabric and make two sets and show him how easy it is. Then I'll let him decide. I would rather he learned to work with wood. Then he could make me bookcases and storage units for my quilting room.

Its a great idea--you might find something else that you need for your room!

Now I think that is what my husband should do, wood carving. Thanks for the idea. I wonder if there are classes in my area?

This is a fantastic idea. He already shows a lot of interest and if nothing else maybe he could do you cutting for you. I tried to get my DH to learn and he said NO. He does not even use a computer.

Darren, you sound like the perfect husband. I want my husband to read your reply. I have at least two of most notions so we could work side by side. My cutting mat is 24 x 72 so we could each cut at the same time. I have lots of rulers, scissors, rotary cutters, pins and even a second sewing machine. What I'd really like is if we could turn our master bedroom into our sewing room. Then we'd have all the space we needed. But I will definately have him read what you wrote. Thanks, Ilene

I say go for it but make sure to set boundries with stuff. like no touching your machine or stash. and you can get him his own stuff so that will help keep him from getting into your stuff.

Oh, Girl, you go for it! I would give anything to have my hubby share my love for quilting. His hobby is an outdoor one and it is too hot in the summer and too cold and/or wet in the winter for him. So he doesn't get out a lot. He just sits around the house watching tv and putting puzzles together. I have tried everything. He does seem interested in my fabric stash and how things are put together. But he won't quilt!

If your hubby is interested, get him going! If he really gets into it, buy him his own scissors and rotary cutter. (Make them blue) You can share the rulers, cutting board, and stash. After all, if he gets into quilting, your stash will only grow! Fun and a "win/win" situation for all! Congratulations on such a great man!

How many of us just assume that our husbands are not interested? After reading the above reply, I thought about that. Have we asked them? I know that I have not. My Sweetie encourages me, tolerates my buying any loose piece of fabric (and a lot more) that I see, and helpes me set up (and rearrange) my sewing room. Maybe if I asked, he would like to share. I think I'll ask him, when he wakes up. LOL He is not a morning person. I'll save the asking for after his second "cuppa". Wish me luck. I'd love to share my love of quilting.

make him buy his own sewing machine so he does not hog yours.

Seek out other husband/wife quilters. I have been told that it is better that husband not learn from the wife. It is better for him t learn from another surce. It has to do with the dominate one in the couple. And also it is better that the wife not exertg too much influence over his learning and his work. It is sometime like having your own quilt police in the same house. Just a caution about how you might approace this. There are couples here in the board. Seek their advice. Find a beginners class where he might feel comfortable. Or send him to our QuiltGuy retreat in eastern NY in late March. Have him sign on to the QuiltGuy Yahoo group. Seek out other male quilters in your area. There is probably some in the local guilds there. Take him to your guild meeting as an easy introduction.

We don't quilt together but he did do all the cutting for a scrap quilt I did. What a time saver and he's a lot more accurate then I am.

My hubby is supportive of my love of quilting but I don't think he would like to quilt. I am glad he is interested in restoring old tractors. Gives him time out side and away from the house.

EEEEKKK, I'm definitely not sharing quilting with my hubby. Bless his heart ... but he is a PERFECTIONIST!!! I can't do anything straight or level ... just ask him LOL. Nope, no way ... he'd probably turn into the quilting police if he knew how to do it. He's not at all critical of my quilts now and I want to keep it that way. If he knew how to do it he'd see every little oops. And, if he quilted ... he'd know how much $$$ I spend LOL.

All that aside, I think it's great if you and your hubby want to quilt together

Suzy

My DH started helping me by cutting my fabric into strips & squares, etc. It didn't take long until he was making his own blocks. He's already finished a sampler & a lap quilt. Now he's working on a queen size CWQ & an attic window - all within one year!

based on comments made on web and in person.....it often works if:
his tools and equipment
someone else teaching him
and wife stay out of his business unless invited.

If he wants to, YES. or perhaps he just likes to spend time with you so he goes to where YOU are. Being TOGETHER is even more special should they become only memories.

I have tried to get my husband to quilt but no luck. He is content to just look and comment on the finished project.

i say go for it my DH is working on his first quilt i dont think he will ever realy get into the peicing but he is looking forward to doing the quilting since i have a short mid arm on a frame and he thinks quilting will be alot more fun than peicing. ( just as a side note he will only use vintage machines since he sayes they are more like vehicles inside and he has also taken up machine cleaning/repaire.) so i think having having a hobby you can share is nice but maybe he will be interested in another type off quilting and than you can work together but there whont be any compitition.

Personally I think that it is a great idea. Obviously he appreciates your talent and skills and he is interested so why not give it a go. Just think, he may really enjoy helping you with cutting, designing or ironing or what ever you may need and you might be surprised at his contributions. I would just ask him about what he might like to do to help and go from there. Let us know how it goes.

Depends - do you have two sewing machines and sets of cutting equipment?

I am one of those people that likes to play "beside" much better than "with" when doing a project.

