I certainly wouldn't have a problem with men in quilting classes...I'm teaching all 3 of my grandsons to quilt this summer.  It might be a challenge since they are 6, 7 and 12.  I don't know about men in the guild since I've never been to a guild meeting.  I babysit the grandsons 6 days a week and our local guild meets on Saturdays.  If it was during the week during school hours I might be able to attend.  Many men are great cooks, so I don't see any reason that they wouldn't be great quilters.  I think my husband is probably more meticulous than I am.

I absolutely think men belong in the quilting world, my husband is so supportive in my quilting and helps me whenever I get stuck in color coordinating and design..Goodiness look at Mark Lipinski without his cleaverness and design attitude I sometimes think I could not finish some of my projects

I think it is great for men to be included in the quilting world.  they have great ideas and have good color skills.  My DH rearranges my blocks in some of my quilts and they truly do look better.  Three cheers for the men.

I love to see the diversity in the quilting world.  We were so stifled during the period of "You must use specific fabrics and only hand piece and quilt etc etc".  Men come to quilting from a different perspective (few learned to quilt as a child) and that's great.  I also love to see engineers (men or women), people with different cultural backgrounds from mine, traditional quilters, those quilters for whom no rules exist...and everyone! It makes us a far more dynamic community.

I love men!  How nice to see one who cares enough to quilt!

i think it is great to have men involved. the quilts i've seen made by men were outstanding

I think it is great that men want to quilt.  As a matter of fact, my husband has just completed his first quilt - Brick Road, and participates in the "Block of the Month" at out local quilt shop.  With his engineering  and banking background he is wonderful in determining yardage for some of my projects.   The women in all of the quilt shops that we go to just love to get his opinion of different patterns and materials.

It's refreshing to see men that like to quilt. I find it cheerful and informative to watch videos from men quilters such as Patrick Lose, Rob Appell, Mark Lipinski, Ricky Tims.... I'm all for it.

I think men do a great job, no rules, they think outside the box.   My husband helps me with mitered corners and sewing bias together, for some reason my mind does not get around sewing bias together.  

I've never understood my friends' amazement over quilts created by men.  To me quilting is like any other art form....unisex.  I do find the difference in tone and color schemes by men quilters very interesting.  I really enjoy reading and watching quilting articles about and by our quilting guys.

I think it is a great  thing ..It would help men to understand our passion for this craft...Barbara

I love that men are into quilting! I especially love men who are into cooking and cleaning! But seriously, men have wonderful, creative minds and bring so much into the quilting world. It wouldn't be the same without them.

I don't see a problem with men quilting - they have brains and imagination like we do (some of them anyway). My cousin quilts and does a really good job. My husband thinks it's sissy-fied but he doesn't realize all the help he gives me.When I paper piece he takes the paper off, he is getting rather well adept with the seam ripper (too much practice) and he helps me in color choices and patterns. If he only knew how much he really is involved.

I think it's great for men to join in Quilting.  Quilting is no different than drafting, engineering and housework. Men are ower equal partners and I believe they can bring great beauty and imagination when it comes to putting a quilt together.

my husband grew up with his grandmother quilting (they lived with her) and he automatically started checking my scrappy quilts to make sure I had the colors distributed in a pleasing manner. His grandmother loved quilting so much, he already knew the value of quilting on many levels, and is very supportive of my passion. Of course, when we got married, he also had as many cookbooks as I did, so we never had the men-only or women-only conflicts. I used to belong to a guild for awhile, and there were 2 men in it. The year after I left because it was too far for me to drive, they elected one of them president, so I guess there are a lot of women who have no problem with it! Why should we? Quilters generally like to share the fun with anyone who will listen, so why not men too?

I think it is great to have men quilting or even just sewing. I taught all my boys to sew, quilt and cook. My son just got back from Iraq and he and his wife came home for 3 weeks and the first thing he did was get my extra machine out some fabric and he sat and sewed everyday he was home I really think it was good for him to step back from 15 months over there and just relax with something he enjoys doing. I feel good to know I gave him that when he was a child and he still enjoys it.                 Thanks Lisa

I love having men in quilting!! There are several benefits, their mechanical inclination gives a new perspective to many quilt designs.  They have a different way of looking at things which gives us fresh ideas.  AND...gives us someone to flirt with!!!! lol

Quilting is for anyone...men included.  Even blue aliens with five eyes and three arms!   It's a good way to express yourself through color and design.

