Are you like this too?
 

I'm a member of a wonderful guild 60 miles from home and enjoy it monthly very much. This year, I've visited two small quilting groups that are in my little town or 20 miles away. In both situations, I've come to realize that I don't really enjoy sewing away from home. Even at classes, I go, watch and take good notes but do the actual sewing at home. I'm not sure why this is. I think part of it may just be the distractions as I prefer peace and quiet while sewing. I LOVE the friendships, socializing and chit chat. Can any of you relate?

Yes, I like to talk, and I can't work when I talk. We have a quilting group at our church and I go every week, but never get too much done. I took one quilting class and it was the same way there. I looked at everything everyone else was making and liked their fabrics better than mine, and so I just listened, talked, enjoyed myself, and went home and sewed. I never take classes anymore, but I love the tutorials on UTube. or however you spell it. ha ha

I am somewhat the same way, unless it is something I want to learn how to do, and then I can be very attentive and sew up a storm. I really do enjoy the visiting and getting pics of all the other projects.

I don't belong to a local guild, only our guild here. The few times I have taken classes at the LQS it seems most eveyone knows each other and is almost anti social to any new people. I never feel intimidated by this since I have dealt with all kinds of people in my professional life (retired college instructor). However, I can always sense at least a few new people are not comfortable. Also, a lot of time the class instructor is drawn in by the established students and others don't get questions answered and kind of just give up on doing anything in class. Hopefully, they have taken away enough instructions to try it at home.
I have heard people speak about guilds in the same way. Personally I get a lot more from the people on this board than any class I have ever gone to. So for me, sitting here looking at a totorial another board member has put together at my own speed is where I want to be. I'm sure there are great local guilds out there as well as great LQS classes: and if you find a fit you are lucky.

I like to take classes and find that I understand the pattern enough to continue at home....only problem that once I get home, I put it away and it become a UFO!!!

I usually take these UFO'S to a quilt retreat and work on them. I enjoy sewing with a group, they seem to energize me.

i actually have the opposite problem. when in a class i tend to put my head down and try to get as much done in class as i possibly can. still manage to get some visiting done but not like many of my classmates. i attend several group quilting meetings each month and always get more done there than at home. guess i need the motivation of the others progress to get me working. at home i will procrastinate unless i have a deadline. ha ha

I have belonged to a Quilting group for 7 or 8 years now, we meet the first Sat. of every month, from 9 to 4. I have found that I really need to concentrate when I cut the fabrics for a quilt, so I do my cutting at home in preparation for the class. Then when I get there I can sit and sew, and have a good time.

I'm the same way. I prefer to sew by myself on my own projects but I will sew in a class, mostly because I want to make sure I'm doing the process correctly. I just took a machine applique class and would have been in a world of hurt if I had not sewn along with the class (mostly due to the size of zig zag that needed to be accomplished and the direction of stitching without backtracking.

I prefer demonstrations rather than the actual sewing, etc. I can concentrate on the technique instead of listening/watching while I try to do it myself. First of all, hauling the machine and supplies, setting it all up and getting to work takes up so much of the time. Where, at home, all is ready to go. We have a sit and sew at our church occasionally and by the time I am ready to sew, I'm pooped. The last time I was there, I brought home a stack of pieces that had been cut out and did the sewing at home. (We make shirts for preemies.)

As far as feeling like an outsider, the more you go the more the others will learn to know you. You will be one of the gang in no time. Don't give up.

I have only taken one class and discovered I make more mistakes when surrounded by other socialites. I need quiet to concentrate. But I do appreciate the atmosphere of sewing with others. But 99% of the time I like my quiet, comfy sewing room with music and internet .

Completely understand. That's why in 13 years of quilting, I've taken a grand total of four classes.

I think it has something to do with not being in my own work space.

I've never joined a guild, I don't think i have an interest in them. I like doing my own thing, on my own time. I know I would probably learn from them, but for me. it's not me right now. Maybe when I'm bored, I'll think about it.

I love sewing in a group. I don't worry about how much I get done. I go to enjoy myself. I have attended 2 three day retreats each year for the last 2 years and learned a lot from other quilters. This year I am also adding a 4 day retreat. I do struggle getting a lot done taking classes, but as long as I learn the process I'm content. Perhaps I enjoy sewing with others because I'm a stay at home farmwife and Longarm quilter so much of my time is spent alone. I also just joined a new once a month sewing group called the "Crazy Quilter's"!