It is a great idea. It would be wonderful if he could have his own corner and machine so you don't have to share the equipment. Wonderful idea.

If you want to share a hobby, then quilting will be an excellent one to share. You could very easily work on separate projects or as he becomes more proficient, if he likes doing some aspect of it that you are not as excited about, then sharing a project could be a really fun thing to do.

If you would prefer that he find a hobby that's completely his, model railroading might be right up his alley. Another that he might enjoy would be leatherworking. My hubby enjoys both of these, as well as photography (which he has also done professionally both portrait and car/motorcycle shows).

Careful. You may be creating a monster! You're the only one who can judge how much together time you can stand. I wouldn't mind teaching DH how to quilt but he'd have to have his own space!

Not really on the topic, but I noticed your user name. Along with quilting, I am an avid cyclist...so do you ride a fixie? if so, very cool!

Sounds like a great idea!

Yes. I do ride fixed gear bikes. I have ridden bikes all my life but they usually were road bikes and race bikes. About 4 years ago I tried out a fixed gear bike and became hooked. Now I have a basement full of them in various styles and price ranges. All of them have been built by me, or converted, by me, from a road bike usage. If you love inflicting pain on yourself, you must try riding one uphill for a serious distance. They reduce the act of bicycling to the bare minimum of technology. Great sport for the not so faint of heart. And now, for your added pleasure, they are "Oh so Trendy".
John

First, I am so impressed! Another cyclist who quilts....and a guy no less!! Will have to share this with my husband (a machinist who rides also)

I have ridden the fixed gear on the track (velodrome), soo cool. I ride (and raced a bit) road bikes, I enjoy mountain bikes, tandems, but the road is my true love. Would love to get a fixed gear, and I do love the minimalist of technology in it...kind of brings you back to when you were a kid. I would be hard-pressed to ride a fixie in my traffic-congested area...would have to drive a short ways first, and be off-traffic hours.

And Yes, I do like inflicting pain on myself...that kind of goes with the sport. Also very cool that you have built them up yourself! Hey, I don't know if your wife rides, but tandems can be fun.

Sorry to other board members for this "off topic" topic!

I see a fishy quilt in your future! :)

I think this is a great idea. My husband and I are learning to quilt together. Well, I've been quilting a while and he is learning. He has started with learning the embroidery part and I do other things on other machines while he is busy. I have a similar machine that is non-embroidery and also a new serger.

So far it is working for us but we like to do things together so I've always thought it would work. He has an amazing eye for color and has done cutting for me for quite a while. This seems to be a natural progression for us. He also does woodworking so he made us our table, made a quilt rack, a thread holder, and shelves for the sewing room.

Nancy

P.S. He also always does the dishes.

Yes she rides, also. For a couple of years we had an old Peugeot tandem. One day I decided to convert it to fixed. Now there was a truly brutal bicycle. We rode it occasionally for about a year and then I sold it to somebody from Southern California who had even less brains than I do. Geared Tandem= Great Fun. Fixed Tandem=Massive Pain. Nuff Said. We now return this post to the originally intended purpose. Sorry for the diversion.
John

A man taught me to quilt (I have been sewing since age of 4 and taught him a few tricks) then I moved across country and my handyman taught me a pattern ( dubbed the Handyman quilt and taught to my guild! If the actual sewing is not up his alley, how about him doing the handstitching the binding for you? Or cutting your strips/etc.? He might just want something to do (helping is doing) and not really want to construct and finish a whole quilt project. Linda

You couldn't have said it any better!! It could be great for couples who work well together and a way to enjoy all kinds of trips and shopping, ect. My hubby would imagine that it needed to make us some money and I've never made a dime yet:shock:!!

yes!!!!!! but find him his own space and tools. let him borrow yours to start him out but let him pick the notions and machine he likes and you both can afford. if your sewing room is big enough maybe share it with firm bounderies? He really needs to get his own stuff. he may not like the same tools as you.

I think it would be great to get him involved to. My BF doesn't have have many hobbies and I finally got him into wood-burning. He does awesome work. Just to warn you....men have hidden talents in sewing that they don't want women to know about. Some of them are WAY better than us!!! :)

I think it would be awesome :)

I think it is a great idea! It would be something you could do together, and what could be better than that? I know a man who quilted for years, and made beautiful quilts. I should say he made quilt tops, because he didn't quilt them. He had them hand quilted by a lady who did really nice work. He liked to hunt and fish and even hunted alligators, but he enjoyed the quiet pleasure he got from quilting. He doesn't quilt anymore, but he sure enjoyed it when he did.

I think it would be great. Just think of all the fun you could have going on day trips to different quilt shops and neither of you would get bored.

sure..just be prepared to have to SHARE all of YOUR stuff! that includes those special bits of fabric you bought but can not seem to cut into..he won't have a problem slicing into them....and when he tires of the straight stitches that old machine of HIS has, he will be on YOUR machine every time you leave the house...and when you LOSE your best scissors, ripper, etc...check in HIS tool caddy! SPeaking from experience here!