My husband brings a different perspective to his quilting, and to mine. He was a carpenter for years, so he already had the "angles" down and could see designs a little differently than me. He also takes his piecing much more seriously than I do....his have to be absolutely perfect (while mine may have a few "creative liberties" if you know what I mean!). We've opened a new quilt shop together, and having his eye and design ideas involved has really made it a well-rounded shop as far as fabric styles. He also longarms, and again, his attention to the little details has made this quite a unique adventure so far. He inspires me to try new ideas and is there to bounce ideas off of. He grew up in a quilting family, so I wasn't surprised at all when he finally decided to start piecing quilts for himself instead of just helping me with mine. I think men are just as capable as women when it comes to quilting....first my grandfather (who hand quilted with my grandmother) to my husband, to one of our male customers who belongs to 2 local quilting guilds....they've all made absolutely beautful quilts.

all the comments agree that men are ok in the quilting world. i'm going to disagree. i think it's good for husbands and wives, or partners to have different intrests and time apart to do they enjoy. my husband is retired and i relish the hours i spend alone down in my quilting studio. i love him dearly but i don't want him quilting with me.

I think it's great that there are so many men who quilt.  I always consult my husband when I am picking out colors because he has really good taste when it comes to color.  He has a very creative mind, so he would be a great quilter!  If a man wants to quilt, more power to him.

I think that men have added a lot to the quilting world.  They have invented tools and machines to help quilters.  I also think many men are very mechanical and mathematical and make very interesting quilts.  I would enjoy having a man in my quilting group or in class.  I also am glad that my husband supports my quilting and sometimes helps me with his comments and advice.

I certainly see no problems in men quilting, my husband used to knit before our children got born. Men can learn anything we can learn and visa versa. I would love to share something like this with my husband or son(s).

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I believe that men can be just as good a quilting as women.  There are two men in our quilting guild and they both do really good work.  They look at things in a different way then women.  Also my husband has now started piecing and he does good work.  I have trouble trying to teach him anything because he will not listen to me, so I have another lady tell him how to do things.  He does not give her as hard a time.  Also he enjoys it.  He does better on running on the qauilting the machine then I do because I do not feel comfortable with it.  So on somethings, I think men maybe even better then women.  

I am one of those men that quilt.   My wife had done some hand quilting years ago.   I started sewing to learn to make drapes and other home decor items.   One day I saw a little table runner that was pieced and quilted and I decided to give it a try.   Well, I fell in love with the design and construction of quilts.   We (men) are typically a little more stubborn and have to learn from our mistakes - some of us don't take instruction very well.   Where I live there are two quilt guilds, and one of them has a male president.     Obviously I think it's great to see more men involved in quilting.  I think we bring a new perspective to the art of quilting.  My wife and I work on projects together all the time and most of the time it's fun.  : )

I have to giggle at the "hooplah" about men quilting.  You do know that there was a period in our history where almost only men were the tailors, dress designers, etc., right?

I love the different perspective I see from men in their quilts and even how they approach the use of tools.  Yes, we have men in our guild.  Some come along with wives & then get hooked.  Others have approached it totally on their own.

While my husband doesn't quilt (he says woodworking gives him the same peace that quilting does for me), he can sew almost as well as I can.  (I used to say as well as I can, but he pointed out I've grown in my skills the past couple of years.)  He is a valuable part of the quilts I put together, giving good advice on color & textile placement, adjusting patterns, etc.  I have to say, he loves fabric just as much as I do, so he participates in our stash building as well.

I think it's great for men to quilt!  My husband made his first quilt a couple of years ago - a kaleidoscope - and has been hooked ever since.  He has a great eye for color and design.  There are already some great male quilters we've all heard of (Mark Lipinski, Ricky Tims, etc) and we can definitely use more.

