Kits are KILLING CREATIVITY.... opionion

[Pam D.]

I recently went to a quilt show ( 150 quilts) and there were multiples of quilts done in the same fabric. Apparently a quilting group was formed to make McKenna Ryan quilts in the area and there were about 8 quilts of all the same patterns, made with the same materials. Workmanship seemed to be the only differences in the quilt. I was told these were experience quilters.

There were also several other groups of quilts made in the same fabrics with the same fabrics but I am not sure those quilts were made by the first group or a different group. All the quilts were hung in the same area of the quilt show. I thought these might have been made for a class or guild project, but every time I take a class or do a project I select the fabrics myself. I found out later these quilts were made by kits sold at the local quilt shop. ( The quilt shop was the main sponsor of the show.) The shop owner submitted the quilts made by customers. Many of the other shop submissions done in classes / groups but of different fabrics were more interesting and reflective of the quilter.

It is my contention that kits although handy kills the creativity of quilters. I think the jelly rolls, layer cakes and charm packs seem to be doing the same. Too many quilts being made from the same fabric that look indistinguishable. I also dislike the trend to EASY, FAST patterns that are just "blocky" just thrown together... no real pattern, style, creativity or brains behind... I figure why bother going to the trouble to quilt them... You could get nicer quilts from WALMART... ( I know I have just committed a sin, but this is just my opinion. I really do not mean to be harsh, but I am puzzled by kits. ) I think I feel this way cause it takes me so long to finish one project I try to put my own ideas and twist on my projects.
I found that the practice of including kit quilts made the quilt show boring.

Please post your comments and let me know what you think about the subject.

[Robin G.]

Hi, LadyRags.
I guess I've got my feet in both camps on this issue. I personally do not use kits; with a couple of exceptions, I don't even make quilts from books or patterns. (Sometimes it's just stupid to reinvent the wheel if someone else has already designed just the quilt that I want to make. Of course, I always choose my own fabrics and find a way to alter the pattern to make it mine.) It would certainly kill MY creativity to make someone else's exact quilt. But not everyone has the confidence or the desire to branch out beyond the kit or jelly roll, etc. For these quilters, convenience and, perhaps, degree of difficulty may be important factors. I guess as long as the quilting world is big enough for all kinds of quilters, kits can be an important part. Quilters who find the creative spirit are never discouraged from exploring it.

That said, I always cringe when I see a kit quilt hanging in a quilt show; sometimes, they even sport ribbons. For me, it would not be enough to take a kit and construct and quilt it beautifully to merit a ribbon. I think judges need to take into consideration the universe of what a quilter brings to her/his quilt. Maybe they do that and consider a well-done kit to be enough. I wouldn't, but then I'm not a judge.

[Paula D.]

Oh gosh - another debate on the "right" way to quilt. Please, kits are there if you like, and if you don't like, don't buy. The only thing that would get my knickers in a snit, is if I was told I could ONLY do kits.....or that I could NEVER do a kit. I suspect some people out there make a pretty nice living designing kits, and I'm sure there are some who like to sew, but are not ready to create, and they enjoy the security of a pre-planned creation. My ten cents. :wink:

[Paula D.]

Kits can be a great introduction to quilting for a new quilter. Also...for experienced quilters a great way to have something quick and ready to go.

I have purchased a couple of kits in my time. I like them for the fact everything is there except the backing and batting.

Does it squash creativity? I don't have a clue. But if a kit motivates someone to quilt...and to continue on the tradition of quilting...I say go for it!!

FW

[Paula D.]

I have no problem with kits for those who want to do them. That approach to quilting is just not my style. My problem with kit quilts is when they are judged as equal to a quilt designed by the quiltmaker. A judge told me one time that the way she made decisions between to equal quality quilts was to consider how many decisions the quilter had to make in the process of making the quilt. The kit quilt looses that battle from the very start. But, judges can not know every kit that is made up for sale in this big old world of quiltin'.
I don't see any paint-by-number paintings in the world's art galleries.

I will para-phrase a poem I once read:
A quilter who makes a kit quilt is a laborer:
A quilter who copies a design with her own fabric is a craftsman:
A quilter who designs and creates to completion a quilt is an artist.

If a quilter is happy with what they are doing, then WooHoo for them.

The opinion of Betty Ann Seeman in stormy Florida

[Hannelore N.]

Why should a quilter always be creative? A simple but attractive project (or a kit) can be just right for some people who simply want to enjoy working with fabric and thread.

I think we should embrace all quilters, no matter what they make, and if we personally like it or not.

Lorchen

[Hannelore N.]

I have difficulty putting colors together. I have bought and used kits. If I see a kit that has colors I like and a pattern I like then it's the perfect way to go.