I go to guild for the social part of it -- I love looking at the projects everyone is doing and will pick their brains (if they are willing). When I go to classes I generally get put by the person who has the same machine but not much experience with it so I can help them with "regular" stuff and the class can keep going with what needs to be learned in class. I don't have an issue with that -- it helps me understand my machine better too!

It definitely is the distraction! I rarely bring my sewing machine to guild meetings. One time I did and sewed a very countable 4 stitches before the meeting was over.

One of the ladies at the guild calls me a 'flitter' - meaning I flit from person to person until the meeting is over. She's right! That way I get to know everyone a little better.

I like to sew at home. I don't like cooking in someone else's kitchen either. I work best by myself, hard to focus.
I am not a joiner and since I work full time and have pets to take care of it would be impossible for me.

I sew alone. When I did go to a guild it was just to socialize. No use telling me how to do something. I have to sit down with paper instructions and follow one step at a time.

I haven't been to that many workshops but I'm coming to understand that I don't do all that well in them. First and foremost, there usually isn't enough space! The last one I attended I had a work space for cutting that was about 12x12 inches. And then there is the pressing as it seems everyone needs the iron at the same time.

I've done much better in classes that ran over a few weeks and had homework. That takes the pressure off. I get as much done as I can in the class but I know I can finish at home.

Honestly, for a one day workshop I'd most of the time just prefer to spend the money on a Craftsy class.

My guild meets once a month but that is usually to hear a speaker and we also do show and tell, but no sewing.

I do go to a Sit and Stitch group that meets twice a month. That's a totally different situation. I bring whatever I'm currently working on and do as much or as little as I feel like doing. A lot of the people don't bring machines but prefer to do handwork. It is quite social and I enjoy it very much. If there isn't adequate workspace, I socialize. There isn't any pressure. We also meet a couple of times a year for all day sewing sessions where we work on charity quilts and those are a lot of fun.

When I first started I took an ongoing beginners class. Wonderful instructor helped us and taught us. We all started with the same project and then we were free to do what we wanted. I dragged my things there every week for a couple of years. Became friends with the others and we welcomed new people. People came and went. Perfect. Then instructor retired and new one didn't run it the same. So I got used to being by myself which has worked out well for me. I get my social needs in other places. I have taken a class or two elsewhere and while I enjoyed it, I realize I don't like to drag my things someplace, unpack and get organized, sew a bit and repack. My mojo comes and goes so this seems to be working out for me.

I've only attended a small handful of classes so far but I've enjoyed them. Some have been very work-oriented but some were more social; I've enjoyed both formats. I've been to a couple from my guild that were long (4+ hours) and towards the end of those I'm often in the mood to pack it in and go home but I know several of the ladies stayed a long time afterwards, working and chatting. I have old car accident injuries so my neck & shoulders need a break after 4 hours!

I seem to do okay talking while I'm working as long as I've got my things laid out properly. I'm not likely to cut myself or have bad workmanship, but I am likely to cut the wrong size piece out of the wrong fabric or sew the wrong two blocks together if I'm being too chatty. So I prep with post-it notes for each stack of fabric so I don't mix myself up as I talk. I'm a chatty person so I like that part of classes.

I'm still sort of a "newbie" but I've been made very welcome at every class and event I've gone to, guild-related or not. I was really nervous about joining the guild but it's been wonderful! I've learned a few things, seen some gorgeous quilts, and made some new friends. :)

Yes, it's very distracting to sew in a group. It seems like I always "get" to sit by the ones who need help, and they never ask the instructor. I'm so helpful, that I miss some of the next steps, because I'm helping the other person....:eek:

I have a quilting group that meets monthly for lunch, we have been meeting for 25 years now, I do bring some hand work for the lunches sometime as we really spend most of the time at the lunch table. We also go to a retreat about 5 times a year, I do produce an enormous amount of work during that time as we practically work from morning till night with some interruption for fabric shopping, restaurant breaks etc.

I absolutely can relate. Dealing with this currently. Neighborhood quilters would like to start in home group to just quilt and chat. My problem is I don't always have a project going and also don't normally do small project to take along. Hmmmmm what to do and not hurt anyone's feelings. I like you need few to no distractions to work well.

I feel the same way....sometimes I feel I'm not catching on to a technique as fast as others

It is so nice to know I am not alone! I belong to a quilting group at our church, which meets on Tuesdays. I used to go and sew there, but then it wasn't worth the effort of hauling my stuff up tot he church, unloading, setting up, etc. to sew for a couple of hours. And I really didn't accomplish much there because of all the chit chat and that. I love my quilting friends, but find I like sewing at home better because I can sew and get laundry done or dinner ready instead of sewing at church and obsessing over what I need to do at home.

