Quilting Group dynamics

Hi Wendy, thought I'd put my two bits in as am doing both. I used to teach at my retail premises and charged for the class. When I closed the retail,the classes wanted to continue, the day classes I charged for as it was my income and the night one which I wasn't that keen on being held to (going out at night and teaching can be quite hard), formed a group that meets once a week at different houses. They still ask me for advise and help with planning but I get advise back along with the flexibilty of not having to go, should I be sick or just plain tired. I have recently left a office position and my night group has asked me to start teaching again - being paid. So I am in the mist of organising premises for my classes. Hope this is some help

Reply to
Liz and Steve Ford
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OK, I asked this question at my Quilt University discussion forum (class is on teaching quilting classes), but I didn't like the tone of the responses. I know this group much better, so I know how to judge your responses better.

Here's the thing. After my (highly successful) book club meeting, several of the neighborhood women suggested a quilting group. Since some of the women are complete beginners, they may need some help getting started. I thought the group would be a good place for this to happen. I am happy to help in any way I can, including teaching somebody how to make a quilt. However, my QU class is all "don't be taken advantage of" and "you'd better charge money for that" and that sort of thing.

I would like to start a quilting group around here. I'm interested in a group that meets at least once a month, does show and tell, perhaps offers opportunities for creating group or individual charity quilts, and does like a secret santa kind of thing at Christmas. People could bring something to work on, or not, as they wish. I want a casual group, where kids can tag along if childcare is unavailable for members.

Thoughts? Advise?

Reply to
frood

Sounds like a wonderful plan to me! Just what we do, only we meet once a week here. We're addicts and recruiters. Me and Musicmaker keep ourselves BUSY! But it's so fun. Go for it!

Karen, Queen of Squishies some people just don't understand the old fashioned sewing circle thing - ignore them

Reply to
Queen of Squishies

Reply to
Butterfly

I suspect that your QU class is very aware of the tenuous line between being a professional teacher and someone who helps friends out. Coming from an interior design background, I'm aware of the "fighting" that goes on for professional recognition. Sometimes it leads to a rather deep line being drawn between what constitutes a professional interior design individual from the local mom doing interior decorating selling out of her home. Please understand I am in no way implying that the local mom is in any way inferior in my comparison.

Quilting is another area in which it is very hard for someone even with experience and takes the responsibility to treat their teaching seriously to be treated with that same professional regard. Isn't the whole idea of the QU class to share ways to become more professional? To offer better classes, and to avoid the hassles that come when misunderstandings occur precisely because there's no formal contract, or terms are vague and not in writing?

As far as your group goes, I'd say go for it! If you feel a need to keep things "even" then offer them ways to help you help them. If they start asking you to teach things that they saw in a class schedule at the LQS and are trying to get something for nothing, then you might change your mind. But first, they'd have to have the 'fever', right? I don't see anything wrong with helping beginners catch the bug we quilters have. muwahahaha. :)

If things go right, you could end up with the best relationship possible with the LQS. That of bringing new buyers and students to their shops, and giving them a better knowledge of what their customers want.

If the forum seems irritated at this, then they are missing the good side. That without friendly encouragement and group support, no one knows to take the classes they are clearly interested in teaching at the quality level (with the desired income) they strive for. All you would be doing is showing your friends just what a marvelous world it is out there!

Sounds yummy and I am frankly envious that you have such a good local group!

Elena in Tx

Reply to
Elena

You say "some" of the women are complete beginners. Does this also mean that some of the women have at least a few quilts under their belts, so to speak? Maybe the entire burden of guiding wouldn't completely fall on your "already carrying quite a load" shoulders. It sounds like such a lovely idea. I hope you figure out how to do it. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Reply to
julia sidebottom

Sounds like the group I want to join! Maybe create a "kiddy corner" with their own plastic needles and fabric squares where they can "sew" too if they want. Or just some toys, heck even a video!

Help out the ladies who need help (I wish I'd been able to find a helper) as much as they need it but if they appear to need babying along perhaps mention that you teach quilting classes and invite them along. Or if there are several ladies who want to attend a class perhaps offer one at a nominal sum.

Lemme know how it goes.

Reply to
Sharon Harper

I am comfy with helping out my neighbors, just as they help me out. I have been the happy recipient of many baby-sitting hours, use of dryers and washers when mine were fritzed, rides back and forth, groceries fetched, and I have provided similar favors.

I think if we start a quilting group, I'm hoping every person will offer advice and support in whatever way they can. Some will know more about quilting, others will have awesome cheese and sausage grits recipes!

I would like to do meetings in each other's houses, like the book club does. But if somebody can't host, somebody else could step in.

Reply to
frood

I am hoping to teach classes at my LQS - which is why I'm doing the QU course. I think there is a difference between sharing knowledge and support in an informal group, and in teaching a class. One of my neighbors is an exercise instructor. I took her class for years, and only dropped out when the program changed (she teaches a franchised program) and I couldn't stand it anymore. I hated dropping out because I love her as a teacher. However, I would never dream of asking her to show me some exercises for free, and I don't think any of my other neighbors would, either.

Now, I may be in for a rude surprise, but I think these particular women will understand that a quilting group is a group effort, not a single person teaching. And that's what I'm hoping for - a mutually beneficial group with a common interest. If it turns out that others in the neighborhood are hoping for a class in quilting, well, then I'll just have to decide if I want to teach a class, and what I would charge and make a lesson plan, and see if it flies!

