quiltersmuse.com Blog

Letter to the Editor

Ma’am–

I found your article, “The Value of your Quilt,” to be of interest. However, I could not help but notice that it had a decided leaning toward women as quilters. You did make a few references to the masculine pronoun, and I was happy for that as a male quilter.

My question is why aren’t male quilters featured equally with female quilters? Granted there is the sheer historical weight of quilting being part of a woman’s domestic duty, but this is the 21st century and the times have changed.

I quilt simply because it allows me to sit quietly and work creatively without needing a lot of specialty equipment or dedicated space. I also quilt to make a contribution to my world, explore the past, and leave something behind that will potentially outlive me.

As a new quilter, I have yet to develop my own style–my first quilt being an art piece fueled by a trip to Ireland and my second quilt (in progress) of being a chance to develop traditional technique and skill–which was somewhat lacking from my first attempt at quilting. I have one more planned for a gift and I figure that by then, I should have a handle on my technique and skill set enough to develop my own artistry with the medium.

It’s hard for me to relate to other quilters because of the great gender divide. I am sure I could learn from them and I do need help with some things, but its extremely awkward because to some extent, I really am the odd man out–literally. Surely there has to be more male quilters out there than just me.

I am a male. And I quilter.

Rick Danner
Pensacola, FL

PS–I am attaching some pictures of my work in case you are interested as to what male quilters can do.

Dear Rick,

You are definitely not alone. You just have not been around the quilt world long enough to realize that many men quilt. Some are quilt artists. Others are involved in a more general way with various aspects of the quilt industry. Some are museum professionals, show organizers, quilt appraisers, book or magazine writers and editors, television producers, fabric designers, long-arm quilters and quilt judges, or who own companies that manufacture fabrics …

Names that come to mind, off the top of my head, are men such as Joe Cunningham, Ricky Tims, John Flynn, Donald Beld, Alan Kelchner, Tristan Blakeman, Shawn Quinlan, Mark Lipinski, Gerald Roy, Richard Cleveland, Jack Braunstein, Kevin Key, Matt Sparrow, Robert Shaw, Rod Kiracofe, the Mancuso Brothers, Russell Moline, Douglas Eagleson, Alex Veronelli, and many other men who continue to make significant contributions to the world of quilting.

Welcome! There is room for quilters of both genders, as well as all nationalities and colors. Creativity is a wonderful thing and is not located just within the circles of women who traditionally, as you say, have taken on family “sewing” as a responsibility. Quilting as a creative outlet goes far beyond “patchwork,” as your own work proves.

You are off to a great start! If you’d like the support of other male quilters, think about joining the Quilt Art list online, or connecting with other quilters on Facebook. Your work is obviously meaningful to you and is very relaxing, as well as expressive.

Thank you for your note and for sharing photos of your beautiful quilts. I will be more careful with my pronouns in the future, because quilting is truly an all-encompassing pursuit that I am happy to see enjoyed by both men and women. I hope you will share more quilt photos with us, in the future. By the way, if you can spare any photos of Ireland, I’d love to feature those, too. Doesn’t look like I will ever be able to go to the land of my ancestors.

Best,

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Editor’s Note: I feel that the sentiments expressed here by a housewife in New Brunswick, Canada are heartfelt and compelling enough to “pass on.” The information was forwarded to me by a Canadian/American friend.

Letter to the Editor:

Are we fighting a war on terror, or aren’t we? Was it, or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001, and have continually threatened to do so since?

Were people from all over the world not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from the nation’s capitol, and in a field in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning, or crushing death that day, or didn’t they?

And I’m supposed to care that a few Taliban claimed to be tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from, and are fighting against, in a brutal insurgency?

I’ll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I’ll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief in which is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan.

I’ll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg’s head, while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I’ll care when the cowardly so-called ‘insurgents’ in Afghanistan come out and fight like men, instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I’ll care when the mindless zealots who blows themselves up, in search of nirvana, care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I’ll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground, or their families waiting at home to hear about them, when something happens.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:

I don’t care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head, when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:

I don’t care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and ‘fed special’ food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being ‘mishandled,’ you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts:

I don’t care.

And oh, by the way, I’ve noticed that sometimes it’s spelled ‘Koran,’ and other times ‘Quran.’ Well, Jimmy Crack Corn, you guessed it,

I don’t care!!

And may I add?

Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. Soldiers don’t have that problem.

One last thought for the day:

Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ

2. The Canadian Soldier.

3. The British Soldier.

4. The U.S. Soldier, and

5. The Australian Soldier

One died for your soul, the other four for your freedom.

Thanks to Betty Cant for bringing this letter to our attention. The thoughts contained therein make it clear that at least this one Canadian lady is not forgetting those who suffered or died on September 11th. There was no mercy shown to people in the Twin Towers, or in the Pentagon, or in the field of Pennsylvania. They died, and had no choice in the matter. I am running this letter, as a responsible journalist who is happy to be reminded of those losses … lest we forget.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications