Dodie

I know several young mothers that would like to get interested in quilting but cannot afford it the price of everything in this economy is so expensive that a lot of them just cannot do it I think there will always be the interest just will have to wait and see what happens with the economy

Nanjun

While visiting my ds and ddil, she took me to a fabric shop in her area. She was amazed at the things that were made there. Beautiful quilts,etc and the colors and fabrics.
She had never thought quilting would be such a hobby. She is a retired school teacher.
I dont think she will ever quilt or sew but she had a glance into something new for her. If all the grandmothers could intice their little ones to try sewing we would have a new breed.

Cagey

I was discussing this same subject with a small business specialist. I was thinking of opening up a quilt shop in our community when I retire and he suggested it was not a good idea. He said people my age only quilt and the younger generation is not interested. I don't agree with him at all.
You only need to go to quilt shops/big box stores and look around. I yet to go to a quilt shop that isn't very busy with all ages. I don't think there would be so many excellent resources available (and growing) if this were the case. I've even gotten my granddaughters interested in quilting and I never thought that would happen! Quilting lives!

grumpy90650

there are still alot of quilters out there, and as far as the little ones, i think it is up to the parents to get the kids away from the electronic games for a couple of hours and teach them something more physical, and if that is quilting, sewing, embroidery, etc, that would be great!!! if all the quilters out there today mentored one child, the art would not die!!!

sarahrachel

exactly! my parents hate all the electronic toys out there! I've recently realized that I like old fashioned things. I have a hope chest which most of my quilts and embroidery things go in, I love gardening, especially propogation, I hardly watch any tv, there's never anything to watch, and my parents love me for that. My brother on the other hand is completely different. He wants the latest electronic. My parents got him a wittling kit, and he started an egg (the beginner piece) and he got bored. He likes to build models a little, but I think that if the older generation introduced one new/old thing to someone in the younger generation, the old arts wouldn't die, whether it be quilting, woodwork, embroidery, whatever.

Ramona Byrd

LOL about the dad! I wish people would realize that sewing and quilting, like everything else in the world is not gender specific anymore!!!
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Some of the richest men in the world are those who made, and still make clothing for rich women.

deldot

I don't think quilting will die any time soon. Even though the economy has taken out lots of small quilt shops, the fabric industry is still a thriving one. My five year old granddaughter who lives in Virginia cannot wait until she gets her first sewing machine. She will sit on my lap for an hour looking at fabric on line and she loves to go fabric shopping with me. This is a picture of my six year old granddaugher and her eight year old brother who live in Charlotte. My Charlotte granddaughter would rather play soccer than sew, but her brother made the quilt top that you see in the photo. He is going to turn it into a soldier quilt when I visit later this month. He wants a sewing machine for his ninth birthday in November.

Dodee

I think that now many things cost more to make than to buy. Have you bought a pattern lately? Or fabric other than cottons?
By the way, I love it and enjoy the quilt clubs, so actually, I am biased and hope it will stay around for a long, long time.

Gail B

No - I don't think the art will die off. Two out of three of my granddaughters are learning to quilt (ages 10 & 15). Neither of my daughters quilt or sew anything. My granddaughters spend a lot of time with me & have learned to crochet, knit & sew. I have a pic posted of a tote one of them made.

cattailsquilts

I think it falls on the shoulders of us 'middle kids' to make sure that it doesn't fall by the wayside.

I'm 34, I've been quilting for 11 years now, but started sewing when I was 7. My daughter started sewing at 8, and has made a few doll-size quilts, and now is working on a larger one, will probably end up being crib-size in the end, it's kind of an organic growth right now. (she's almost 11 now)

Even my 14 month old son is showing interest in what I do. I'll teach him, too, when he's old enough to follow directions.

I have friends who have asked me to teach them to quilt, and they'll pass it on to their future children, too.

I think that quilting will stick around. Yes, there are going to be many of today's and future generations that say 'but I want it NOOOOOWW', or don't 'get' the value of a handmade item, but I think that's just, normal, I guess, sadly enough.

I know I won't give it up anytime soon!