I am the only Quilting male member of Our Guild. My acceptance is total and most enjoyable. I do see colors and arrangements and production differently than most of the other members. I was a cabinet maker before arthritis drove me from the wood shop to the sewing table. I am self taught and make most of mine and my wife's clothes as well as many gifts. Quilting has become a way of life and it would be loss to both me and the Guild if I were not allowed full participation.

Why not? Quilting is an art with fabric as a medium, and it use is not limited by gender, anymore than paint is.

Since I live in the Dallas area I have been able to view the quilting of a great artist who happens to be a man. Richard Lawson's work is very much in demand. I just finished a machine quilting class that a gentleman took with his wife. We need the men's perspective to stay fresh.

In times past men almost exclusively were the artisans, the tailors, the architects, the businessmen. Women took care of business at home.  Now as the art of quilting has surpassed the original sewing together of scraps to make a blanket for the home, and has evolved into an actual art form all its own, it is not surprising that there are more men involved in quilting and I expect to see it rise in popularity even more.  

As for making quilting more attractive to men, I think that a wider variety of non-floral fabrics is key.  Also, I am constantly searching for patterns and books that feature quilts that men can appreciate and even enjoy owning.

I have no problem with men quilting. We have men in our yahoo quilting club and they enjoy quilting as us women do. I grew up with seven brothers who learned various crafts including those that at the time only women did. (knitting, sewing etc.) I am all for men and women enjoying the crafts of their choice.  I have also seen men looking at long arm quilting machines and talking to vendors prior to purchase. I don't believe in having crafts for women and others for men. Find something you like and let the fun begin.

My husband talked me into teaching him, my granddaughter and a friend to quilt back in 2002. They were amiable students and we met every Sunday morning around 11. We would work for about 1-1/2 hour take a lunch break and go back at it for another 2 hours. He is the only one who has kept up. His talent for the abstract so far out weighs mine and I'm amazed at how his originality bring new ideas to mine and his projects.

I think most men do not get involved with quilting because it was always a "sissy" thing and until we "women" start teaching our children that the only difference is so small between the two, men will not consider quilting "macho"!

I think it's great that there are male quilters. I know of one gentleman who goes with his wife fabric shopping all the time. I think he does more quilting than she does and it is beautiful!

I'm not sure how to get more men involved in quilting. I think it's the problem of getting more people, in general, involved with sewing, crafting and artistic expression. People need to realize that everyone has creative potential and to not be afraid to express it in whatever media that person chooses.

My husband quilts.  It is such fun, he likes quilt shows and quilt hops.  No complaints when I want to go to a show.  He likes geometric patterns and muted colors.  I like applique and bright colors.  We have a great stash.

If shops would make a masculine section and emphasized the tools, more men would be interested.  Men make their own fishing flies, and carve.  Cater to those items.

Companies could do the same by making tools for larger hands and patterns with masculine themes.  Look at the displays in hardware stores and places like Bass Pro.

I have been teaching children for 20 years and recently began teaching them some simple quilting and embroidery techniques......do you know, the boys were the best at it??!!!  It was amazing to watch their enthusiasm and talent develop over a short period of time!   I'm all for boys and men quilting....after all, it is an equal opportunity world isn't it????

I think it is wonderful that more men are getting into quilting. Locally we have Matt Sparrow who does gorgeous long arm quilting along with helping his wife with their 9 kids! I follow several blogs that are sponsored by the men..they do some spectacular work.

Not sure how to draw them into this craft..been trying to get my brother interested but he is a die hard biker. Can't get him to realize it doesn't make him less macho!!

I think men bring a different view to the quilt world.  They also use different methods to achieve their goals.  Men defiantly belong in quilting...  I enjoy watching Ricky Tims.

I am a man and yes I am a quilter it has been something I had wanted to do for years, something that spoke to me from deep inside. You see I have Amish roots and my Great Aunt and Great Grandmother were quilters and well I guess it skipped a few generations. I have frankly no problem being the only rooster in the hen house and seem to be greeted quite warmly by fellow female quilters. I was however chased out of a fabric store once by the shop owner who couldn't believe a man wanted to shop in her store even if it was only for embroidery floss. I also was singled out as the only man in a Ricky Tims class by Ricky himself, but I know it was all in good fun. I sometimes think of myself as more of a fiber artist since I have done so many differant things with fiber through the years but I have to say my current passions are quilting and crosstitch and sometimes those two art forms like to play together. I have know a number of quilters both male and female and I enjoy learning sharing and growing right along side of all of them. I feel very much at home as a man in what some would say is a womans world and am glad to know we are welcome and treated as equals. Create on!!!

