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.

I know you weren't insulting us. I guess I should have added a smiley face. 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.

ajclapp wrote: 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). 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.

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.

kathyst2 wrote: 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", , but not all by a long shot and even so, we DO live in the 21st century.

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

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

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.

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?