If I teach a class at the LQS, it wouldn't be beginning quilting for adults, although I may consider beginning quilting for children, as I have some experience teaching that (2 kids so far, 3 State Fair ribbons for them), so there wouldn't be a conflict for me. I don't even think my LQS offers a beginning quilting class, but I could be wrong.

Reply to
frood

Don't let anyone tell you what you should do. Do what you WANT to do. I've had people convince me I should ask for money for things I was doing cuz I wanted to do it. When I started asking for money, it felt wrong and it fizzled. If you don't need the money (well, who doesn't, but you know) and they are buying their own materials, I say do it for the fun of it. I had someone show me for free and if they hadn't, I wouldn't have been able to do it.

Reply to
LN (remove NOSPAM)

Wendy,

Sounds like you want to start a guild. When my guild started 10 years ago, a group of ladies (about 10) planned out a meeting, then put an ad in the local paper. They expected 20 people max to come. They had 150 at that first meeting. We now have over 525 members. Great way for newbies to enjoy learning about quilting while the oldies get to share and also learn new ideas and techniques.

Debbi in SO CA

Reply to
Debbi

Hullo Wendy As the others have outlined, this *can* be fraught with snags. However, it can also be hugely enjoyable. Here's what I have done:

We moved here - entirely new area, and no quilt group. I asked around and about half a dozen people were interested. We met at my house, brought hand work to do as we talked! and proceeded - once a month. No-one was a sewing beginner but one was a quilting beginner. I used to give time to her - outside the group time. I thought it was a good idea to give her a basic grounding, so she wouldn't feel embarrassed in front of the others. She was a friend from church, and I didn't let money come into it at all. She also came to one of my workshops at the quilt shop we both use, and then she had to pay. After a while, I used to introduce a small instruction session on one topic into each afternoon. Mostly I canvassed the group on what they wanted me to talk about, the month before. We showed what we had done between times, and discussed what we were doing next and so on. We had tea and biscuits, but no real meal. They gave me a present at Christmas for hosting - and that was fine. (I would have been just as happy without it - but they wouldn't!)> We have stopped now, as the members (all but one) have given up!!

My miniatures group is a little different: We meet less often, but only do the work at home between meetings. We go to different houses in turn, and we have lunch. Those who haven't got houses large enough to host, bring the lunch occasionally. We take turns in setting a challenge - which is discussed beforehand. No-one here is a complete beginner, but there is still an element of instruction - it crops up as we discuss the work. We show what we have made for each meeting, first our miniature, then other work. No money is involved, and has never been mentioned.

If you are hoping to progress to professional classes, I think a group such as you suggest will be 'worth money' to you to gain experience of working with a group; how the members interact with you and each other, and so on. If you ever feel you *are* being taken advantage of; or you need the time to go professional, then you can suggest that it moves away from your home, and becomes a rather more 'official' group with premises and subs. and so on. . In article , frood writes

Reply to
Patti

Julia, Jan, and other of you who are wanting a group - sure wish you guys lived closer. We would take you right in!

Karen, Queen of Squishies

Reply to
Queen of Squishies

That would be fun wouldn't it!!! :-)

Jan

Reply to
Jan Dunaway

Nah, I've got one of those now, plus RCTQ. I don't want rules and regs and points of order. I want some friends to play with. :-)

Reply to
frood

I don't see anything wrong with leading a beginning quilt group "gratis", as long as you are compensated for your time by the friendship and satisfaction you'll get from it. :) The small group I belong to has all experience levels, from a lady who had never made a quilt block before joining all the way to our two professional quilters, and everything in between. We're all great friends, we all teach each other, and it works well.

But I do agree with the "don't get taken advantage of" part of the QU advice. Decide in advance what your boundaries are. For example, is this going to be a class that you teach, or an informal group where everyone teaches each other? Are you going to provide supplies? Lend out your books? IMHO there isn't a right or wrong answer, it's just a matter of deciding where your comfort level is and sticking to it.

But most of all, HAVE FUN! :)

Reply to
Kathy Applebaum

Not all guilds have rules or points of order. One guild in our area gets together every Tuesday morning at a local church. They bring hand work, they come to talk, they stop by just to see what everyone else is working on. Sometimes if someone needs a quilt sandwiched and pinned they'll bring that and everyone pitches in to help. It's amazing how quickly a huge quilt can be sandwiched and pinned with lots of willing hands.

Reply to
Donna in Idaho

I think it's commendable that you want to start a quilting group :) As a non-profit org though there should be dues, a constitution, officers. Otherwise it's just a bunch of people getting together for fun. While it is supposed to be fun of course, it should also have some official status. You could start out as the President with others as officers. While initially you could be the teacher (for free), with dues and fund rasiers, you could also pay teachers and others in the group could also teach an occassional class (for free) when they have mastered a new technique on their own. This takes some of the burden off of you. Also new officers should be elected every year, again taking pressure off of you.

I wish I could find a convenient quilting group in my area. Either the meetings are at times I am working or they are charity work only. While charity work could/should be part of a quilting group, it should not be the soul purpose because quilters want to learn and grow in quilting techniques.

-- Kathy in CA Quilting Stuff:

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Reply to
Kathy in CA

I think this sounds terrific, Wendy! I'd have loved to have had access to a group like that when I was first starting. Yes, some of the members might try to take advantage of you at first, while they're learning -- but don't we want to encourage our love of quilting? After a few meetings, the newbies should have some idea of what to do and be more self-sufficient. And while they're learning, charity quilts are a marvelous idea -- and after they've learned, too, for that matter. Good for you!

Reply to
Sandy Foster

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