I'm out numbered 3 to 1 in my house with sports equipment strewn everywhere.  Lucky for me, my youngest son also quilts.  We share a sewing room and each have our own machine.  I think what he brings to quilting is a fearlessness.  He's not bothered by conventions and traditions.  Once we moved passed the basics of accurate measuring, cutting and piecing he showed a freshness to design I never had.  

He can walk up to my project, pull out fabric from my stash and suddenly make my quilt pop.  I love what he adds and my husband encourages him to keep trying projects.  The one time his older, high school brother teased him about doing a girl project their Dad was all over him letting the teenager know that there was absolutely nothing cooler than a well made quilt.  My hubbie doesn't quilt (he can't sit still for more than 15 minutes) but he helps design my quilts and has an even better eye for color than our son....must be where he got it from.

I think men can do anything a woman can do...except childbirth! (But even that we do do together, dont we?)  My father was taught to knit while recovering in a military hospital in Europe during WWII, he had to wait almost a year for safe passage on a boat across the Atlantic!  Women have found an artistic outlet within a necessary task, and the greatest artistic minds of all time have been men.  Why does it surprise women when men find solace in something women have found theraputic for years?  Men, women, young, old, fat, thin, fancy new computerized machines, old fashioned hand work, this is a big beautiful quilting world!  I say, bring it on!

I think quilting is so universally enjoyable that I'd be surprised if men weren't involved.

While I don't personally know any men that quilt, I wouldn't mind it.  I have seen some on TV quilt shows and one thing is sure; they think differently about things than women do.  I guess we all know that already, right?  I mean they have very different and interesting ways of approaching the whole concept of quilting.  Their way of figuring out how it's going to work, their process I guess, is always so much more scientific than mine is.  I say scientific for lack of a better word.  It's acutally more than that.  Anyway, I find it inspiring and energizing and I wish more men quilted.  

I think it's great that more men are becoming involved in quilting. Since they haven't been brought up in the "these are the quilt rules" traditions, they are sometimes less inhibited, less worried about "the quilt police". I've noticed a lot more men at quilt shows recently, & they look interested, instead of looking like they've been dragged in!

Men as quilters-why not.

I teach  junior quilting to kids 8 thru 12.  I have 2 boys and three girls.  A lot of the time the boys pay closer attention than the girls.  I also teach abult classes.  I have one man in those classes.  Charlie has come up with several patterns that he has designed that everyone has done and loved them.

GREAT ASSESTS!!   i Taught my son who is 43 how to quilt.  I guess he got interested in by watching me.  But also when he was younger I taught him to needlepoint and he learned the chain stitch too.  During one snow storm, I taught my two daughters and him how to crochet.  Now every year he hosts a "quilting retreat" in his home.  His home is spacious enough, one year we had 22 sewing machines humming.  We now have a yearly retreat on his behalf.  We have now 2 gentlemen in our mist at our retreat.  Love their ideas.  Dan, paper-pieced two pillows and they are gorgeous!  Also made draperys' in his living room.  I was amazed at results.  Those two men are the buzz!!  

We also have a gentleman in our Quilting Guild, i belong to.  His work is exquisite!  Don't know how else to discribe it.  He has even given classes for us members.  Some of his work is 'show stopping'.  His wife also belongs and their work is done separate, but together, they are a cute team.  I call all men, GREAT ASSESTS, in the sewing world............yes, we need them.........they are more than welcomed.

I don't think you can look at a quilt a tell if it was made by a man or a woman, but as there is a social side to quilting that is were men and women differ. As I live in New York City, there are plenty of men who quilt (our guild is about half and half, which draws other men as well), so here it is not a novelty, but I still remember the days when I would go into a quilt store and the clerk would come over and ask if I understood what kind of store it was.

