Actually your first question was insulting. Don't be so literal.

Quilting is a process. Anyone who works along that process is a QUILTER. That would include people who only work on tops, bottoms and bindings. It also includes people doing art quilts; using less than traditional materials, etc, etc.

I do many art quilts - because they do not lay on a bed does that make me less of a quilter?

grannyagnes wrote:
Beautifully stated Agnes.

When I first seriously got into quilting, and I have come across this other places as well, I learned the definition of quilts to be:
A fabric sandwich with three layers. She equated the front and backing part to be the bread and the piece in between to be the meat or filling.
There was no room for further discussion as to size, method of holding these layers together, whether the fabrics were pieced, printed or whole cloth as in sheets. They are just variations of the sandwich. So perhaps just like a sandwich artist does not make the components he uses so a quilter doesn't have to make or be part of the total process.

No matter what you end up with as your opinion this has been an interesting discussion. Just thought of the feather beds I slept on at my grandmothers as a child. She was a quilter after all, her quilting just was not as refined as mine.

I've seen some tied quilts I really lusted after. They were made with very high loft batting and ohhh sooooo soft and squashy..... definitely 'quilts'!

My first few quilts were tied not quilted and I still considered them to be quilts and myself to be a quilter.Frankly,I don't really enjoy the quilting as much as I do the piecing.If I could afford it and knew someone I trusted with my quilts I'd probably send all but the small wall hangings out to be quilted!

How about this: would she have a quilt if she did not make the top? No. Could she tie the top to a back with batting in between and call it a quilt? Yes. So, even if she does not sew the top, bat and back together--I think I would call her a quilter.

Marna--I have a sister-in-law who hand quilts whole cloth quilts, has never pieced. Do I think she is missing a large part of the adventure? Absolutely. I have another sister-in-law who pieces who is into quantity, not quality. Do I shudder if I compare our standards? Yes. Whenever I get cornered about quilting subjects with them or others my attitude is, we do what we are comfortable with and forget about trying to label anyone specifically. Think of all the labels we could be creating if we wanted to single out the various techniques that all fall under the larger quilter umbrella. We would have piecers. appliquers, machine this, hand that, total, partial, combo. We might spend more time sorting out each person's comfort level than actually doing any work. If it matters to you use Margo's suggestion.

Marna, if she needs a label, or you feel the need to label her, just use "quiltmaker" and let it go at that. I'm not aware of any hard and fast rule about it.

I'm not trying to be judgmental here or hurt anyone's pride in their work. I am merely asking a very literal question. I have been quilting since the early 70s BRC (before rotary cutters). I have a friend who has never ever quilted her own projects, big or small. So, literally, if she has NEVER done any quilting, can she be called a quilter?

YOU GO LORCHEN.... I WILL BE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU WITH BANDAGES .... for the other one.

A PERSON DOES WHAT THEY CAN, WHEN THEY CAN, TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABLITIES. I will never be able or willing to hand quilt. I machine quilt when I can small baby quilt, but when it comes to doing large ones I do not have the physical strength. Because I am not able does not make me less of a quilter. I enjoy the process not just cranking out quilts based on other peoples patterns and designs. Yes, I enjoy the final product but it is the learning and studing along the way that really makes me feel like I am a quilter and I have accomplished something wonderful.

Lady Rags
aka Nonnie

cant comment to busy falling on the floor...............

Amen ! Sisters ! Nuf said !!

You, GO, Lorchen!! Good attitude!!

You are safe, JoJo, I'm keeping the safety catch on!

....... Getting out the old orange box from under the table, and climbing on it, even though it's after 1am here and everybody is asleep.....

I dislike being categorized. It's the same when it comes to art quilts versus traditional quilts. I will always refuse to be stuffed into one specific drawer. Life is so much more fun when you do a little of this and a little of that, depending in what you feel like, what the project requires, and what you enjoy. Long live diversity!!

Shoving the orange crate back under the desk and toddling off ot bed......