And here I thought I was an oddball! I get so much more done sewing by myself in my own environment. I love the peace and quiet when sewing by myself. I don't care to take classes. One of my "friends" tells me that I'm pretty much anti-social. Don'tcha love "friends"!!!

Jennie and Me--you are certainly not an oddball because I can so relate to getting more sewing done by myself and in my own environment too. I may be a little anti-social but I have been to more than one class where the fastest one in the class made me feel too rushed and then frustrated because I am not a fast sewer. When this happens I just don't want to play anymore. I have also been in classes when the "fast" person finished the class was basically over. I do love the tutorials and youtube videos available as I can go back as many times as necessary to get a technique more clearly explained/shown.

I don't usually take classes at the LQS because they have the same instructors most that work in the store and don't know much more than me except for jackets which I don't have any interest in. Though I like BOM just to get out. Now that I retired I can go Bee University and Bee Creative once a month only costs $5 each at the LQS.I dont know many people there but they are fun to be with. I was going to start going to open sew Mondays which is fun and friendly but new bible study at a friends house Monday evenings which I go to with my hubby.

I relate exactly. I love to see everyone, but I prefer to work in my own sewing room.

I don't do the guild thing, not to say I live in the boondocks, but it's two miles to my mail box. I just started quilting this past January, but with the help of the kind folks on this forum and the helpful information on the internet, I've come along pretty well. A hearty thank you to all!

By the way, I'm a 68 year old man.

I am a member of a very small quilting group that meets once a month and sometimes we talk more than we sew and sometimes we actually get something accomplished. If I have to get some work done, I will not talk much. I find that I have to frog way too much if I do. I really prefer to sew at home where it's quiet and I can concentrate, and gab with the girls at our group meetings. That way I have something to bring for "show and tell" too.

One thing I have noticed is who or rather how the class workshop is run. In some classes I have been to everyone is concentrating so much silence reigns. But in others with no teacher chat is heard all the time with people visiting each other and looking at their projects.

If you are in a class where teaching is going on it is rude to chatter, I also feel it is rude to keep slowing class down by asking for individual information. Taking notes is your own thing no problem with this.

You have to decide why you are there and what you want out of the meeting without taking from others.

I enjoy learning new techniques, but am picky about the instructors. Some are more interested in socializing than teaching. I really like one of the teachers in a newer quilt shop here in town, but greatly dislike the classes because they are HUGE. No space to work, line for cutting space and the irons. Plus the noise level is absurd.
i love this board and think of it as my guild. I have learned more here and enjoyed myself more than at any class
thank you to all the wise ones.

I relish sewing in my sewing room. It is nice to be home. Ans I am a very social person. Just need the down time at home.
sandy

Hi, I am from Maryland also. I live in Carroll County just below the PA line. I belonged to a huge quild for years. I haven't been to their meetings in several years now. They have lots of good speakers etc. but the current crop of members are often rude and gab while the speaker etc. is doing their presentation. The older I have gotten the less I like going out at night. It is not worth my time to go where I am uncomfortable. I joined a small group, about 5 or so who meet every other Wednesday and do whatever they want. These days most of my sewing is Linus quilts and Princess Pillowcase dresses. When I go to the group I usually just take handwork. The newest project I have taken on is making shrouds for premature babies who didn't survive. There is an organization that collects wedding gowns and distributes them to those willing to make the little gowns. My step-daughter, who is a neo-natal Nurse put me on to the project. It is a worthy cause but when I finish this batch of gowns I am going to quit. Working with the slippery fabric gets on my last nerve.

I get distracted and prefer to sew at home.

We have a small quilting group that meets every Monday morning from 9 to 12 at our local library in our small town. We don't always quilt: some knit, or crochet or get a new project cut and ready to sew. We originally began meeting from 10 to 12 but found it seemed like we would just get started and it was time to start picking up, so we changed our start time to 9. We seem to accomplish quite a lot and are able to help one another with pattern questions or fabric selection. It's a time to chat and at the same time get in some sewing.

can you post the organization and their web site please.
Having had an infant son who died I would be very interested in becoming active in that group.

Occasionally, ladies from my church will get together to sew things for a cause. I always enjoy being around the ladies and listen to them chatting, but find I tend to concentrate on what I'm doing. I'll chime in here and there but usually keep going on the task at hand.