If ya wanna have your faith restored in humanity, get to know a QUILTER…
 

With all the heartbreak, negativity, etc. in the world at this time it can be hard not to be dragged into the undertow. I get it. But i just wanna offer this food for thought…

QUILTERS are AMAZING HUMAN BEINGS! Little did i know that when i joined the Sisterhood of Quilters over 30 years ago, that i would be privileged to know, love, and be loved by such an incredibly special and giving group of exceptional people. It was just icing on the cake that they ALL also loved quilting just as much as i did!

I remember my first weekend retreat. My quilting buddy and i had planned for months to make it special. We were so excited! However, we were GREENHORNS - we had no idea that you probably should precut all your fabric and pick a project that is kinda MINDLESS. Cuz, well ya know when you’re at a retreat its as much about the visiting, laughing, and bonding with new friends as it is about quilting! I learned that lesson pretty quickly when i realized that the first 8 or 9 blocks i was so proud to finish WERE ASSEMBLED WRONG by me cuz, well i was visiting more than paying attention to what i was doing. Imagine that!

But then QUILTERS CAME TO THE RESCUE! I couldnt believe it when my quilting buddy and another two anonymous quilters pulled up chairs with seam rippers in hand and helped me REVERSE SEW (lol) every single one of those blocks in about an hour! Because of them i wasnt discouraged and got right back to making my blocks (right this time). I was amazed that all of these ladies cared enough to give up an hour of their retreat time to get a stranger back to where she needed to be. And i made new friends in the process.

And what about the time when a fellow quilter on this board (you know who you are) after hearing my heartbreak over knowing i was about to lose my precious dog to cancer - cared enough OUT OF NOWHERE - she didnt know me personally from anywhere… sent me a package of PURPLE FABRIC (my favorite color) to cheer me! That ABSOLUTELY BLEW MY MIND! She reached out to me in compassion and i will never forget that!

Over the years i have witnessed quilters make hundreds of quilts to GIVE AWAY to people they would never know or even meet… because they CARED! Those efforts were CONTAGIOUS and a person could not witness something like that without JOINING IN THEMSELVES!

These are just a few examples to encourage all of us. And i was wondering… do YOU have any stories to tell???

I started quilting decades ago when I was still a teenager. I'm 65 now so 40 some years. Back then I was rather intimidated by the little old quilting ladies, one of whom I have become. I wish now that I had gone ahead and forged more quilting alliances with the older generations. I've joked for a long time that "being a quilter, my peer group has always been 1-2 generations older than me".

Instead I was a happy solo quilter for a long time, but then I discovered the joys of being with people who understood why I was cutting up perfectly good fabric. And who had techniques for dealing with those bits of fabric that they were willing to share... Part of why I post here is because I've learned a lot of what I've learned by mistakes, it would have been a lot easier to have some advice -- and pictures, so much can be told by pictures!

When the internet arrived, we quilters were ready for it. I was doing message boards (Sewing World and About.com mostly back then -- both gone now). I was sending fabric all over the world. Y2K squares -- I was there. The first person I met IRL (In Real Life) was a quilter from Australia who was part of my Sewing World group and coming through the States. Later I met gamers and eventually my Husband, but it was a quilter first. As I have traveled, I've met many of my on-line friends and consider them real world friends now.

In my time I've found that we quilters are a varied lot. Most of us are pretty darn wonderful, some may be harder to love or more generous with their criticism than their praise, but most of us can be put in a room together and come out enriched and nourished after a couple of hours. We all have different interests and points of view and mostly can share them together.

We tend to be generous not only with our fabric but our time. I was thinking about it a bit last night of all things, and wanted a shout out to all of us who provided Covid Masks. Our country asked and we came through. We give ongoing care and love to our own and to people we've never met.

So thank you quilters in general, and here in particular, for sharing your lives and projects with me. I'm glad to have you out there, and in here!

When I fist started I posted on this board that I wanted to make an ispy of animals for my cousin's baby and wondered how I could get the fabric. I figured maybe someone would have a bundle for sale or something. Instead over a dozen of the board members sent me bits of adorable animal fabrics. I was so greatful and I figured out how to fit them all. One of the reasons Im back here is that someday I want to return the favor.https://www.quiltingboard.com/member...986-624876.jpg
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Ice Blossom and Cedar… thank you both for sharing and confirming THE BEST of the quilting community that we ALL know and LOVE! I am SO ENCOURAGED and INSPIRED to hear of these stories. They are a part of who we have become in the quilting community. Its our journey and our EXAMPLE to others so that they too can learn the gift of sharing with others this world so desperately needs. It has been said, that WE NEED TO BE THE CHANGE WE WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD. I agree!

