An age for quilting????

[Annette R.]

This past weekend I was in Harrisburg PA with friends for Serinade in Brass (big drum and bugle concert my dh plays in). While we were out shopping during his rehearsal I expressed an interest in hitting a quilt shop at some point. My one friend piped up with "Gosh Mandy, we have to find you a hobby or something." My reply was "WHAT?!?!?! WHY!?!?!" Quilting is an old lady's hobby, not somethig for people our age was her answer. So I want to know - you don't have to be precise, but how old is everyone here? You can just put a range if you want (i.e. - I'm in my thirties) I guess I want to know if I am just an outlyer of if there really are a lot more younger quilters. Hopefully I hear from a bunch of younger quilters - the younger the better 8)

[Annette R.]

Your friend is a goober! I started quilting in my 30s. I know lots of quilters in their 20s and 30s. And plenty in the "and over" category, too. I also know a few kids and teens. This is a hobby, a creative outlet, a form of self-expression -- and there is no age ranges for those things! I'm sorry your friend is not as creative as you plainly are. Maybe you can help her find a hobby? She needs something else to do, besides critiqueing things she doesn't understand. :wink:

[Annette R.]

I am not in my thirties but I do believe the constant challenges that quilting persents keeps me young at heart. Betty Ann

[Annette R.]

Your friend is a goober!

:lol: :lol: :lol: I concur. I'm closing in on 60, but have been quilting since my teens. I've also raced both dirt & street bikes and have logged more Peterbilt miles in reverse than most normal drivers have going forward. Tell your friend get over the stereotype of granny quilting in her rocker. Quilters rock, but it ain't always in a chair.

Jorja

[Annette R.]

Your friend is a goober!

..... Quilters rock, but it ain't always in a chair.

Jorja--That's the best quote I've heard about quilting!! I just turned 49 (how did that happen already??) and I've gotten the "You're not old enough to quilt" line. What kind of silly crap is that? I feel great-better than I did when I was in my twenties. I look better too. I've never been more creative and confident. I feel like I'm beginning my next great adventure in my life. And, yeah baby, I rock.
Sherry 8)

[Annette R.]

I'm 54 and made my first quilt when I was 28. My older daughter (29) made her first quilt at 15, my younger daughter (13) made her first quilt at 6, and my youngest son (15) made his first quilt at 8. We've got quite a few young moms in our guild whose kids have also gotten into quilting. A couple of their photos are in our guild's PictureTrail album
( http://www.picturetrail.com/tricountyquiltguild - March ) along with their first quilts.

Any trip to a quilt show, national, local, or otherwise, will confirm that quilters come in all ages!

Diane in Texas

CabinQuilter Custom Quilting
mailto:[email protected]
http://www.cabinquilter.com
http://www.picturetrail.com/cabinquilter

[Annette R.]

I'm right there with you! I'm in my thirties as well. No one I know is a quilter, but that's OK. Quilting is one of the rare "me" things I get to do -- usually after everyone's in bed.

I did kidnap my mom this weekend and took her to the quilt show in Chicago and she liked it! Maybe she'll convert! I saw one other young mom with a stroller at the show. She had two of her kids with her and I only had to bring one of mine (thanks to school and my husband taking the other one to work with him!).

My oldest daughter has already made her first quilt -- she was 10 at the time.

So you're not alone out there!

Bridget

[Annette R.]

I started my first quilt when my son was a baby. He's now approaching 46! How did that happen? So, I was 20 when I started. I didn't know anybody else who quilted at that time. Now I'm 60mumble and still quilting. I'll never be able to make all the quilts in my head.

Pat in Rockport, TX

[Annette R.]

what ---- too young -- too old who says!! I am 67 in years but by accident of birth on Feb 29 I have only had 16 birthdays!! so count what you will, you can bet I use the 16 line as often as I can get by with it. Fellow member -Florence's son has joined - he's nine I believe and his screen name is Curious George. My granddaughter also nine now has been quilting with me for about four years. The first few times sitting on my lap while I ran the pedal and she moved the material but last summer she made a quilt for her American Girl doll. Since I was trying to learn Reversible quilting we did it with that method. She did everything from designing the quilt to making the blocks. The only thing I did was do the sashing because I was learning and couldn't explain it to her when I didn't know how to do it.. so tell your "goober" friend to "GET A LIFE" AND TO STOP STEROTYPING PEOPLE --- AGE DISCRIMINATION IS STILL DISCRIMINATION even if it is simply a preconceived notion about what we should or shouldn't do at a certain age. I intend to quilt until I die at the sewing machine or in the quilt shop spending the last of my children's inheritance -----sorry kids. from forever young and trying to get younger--- ANN

[Annette R.]

Hey, I'm 42 and have been quilting for about 2 years, although I've been sewing my whole life.

I am a graphic designer by trade, and I look at quilting as another form of artistic expression - not a "hobby for grannies". My work is very contemporary, and would never be mistaken for the work of someone who has been quilting for 20 years. It's all about attitude...artists can be any age...and sewing/quilting is my artform of choice right now.

Just go into a fabric store and look around at all the FABULOUS fabric, and you'll be hooked!

[Annette R.]

I'll be 37 in a few weeks and get the "you're not old enough to be a quilter" line all the time! It's ridiculous! I know there are other people my age out there who do this and love it as much as I do. I'm ready to help break the stereotype. (Although, I do have lots of grey hair!)

Happy Quilting,
Chelley

[Annette R.]

I'm in my fifties now but have always loved quilts. I tried when in my thirties but couldn't spare the time between kids and working. When people ask what I do since I've retired and I tell them about the quilting, there's generally silence and then...Yeah, but what do you DO? It's not taken seriously.
I still think of myself as "not old" except in restaurants where they hand me the senior menus now without me having to ask for them.
In our LQS, I have seen customers with small children. So I'm hoping there's another generation coming along.
BTW...it's my son that's most interested in my quilting besides by husband who's proud of himself for knowing what a fat quarter is!

[Annette R.]

I am 40 something and have been quilting for about 10 years...quilting is not something I do..it is who I am!

[Annette R.]

Wonderful Glad to see I am no where near alone, now if I can just get the goober to read this thread some time :lol: I know for myself I have been quilting since I was 25, but I have been sewing in general since I was 8 and got a toy sewing machine for christmas. Last summer I did little bunny quilts (10"x12" ) with my daughters then ages 4 and 5, and just a couple of months ago I did another with my older girl - now 6- and she loved it. We plan to do a bigger one this summer together so the love of quilting is going on and on. As for my friend, I think she is jealous for some reason. Maybe she needs a real hobby... :roll:

[Robin G.]

Why does age matter if you've found something you love to do?
I am 57 and only discovered quilting about 3 years ago. I wish I had started quilting years ago. When I think of how much pleasure it has brought me these past few years, I regret not having had the opportunity to start sooner.

By the way, our guild is having its biennial quilt show the first weekend of May and we have a youth exhibit of over 40 quilts made mostly by 10-13 year old kids... AND several other kids, both boys and girls, have submitted their quilts to be judged! (This in includes one 9-year-old girl.)

Also, look what has happened to the hobby of knitting! Didn't that use to be just for little old ladies? Now everyone knits and it's a hot thing to do. Tell your friend to get a life. Or, better yet, get a hobby!