I have a friend who loves kits because she doesn't want a house full of leftover fabric. Sometimes only a little of a particular fabric is needed for a pattern and she doesn't want to have to buy more than necessary. Kits take care of that problem.

I'm all for kits, if I can afford them.

JoAnne in southern California

[Beth A.]

I do both. Mostly I make my own starting with someone else's pattern and changing it to make it my own.

But I like quilt kits and jelly rolls for those "fast" quilts that we quilters always have to bang out -- baby quilts, going away quilts, etc. Stuff that may not be what we are most interested in making right at that moment but it is expected of us and we even want to do it -- just not spend all that much time on it.

I like selecting fabric, etc., but if you remove that part of the process, which is what the kit does, it really saves a lot of time. And sometimes, that time is the difference between being able to make that quilt or not.

So, for THE most special quilts, I don't use kits. For others, I do. And I enjoy sewing every one of them.

BethMI

[Gloria H.]

I don't want kits for "real" quilts but I make baby quilts for Moms to be at work. A kit is quick and easy and the Moms think it's great and really appreciate them. I saw a kit for a kids quilt that was perfect for one of my grandsons. I guess I'm not a purist. I also like the charms and jelly rolls for totes. I don't think kit quilts should get to shows.

[Gloria H.]

Talented artists will often copy paintings done by the Masters when they are trying to learn a new technique or attempting to practice something.

I think valuable things can be learned from doing a kit. The problem would be if the person was afraid of trying anything on their own. I do think judging kits in a quilt show is something completely different and it must be hard for the judges to weigh a kit quilt properly against one that is a completely new creation.

There are a lot of reasons I can see for doing a kit, sometimes I see one that I just think is beautiful and I want to have one. Sometimes they are fast to bang out. Some of the applique kits are way beyond the artist level of many of us. Such as McKenna Ryan's patterns. And as I mentioned before, sometimes you can learn something from doing one.

Some people just don't have much faith in their own creativity and that is something that needs to be nurtured (One thing I love about this site is how much Ricky and Alex have tried to nurture that.)

[Gloria H.]

I think any quilter who makes any thing is an artist......I don't use kits, and probably won't ever use one, but some of my friends absolutely cannot pick and do not want to pick out their own fabrics, and it gives them such pleasure and makes them so proud of what they make by using a kit.....and I think that's a great thing!

To embrace quilting as a lifestyle is all about expressing oneself in whatever way is most comfortable......and I am so proud to call this quilting thing my hobby and my lifestyle! It makes me very happy!

Dana in Olive Branch, MS

[Gloria H.]

I'm one of the newer quilters, only been quilting for 2 years, and I have to say kits are what got me into quilting. Until you learn about colors and all the shapes and how to sew, etc, kits help expose you and open up the possibilities of "what about this". After doing kits, now I'm already experiencing buying a pattern and picking out my own colors and fabrics and even changing the pattern, so there has been growth. I'm getting to the point of wanting to design my own quilt and getting the confidence that I can do it. So kits are a great way to open the doors. Bobbi

[Margo C.]

LadyRags, I would be interested to know what you think of BOMs? Looking at the Show & Tell photos of the TQS BOMs I find it hard to believe that using patterns stifle creativity. Sure, some have felt like they wanted to use the fabrics that Sue used and purchased the kits, but others have taken off in all kinds of creative directions. Like you, I don't want to go to a quilt show and see a whole line of copy-cat quilts, but I think that there is definitely a place in the quilt world for kits and people who enjoy them.

[Annette R.]

I rarely buy kits but I often buy patterns that some shops have along side the kits. So am I making a kit when I make the pattern with similar fabrics or am I being creative? Well who knows? About two years ago I bought a kit and the pattern. Well then I realized that the kit would not make the size quilt that I needed for the person I planned to give it to. So I bought extra of the same and similar fabrics and expanded a lap robe quilt to a queen size. It is done except for a couple of appliques and the binding. I think I was really creative because I made it to fit my grand nephew and his new bride. (at least I think I did) so soon I will have it finished and delivered as a little bit late wedding gift. so was it creative or a kit-----well will Anthony and his bride know? I doubt it. I just hope they love it and appreciate it for years to come and who cares. I am happy with it. That is all that counts. Ann

[Nancy M.]

I agree with many of the previous comments re: kits having their place in the quilting world...I do wonder if the quilt show that LadyRags was commenting about may have been designed to promote the sponsoring quilt shop's classes or quilts made from their kits...I agree, that would not make for a very interesting quilt show. I haven't been to that many quilt shows, but rarely see duplicates entered, as if the same kit or even same pattern with no "creative license" has been used. Nancy