Some people have the misperception that quilt making involves a whole team of seamstresses and a frame as big as a Cadillac. This communal way of making a quilt can be lots of fun but it’s also possible to make a quilt at home, alone, with no frame at all.
Quilting bees may epitomize the process of quilt making but there’s no need to make a special event of making a quilt. Unless you just want to. Any time a group of like-minded individuals comes together, fun, laughter, and creative juices flow. And the more hands involved in the process, the sooner the quilt gets finished.
Quilt making, communal style, is an outstanding way to make quilts for a common cause, be it a church bazaar, charity fund raiser, or to celebrate the birth of a grandchild or marriage of a son or daughter. Events such as these are delightful social occasions but the teamwork makes the quilting go much faster, too.
Quilt making with a group is a great way to learn the craft. When a group of craftsmen or women, regardless of the craft, comes together, competition is surely in the air. It is likely to become a source of pride to show a beginner the perfect stitch or how to design an attractive quilt or to pass along the learning experiences once considered mistakes.
And quilt making can be a very relaxing solitary endeavor. Many people find that working on a labor-intensive, manual project, such as making quilts or even birdhouses or crocheted pot holders, is a great way to escape the worries of the work-day world and relieve the stress of an otherwise hectic lifestyle.
Regardless of whether quilt making involves one person or one dozen, it presents an excellent opportunity to mix the creative with the functional. And many people feel that quilting bridges generation gaps and brings the quilt maker in touch with family members and ancestors who passed along the knowledge, and the quilts, from one generation to the next.