A couple of weekends ago I attended a large quilt show. As we were getting ready to leave I went in to use the restroom. I was exhausted and not feeling that great. We got about half way home and I realized I had left my purse hanging on the bathroom door. Phone, wallet, cash, credit cards, my whole life was in there. We turned around and went back in and some angel had turned it in to the ladies that were selling tickets to. Not one thing had been touched! I thanked God and all the beautiful honest women at that show. Where else in the world could you leave your purse and not have anyone take anything?

I might not have stuck with quilting if the ladies at my LQS hadn't been so kind. My first quilt was quite the mess, and I had gone in for help choosing border fabric. I expressed that I was embarrassed by my quilt, and the lovely associate kept a straight face while asking, 'what's the problem?" I was explaining about all the mismatched points, when the owner quipped from the back of the shop, 'We're here to have fun, not to be perfect.' So that set me off on the right track. I think one of the reasons quilters are so nice is that we love the occupation we've chosen and know we will never run out of fabric or things to do with it, and it is such a joy to share our love of quilting with others.

I have to say that not every quilting encounter is wonderful, life affirming or even encouraging. I was sooo excited when a quilt shop opening in the town nearest to me. I took my first and second set of classes there. But the owner got very snarky if you did not buy your fabric from her store for her classes, would not refund money if a class was cancelled, did not encourage bringing your project in for help--unless you were buying more fabric. Honestly, I don't know how the shop survived as long as it did!!

Thank goodness her 'assistants' were not shaped from the same clay. They were very helpful and encouraging--especially if the owner was absent or otherwise distracted. But for many years, I was a solitary quilter who got more info and encouragement from my sisters via email, than from the local folks (Think 'new' person in an insular small town situation--even after 10 years!).

The turning point came after I joined the local Guild (again, not a 'warm' reception) and decided to brave the weekly Wednesday afternoon Stitch and Share group. THEY became my family--welcoming, helpful, true sisters in stitching. Covid forced us to learn to Zoom and our meetings moved online. Summers saw us gathering in back yards and parks--keeping our distance but sharing our love for our craft. We never stopped supporting each other. Over the years, we have lost some of our group due to various medical problems, and to the need to move for more care. Again, email has become a way for many to stay in touch.

The Quilting Board is my online Stitch and Share group and I am so thankful to all of you. I have been on this board for more than 15 years and appreciate each and every one of you.

OK, I’ll jump in with my story. My wife had been a cross stitcher and decided she wanted to branch out. I suggested quilting because my grandmothers and great grandmother quilted, and her grandmother did also. She ended up roping me in as well, but I had not taken the class. I started looking online and quickly found this board. I started reading, eventually started posting, and have learned so much here. There were a few guys on the board back then and we were welcomed enthusiastically. I’ve had quilters send me needed supplies or fabric, I’ve been able to send out some fabric, I’ve joined swaps, you’ve watched my daughter grow up, and you’ve grieved with me when my FIL and parents passed. When I walk into a quilt shop, I often end up in conversation with a total stranger about a quilting topic, and I usually get to tell my favorite love story about adopting my daughter. Yes, I’d have to agree that quilters are a special kind in this world and I’m glad to have “met” so many of you.

AprilM, I agree. This board has been where I have learned most of my quilting knowledge over the past 18 years. When a work schedule keeps the same hours as the local guild meeting, online is the only option but I never felt left out. I'm not afraid to ask questions and am always impressed with the time people put into not just providing an answer, but often expanding their answer with diagrams, pictures, and examples. WOW. You, my online quilting friends, have been my mentors, teachers, and inspiration. I know that I will have a kindred spirit here no matter what.

I retired a couple of years ago and finally joined a guild in person. I joined just before their retreat and didn't think twice about attending the retreat although I knew nobody. That first retreat embedded me into the guild and I now have "my people". I remember sitting still at one point and just absorbing the hum of the room, thinking "this is feeding my soul". Now, with a couple of years of being part of the guild, I lost my husband in a sudden event. It was just before Christmas, so the guild was on holiday, but when start-up time arrived I had to be there. Those women have been my balm. They have lifted me, let me cry, listened, and simply been there. I am so grateful for my quilting family. Where else could one find such an understanding, accepting group of people. No agenda, just friendship.

So, AprilM, yes, I agree that quilters are great people. And it doesn't matter where I am, if I wander into the local quilt shop and just start chatting people up it soon feels as though I'm connecting with old friends. The power of quilting!