quilterguy27

Isn't there a place on here to do a member search? You can look for other quilters in your area that would be willing to help you out. I'd help if I were closer. I will offer any and all help I can from here. Just feel free to ask.

quilterguy27

As I said before, why force yourself into a situation where you aren't wanted. They are the ones missing out. You shouldn't have to be put in this situation. This is my opinion. Take it how you like. I'm just saying, I've been turned down so many times by different guilds, LQSs, and even my local sewing machine store where I have my machine serviced. I'd take it somewhere else, but it's the closest and most convenient for someone who doesn't drive. They are happy to fix my machine, they just don't want me in their group. I've also heard of groups that stipulate in their rules: "NO MEN ALLOWED". What's up with that.

NannyPat

Chris, what a bummer about your unfortunate encounters with these prejudices. (I'm wondering just how rich Ricky Tims is as I type this...) Don't give up. Keep going and learning and quilting!!!

quilterguy27

This is EXACTLY what I would do. But that's me.

quilterfly

We have four male members of our local guild, all of whom are very highly regarded by all of us. Our guild has even sponsored a 'men-only' quilt show called "Men Of Cloth" and we had amazing results. Nobody ever thought we'd have so many men coming in to ask intelligent questions about quilting. All four of the men in our group have won numerous prizes for their work. The oldest man is 91 & he still does cross-stitch quilts.

Suziuki

Chris, There is a bright side to your LQS rejection, you have now found so much more from this board and I'm sure this board has gained from your inclusion. I understand needing the one on one, tutorials are great, but if you have a question about a particular part, the tute doesn't answer you, you either have to play that part over and over until you get it or ask someone, and all you want to do is get on with your project.
I am one of four girls, my parents were very intuitive, from a very early age we were taught that we could do anything, we were born and breed in the city but we could use a chain saw, manage rifles and shotguns, we all could drive cars by the age of 10 learning how to control a car through sand and mud, skin and gut rabbits, clean and fillet fish. I was the only one that took to motorcycles, and dad showed me quite a bit as he used to do Scrambles. This philosophy has been passed to my children, at aged 25 my daughter was the Australian Womens Motocarna Champion, she does a lot of her own mechanical repairs, and this is from a girl who struggles to find womens clothing small enought to fit her and works in IT. My son enjoys designing and making swim wear for his girlfriend, my only problem with this is that he takes over my sewing machine and room when he gets the sewing bug, can't wait for him to move out, will buy him a sewing machine as a house warming gift.
Reading this post there is a lot of support from this board, I hope it has helped, if not to have solved the situation but to at least give you other avenues to persue.
Good Luck, have a merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year.

patdesign

Your problem as it were is Stereotyping and small minds. When my oldest son was 8 he wanted to embroider (by hand) because he saw me doing it. (Realizing backin the early 70's it was not necessarily a "male" thing and being open minded, I got him a kit with lady bugs on it that said "Don't Bug Me." For years it hung in his room and then was put away for a long time. 2 years ago I found it and took it to him, BTW he is a neurosurgeon, and SEWS up people now !!! Shame on narrowminded people! :)

Jenniky

Just my two cents... but that really stinks the way you have been treated. I don't have much in the way of advice to give. But then there is my two cents :)

Holice

I wonder that if a quilt guild restricts their membership and has non profit status they could be subject to loosing that status if they discriminate membership. Just a thought

stitchofclass2

Hi Chris! How sad that this has been your experience. I too have sometimes found certain clerks in quilt stores to be, should I say, a bit "holier than though"? So unfortunate because I do not return to those stores.

I am also a knitter. I learned about 40 years ago but lost the skill. About 5 years ago a new yarn shop opened in my town of La Grange, Illinois and I decided to take a knitting class. What a great experience that was. There were two of us women and one man. Yes! One man. He was a delight. He and his wife were teachers and he watched his wife knit for years and then decided he wanted to try it. The great thing about him was that he taught himself to knit to the right needle and then back to the left needle without turning his work. Amazing!!! I have tried to do that and there is no way.

Just keep on quilting and hopeful your experiences will improve.

Yolanda