Hello Ladies,

          I am a man and I enjoy quilting with my lady friends at Desert Quilters of Southern Nevada and belong to the American Sewing Guild. I started sewing at age 62.  I didn't know how to thread a sewing machine or stitch in a ditch.  With the help and thoughtful teaching from some wonderful ladies, I continued on my path to finish my first King Size quilt. Photo posted in "show and tell".

By the way, I was taken to my first ASG meeting by my friend, a 79 yo man, who had been sewing for many years. There are 3 guys now attending monthly meetings. Thanks for allowing us join in the fun.

I am a male quilter and am no longer treated like a curiosity; probably due to all the men that have joined the quilting world.  It also helps that there are many famous male quilters (Kaffe Fasset, Ricky Tims, Mark Lipinski, etc...)

It is awesome how men and women can bring their different perspectives and influence each others' quilting knowledge.

P.S. - Rules?  What rules?!!!!

Where I go to quilt and play, there are three men who are often there.  Two of them are great but one is just Mama's boy.  I don't mind them there but someitmes, I feel that they "invaded" one of the few spots that we women can just let our hair down and chat!  The guys tend to have their own very strong opions about just about everything and often I feel that everything I say is measured and reivewed and then judged.  Maybe that is just me, but someitmes I just like to be with women!  Maybe this comes from having 4 very alpha male sons before my daughter and being testosteroned to death!  <GGG>

However, they re really great at piecing and have a very different view of color and form.  

Please understand that it's not that I am ranting and raving, but I do miss the girl times we all used to have.

The more skills a person, male or female, has, the more rounded the personality.  I taught my son and grandson how to sew - and quilt.  The line that separated men and women has almost been erased!  Good thing.

My wife and I have been quilting together for over 20 years.  We love doing it together.  I find that I tend to be more of the designer, planner and also the cutter and pinner, while she does the sewing.  We both quilted a king size Cathedral Window quilt to start with, all done by hand.  We send out for the actual quilting of the top and finish by hand with the binding.  It's great fun and something we both share a love for.

Our guild of approximately 200, proudly has 2 men members. Both are excellent quilters and participate fully in the guild's activities. It creates a mindset of the gals that it's great to involve your husbands, sons and grandsons in the great tradition of quilting. Having 2 grandsons (ages 13 and 7), both have expressed their desire to learn to sew. The oldest made his first quilt at age 7 and entered it in the guild's bi-annual quilt show; his quilt won First Place in his category, and Viewer's Choice in the Youth Division; his prizes included money as well as the ribbons and recognititon. He is preoccupied with football now, and hasn't worked on quilting since his win, but he shows interest in my own projects, and that has encouraged the 7 year old to want to learn the art, also. The little one is having his quilting lessons this summer and loves "being creative" (his own words).  Although my husband doesn't quilt and doesn't want to, he is involved in making some design and color decisions with me. He is in charge of photographing finished work. And,I have taught him how to shop for fat quarters when in a quilt shop, to free me up to check out the bolts!!  So, he is involved to the point he feels comfortable. Yea Men!!!  

Quilting is a universal, cross gender love of creating with fabric! We have two men in our guild and they come from opposite ends of the spectrum... modern artsy - homespun... really no different than our women members.  I have attend classes with both and have learned from and enjoyed their participation just as much as I do the female members, actually sometime more. Just as many shapes and colors make a beautiful quilt, many different people make a beautiful quilting family!

I think the men in my family (husband and 3 sons) would find quilting to be too "small" for them.  They are more into outdoor landscaping/building projects and indoor home improvement.  However, the boys' tiling projects are very much like patchwork, requiring precision cutting and laying...just like quilting.  This questions has prompted me to consider whether I will teach my grandson to sew and/or quilt later (he just turned 3).  My biggest concern would be having to share my Bernina and stash if my husband wanted to quilt.

Good Morning;  My husband does not quilt, but he does stain glass.  That said when I am at a loss between colors, I am color blind on blues, greens and some reds, he is the best adviser I can have around.  Yes, I quilt even tho color blind, sometimes my kids question my tones, but who cares, I love the patterns and so far no one has turned one down.lol.  Men who paint have an awesome color sense.  And are great sources of information when in doubt about coordination.  I hope more men come out and quilt.  Oh, my DH also does paintings.