The most important things someone new to quilting can do is to join a local guild. Most guilds offer classes, expertise, access to fabric and materials. Above all,a guild is full of people who share one’s passion. Beginners often say that they aren’t good enough to join a guild. However, I can’t think of a better place to learn and improve skills.
Classes or Opportunities to Learn
Most guilds offer classes to advance one’s skills. Usually the monthly meeting will have a speaker that will share their work, life story or techniques. The speaker usually offers a class or two for a small group before or after the meeting.
Many times there will be other opportunities throughout the year to gain expertise as well. In addition, some guild meetings are turned over to members to share their favorite technique or special information to small rotating groups.
Block of the Month Activity
Block of the Month is a perfect activity for beginners that many guilds offer. Each month a pattern is shared including instructions,requirements,fabric,and suggestions. Often times the block is chosen because it teaches a new technique.The person has one month to make one block. Even most busy people usually have time to do that. Turn your block in at the next meeting the following month. Our guild pulled a name out of a hat to see who would win the blocks. In this way, people received a head start on the blocks for their next quilt.
People that Share your Passion
Above all,enough can’t be said about being around people that share your passion. Turn to a person nearby and gush about a piece of fabric that is perfect for your next project. They will get your bliss. A family member can only listen to us so many times speak excitedly about our next project. Yet, at a guild meeting or small quilt group, people will listen in much interest. They have been in your shoes.
Access to Fabric and Materials
Most importantly a guild may offer access to reasonably priced fabric and materials. Sometimes a special brand of fabric will be sold at a guild meeting. Guilds may offer a flea market to give members opportunities to share, trade or sell fabric. Retail fabric is expensive. Some members may gift fabric or materials to others.This is an incredible boon to beginners.
Expertise
Furthermore, a guild is full of people that have the expertise you want. If you ask someone a question and they don’t know the answer, then they will most likely direct you to someone who does. Members generally enjoy sharing information.
Small Quilt Groups
Small quilt groups that meet regularly yet separately from the larger guild meeting are a good way to ask questions. By meeting on a regular basis, friendships develop and skills are easily shared. These same people will eagerly want to take a field trip to a quilt show or other event.
Beginners are Welcome.
Beginners may not know that new quilters will be welcomed. As quilters age, it is necessary for new and younger people to take up the hobby in order for it to continue. It may be hard at first but just admit that you are new to quilting. We all begin somewhere.
True Confessions Time
True confessions time-Most of my blog posts are about art quilts. However, I began quilting bed quilts as a newlywed in the 1970s. I stopped counting my traditional bed quilts at 300. Many of those were donation quilts. My passion was high for traditional quilting. I remember the excitement I felt when I learned a new technique. It was hard to sleep after listening to the inspirational guest speaker at our monthly quilt guild meetings.
Another confession-I have only belonged to one quilt guild. My views here are mainly based on that guild of over 350 members.However, I was president of the guild for several years. During that time, I received and read newsletters from other guilds. Their activities were not much different from ours. Most guilds offer classes. Most guilds offer opportunities to learn from more experienced quilters. Many guilds put on quilt shows to share their work with the public.
Another sad but true fact- I don’t have many photos of my early work. Remember that there weren’t digital cameras back when I started out. Plus I didn’t anticipate that documenting my progress might be important to me at some point. I tried to find photos of some early quilts although most were not readily available.
Of course, the internet is full of videos to watch about techniques and other quilters.. It is a wonderful resource. Yet, it cannot replace a real person who you can share your quilting life with.The one thing I highly recommend for a new quilter is joining your local quilt guild.