When it comes time to choose to join a quilt guild, should we be thinking Traditional vs Modern? They're both quilt guilds but they approach things in a different manner. However I don't think that this is really a case of choosing just one over the the other. Instead I think that we quilters can benefit from the experience and friendships of both groups.
Traditional guilds tend to have larger memberships with quilters who have been sewing for many years. They are quick to share their knowledge of quilting tips as well as life tips if you ever need them. Their quilts lean more towards the traditional in flavor. Perhaps there are members who like civil war era reproduction fabrics, or the 30s Aunt Grace fabrics. Perhaps they like the traditional applique quilts like Baltimore Albums. Regardless of whether you personally like these fabrics and styles, the techniques and skills employed in constructing these quilts are a valid skill to emulate.
Modern guilds tend to appreciate the graphic, more negative space, larger quilt blocks and the newer fabrics, as well as using quite a bit of solids. If you're a traditional quilter then you may not like some of the quilts but it can be refreshing to see the younger generations learning how to sew and quilt. There's a different type of energy present. Their members tend to use social media and the internet to discover new designs and share their works. They're open to experimenting with color combinations and a bit of fabric mixing .. linens with cottons comes to mind. The traditional "primitive" style of folk-art quilts also mix fabrics, wools with cottons and homespuns.
Of course these are generalizations but I think that if you join both a traditional and a modern quilt guild that you'll be experiencing the best of both quilt worlds, not to mention meeting and making many more friends at the same time. That's why I'm a happy member of both the Cheyenne Heritage Quilters here in Cheyenne, WY as well as the Fort Collins Modern Quilt Guild in Fort Collins, CO. Won't you look into the different guild guilds near you? Maybe there's a group nearby that is the "opposite" of what you're currently attending? Try going to a meeting. You may be pleasantly surprised. Come on, we quilters don't bite.
