Types of Quilters

Today I've been reading your blogs. I've gotten behind and miss hearing about all that is happening. I've still more reading to do but got thinking about where I fit in to the types of quilters as per Jeanne (Spiral on July 30). I enjoy and admire art quilts, excellent techniques and artisan quits, especially those donated to make other people's lives better.

Like Quilt Pixy, I am wondering about some other categories. Here's my thoughts.

I've seen quilters who are mostly concerned with the result of their quilting. They get a pattern and buy fabric, usually as pictured in the pattern or sample, and then carefully follow the instructions. They want help to pick out the "right" fabric. They want their quilt to look like the example and are anxious to see their finished quilt. Sometimes their quilts don't look like the sample and they are disappointed. In classes they ask which fabric to use where. They like to take "kit" classes.

Another type quilter is one who is fascinated with fabric. She likes to try various fabrics together. Often she likes a print that no one else is buying. At the cutting table she is asked what she is going to do with that fabric. She doesn't know which one of the several ideas she has for it. She gets inspiration from patterns, thinks about ways to rearrange them, makes some blocks and then changes things around, finishes the blocks and lays them out then decides to change it some other way. The finished quilt is definitely unique. She avoids making a quilt that repeats the same block over and over and won't take a class where everyone is doing the same thing with the same fabric. It is not important when or even if she finishes the quilt. Making a quilt quickly or by some deaadline is not in her thought process. Before beginning to read blogs, she never thought her UFOs were unfinished. Rather they were just results of playing or experimenting. She is proud of most of her finished quilts. They wouldn't be finished, if she wasn't. She thinks she will make another one just like one she has made, but never does. She says the thing she likes most about quilting is the process of creating.

I don't know what to call these two types of quilters. All I know is that I am mostly the second one.

I believe quilters are not all something or other, at least not all the time. And thank goodness they aren't. However, I do find that most quilters are interested in what other quilters are doing. They understand each other's frustratons and joys. They encourage and accept each other. They become friends. They are great people. Yes, we are.