January 1977, that’s when I started quilting. I had attended a small craft show in Charlotte, N.C., and met a woman quilting. Her name was Sue McCarter, and she taught quilting. I had leftover dress fabric and owned a sewing machine I used to make clothing. I loved to sew, paint and craft. How expensive could this hobby be if I already had the essentials?

It didn’t take long before Sue’s students and friends decided to create a quilting group. That group went onto become the Charlotte Quilters Guild years later. Several of us were in our 20s, modern quilters of that day. I felt fortunate that every place I lived as a young person I was able to find a guild with women my age, and I found friends who supported each others’ steps outside the “quilt norm.” That’s not always the case, and I think that’s part of the reason for the rise in the “modern quilt guild.” It’s quilters looking for like-minded quilters.

This “modern” trend started with a group in Los Angeles in October 2009 and has now spread to 100 cities around the world. The Internet was the driving force for the quilters connecting, and Alissa Haight Carlton, co-author of Block Party: The Modern Quilting Bee, thought that it would be great for them to meet in person. Today they have organized meetings, field trips, speakers – just like other guilds with a different focus.

The definition of modern also varies depending on the branch of the group. One of the modern quilt groups in my area asks that you define modern for yourself before you join. The basic definition is that modern quilting goes beyond basic traditional quilting, while still respecting traditional quilts. It’s a new twist on tradition. That could be traditional blocks in a fresh, fun pattern. Or it could be totally improvisational. It could be a modern technique or modern fabric. On the Modern Quilt Site, the founders make the point that if they had rules, the only rule would be that there are no rules.

Today, it appears the modern quilt guild is going strong. You’ll find young and not-so-young members, art quilters and even a few traditionalists. It’s a positive for growth in our industry, connecting more and more quilters. You can read more about this or find a guild in your area at the modern Quilt guild. I’d love to hear from some of our members who are active in modern quilt guilds.

The International Association of Professional Quilters offers resources and networking opportunities for you to create a success from your quilting business.  Learn about all the benefits of IAPQ membership and join here.