Why don't more men quilt?

[Sewdreamy]

This week, while watching Tom Russell's fascinating guest appearance on the show, and while teaching my nine year old grandson to quilt, I couldn't help but wonder why don't more men take up quilting? Men paint pictures, build beautiful objects from wood and other products, decorate cakes, grow flowers, and other artistic pursuits so why don't they do more quilting? It seems so perfectly suited to their interests...working with power tools, sharp objects, hot irons, tactile supplies, and provides the freedom to make what they want. I hope we will begin to see an upsurge in men quilting. Those who do quilt produce wonderful interesting quilts. I wonder if there is a growth of men interested in this activity. Does anyone out there have any statistics on this? What do you think about this?

[Zarah]

I don't have an overall view on this subject, but I have a deal with my bonus grandson, that when he is getting a little older I will teach him how to sew. He is 3 years old now so maybe we start next year. (I made him draw on fabric so we have 1 block to start with ) A friend of mine who has girl twins, 4 years old, just started making their first quilts. Everyone is so excited about that project.

[Sewdreamy]

Norma, How cool! Love hearing about kids being taught to sew.

[kathyst2]

Betty Jo, I don't have an answer, but I do remember when I took my now ex-boyfriend to a quilt show many years ago. He walked into the room, and said "this is great- why don't more men do this?" I did teach him how to sew a seam, and he made a quilt for his cat to lie on. But never went any further.
Kathy

[Sewdreamy]

Betty Jo, I don't have an answer, but I do remember when I took my now ex-boyfriend to a quilt show many years ago. He walked into the room, and said "this is great- why don't more men do this?" I did teach him how to sew a seam, and he made a quilt for his cat to lie on. But never went any further.
Kathy

Hmmm...perhaps it's primarily because of our public image...they don't KNOW about what has become a technologically and artistically rich activity and the press ignores us for the most part because they think about us like a bunch of old aunties and grannies sitting in a quilting bee of the 18th and 19th centuries. Of course a lot of us ARE "old aunties and grannies", :lol: :lol: :lol: , but not all by a long shot and even so, we DO live in the 21st century.

[ajclapp]

There's nothing wrong with being "old aunties and grannies". I guess I've been one for a long time now although I don't answer to granny. Male quilters need their own space and most homes aren't big enough for 2 quilting spaces. Mine would never be allowed in my space as he has different ideas of clean. You might ask the questions why don't more women weld or run heavy equipment or work outside in the heat during the hottest days of the summer as my DH is doing right now. Yes, I'd much rather be quilting.

[Sewdreamy]

There's nothing wrong with being "old aunties and grannies". I guess I've been one for a long time now although I don't answer to granny. Male quilters need their own space and most homes aren't big enough for 2 quilting spaces. Mine would never be allowed in my space as he has different ideas of clean. You might ask the questions why don't more women weld or run heavy equipment or work outside in the heat during the hottest days of the summer as my DH is doing right now. Yes, I'd much rather be quilting.

Ah, I was not insulting "old aunties and grannies". In fact, I am a bit of an old Grammy myself, and would rather be quilting also (though in a 21st century way). :lol: I just think it is that perception that prevents quilting from having more prominent reporting whether we like that or not. I think it is an exciting world, and yes, I very much would not want to weld or run heavy equipment outside in the heat, though I do know some women who do. I admire people who do that tough kind of work. We need these people. I also know, though, that there are many men who would also enjoy quilting that aren't aware of it as a possibility for them and their participation would almost certainly assist in keeping our tools and technologies and quilt shops in business. So sorry, I did not mean to start this as a controversial subject or insult anyone. ops:

[ajclapp]

I know you weren't insulting us. I guess I should have added a smiley face. ops: I think it's just a matter of what people enjoy doing or think they will enjoy doing. We all have different ideas about what is fun. Even in the quilting world some of us like traditional, some modern, some art, etc. And isn't there a lot of women that help with the development of quilt tools and technology? There are lots of things I would enjoy doing in addition to quilting. There just aren't enough hours in the day to do everything so we have to pick and choose. My mother said my dad made a quilt once. I didn't know that until recently.

[loise98]

Perhaps there are more of them out there than we think. For instance, all those people who have a stereo-typical view of quilters are quite surprised when I tell them the statistics I remember from "stitched". There are 20 million of us, we have an average of $8,000.00 dollars invested in our equipment and most of us design our quilts on computers or use computer generated patterns. We are a sub-culture. Yeah! I love being part of a sub-culture.

[tigsowner]

My husband has been an enthusiastic supporter of my quilting since I began almost 5 years ago. As an artist himself, he appreciates quilt shows and comes in handy when I need a drawing done! He's always stayed away from my machines, just as I've stayed away from his woodwork equipment (mostly!) but last weekend he insisted on buying an old hand-cranked machine for me...I've promised to show him how to work it and we'll see what he comes up with!
BTW, my 8 yr old son won a prize in a national embroidery competition here years ago. He's done very little sewing since then but as he has had the basics drilled into him, along with his sisters, I figure that knowledge is there for him to fall back on later in life. I'm also planning a sewing kit as a present for my 6 yr old nephew, which may also kickstart his mum into sewing again...devious aren't I????

[tigsowner]

Perhaps there are more of them out there than we think. For instance, all those people who have a stereo-typical view of quilters are quite surprised when I tell them the statistics I remember from "stitched". There are 20 million of us, we have an average of $8,000.00 dollars invested in our equipment and most of us design our quilts on computers or use computer generated patterns. We are a sub-culture. Yeah! I love being part of a sub-culture.

And some of us are 'sub-versive' :lol:

I have a male friend, who weaves, spins, dressmakes, tailors, embroiders, bobbin lace makes - the whole nine yards. He used to regularly go over to the states for lace-making conventions and nobody raised an eyebrow at him, until the year he turned up with a 'wife!' Apparently they had trouble getting their heads around the fact that a straight man would or could make lace :lol:

PS he is a great tall fellow, with a long red beard (imagine viking) who is also a C of E (Wales) priest. :wink:

[idaho]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: So much for stereotypes !

[loise98]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Amen!

Now wasn't that an appropriate comment!

[CrazyCuban]

As a fairly new male quilter (less than 10 years) I have theories about why there might not be more male quilters.

Let's face it: Our society seems to like to compartmentalize people. Men are supposed to like "manly" things like fishing, hunting and having heat strokes while working outdoors. Women are supposed to like "girlie" things like sewing, quilting, cooking and exhausting themselves by balancing rearing children, housecleaning, washing (and don't forget ironing), shopping for the entire household. (etc. etc, etc.) No wonder women finally sang "I am WOMAN, hear me roar!"

In short, it is called "stereotypes" and society always finds it hard to deal with individuals who do not wish to play that game. It takes time, people who are willing to take the plunge into a different "pond", and educating the public that there is no cause for alarm and that the world will not end!

For example, take me (Please!)
I grew up fishing and still love it. I do not like playing sports simply because by body overheats quickly. I happen to think that watching sports on TV is boring. I like watching sports when I'm sitting in the stands.

I like gardening, cooking, and being a "do-it-yourself"-er. There are plenty of things I can fix around the house, and my ego does not mind admitting that plumbing and a/c work is best left for the pros. I mowed the lawn until I got a heat stroke, then admitted it was smarter to let a lawn crew take care of it.

In the artistic front, I am fair at sketching, and also throw clay on a wheel. Making the thinnest bowls possible, and experimenting with my own glazing formulas were a passion!

I used the past tense because after been diagnosed with bladder cancer, I was scared and decided to find a hobby that could be done comfortably at home, in case things got bad. I happened to like quilts but thought they were all made by hand, which seemed a very slow and painful process.

One day built up my courage and went to the Houston International Quilt Festival. My mind was absolutely blown away. A world of beauty indeed! The amazing artistry, the beautiful fabrics, the psychological "hugginess" that are inherent with quilts. Awesome!

When I found out that not only could I make quilts with sewing machines, but also that sewing machines had undergone an unprecedented transformation into very smart computers that sew! I was in love! Tried it, liked it, and my new adventure began.

So now I am a happy quilter even though my male friends think I'm weird. I am still usually the only male in quilting classes. Last year, I was both pleased and mortified when I got on a Quilt Festival escalator and the young lady behind me realized that I was that rare species: A male quilter! She sang my praises to the entire world during what seemed a never-ending escalator ride. I loved that silly young woman, even though she embarrassed the hell out of me!

Today is July 9, 2012. I received the IQF Houston class catalog in the mail this weekend. I felt just like I did when I was five years old and my Mom would give me a whole dollar to buy new comic books! I have read the entire catalog twice. I made an intricate budget delegating money for classes and delegating a big chunk of money for splurging in a buying frenzy from vendor's booths. Whooo-Hooo!

Most of all, I love the process of creating beauty, the inner peace that comes when you are sewing or quilting, and your mind relaxes with the process, and seems to float in a meditative state. Also, I actually like petting some of the fabrics in my stash!

Sorry, that was a very long answer. The short answer to your question is that more men need to be open minded and stop being scared they will be emasculated when they take up quilting. It is not a big deal. Quilting is just another beautiful art form. Women can help by gently leading them by the hand and reassuring them that it is OK if a man wants to quilt!

[Sewdreamy]

Frank, Thanks for your quilting story. Quilting can be a wonderful expressive activity for both men and women (and even kids). I hear that even some cats find it interesting. :lol: :lol: