I don't care how old I am, if you ever see me wearing something like this, just shoot me. Or take pity on me because I've obviously lost my marbles—could you wipe the drool off my face while you're at it?Sorry, today's post is not devoted to exploring why U.S. women over 65 are (generally) among the worst-dressed on the planet. We'll save that topic for another day. Instead, I'd like to find out why I felt like one of the youngest people around at the American Sewing Guild's annual convention last week in Chicago—and I'm no spring chicken. I chose the photo above because it seemed vests like this and sweatshirts converted into patchwork jackets were the convention uniform of the 65+ set, who had to easily represent 70 percent of the attendees. (I heard there were some 1,000 attendees daily.)
Why so few of the younger crowd here? The instructors were top-notch; the class subjects were varied enough to please anyone's tastes. I do understand retirees have more time to travel and possibly more available funds for discretionary spending on events like this. So I'd expect women 65 and older to come out in strong numbers for this convention. But I just can't figure out why so few women younger than 45 were there.
I am a brand-new member of ASG, having joined it as part of this conference. I don't know anything about the organization other than what I read on its web site, and I've yet to attend a local meeting. So I'm asking you, dear readers, to fill me in if you can: Is the ASG really as gray as it looked at the convention? Do you belong to—and participate—in a local ASG chapter? Why not? Have we reached the point where we're satisfied to network through our blogs, Stitcher's Guild and PatternReview, and face-to-face contact with other sewing enthusiasts is nice—but not really necessary in this busy world of ours? I'd love to read your comments.
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If you'd like to learn more about this year's ASG conference, Lori just posted a Sew Forth Now podcast about it, where she shares some of the tips she learned and urges younger sewers to join ASG.
31 comments:
I used to belong - I served on the local advisory board for about 4 years. The board consisted of mostly younger women but the majority of our membership were older. After awhile I just felt like I didn't have much in common with the rest of the members because our interests were so vastly different. I was a solitary sewer for many years until I discovered online sewing communities.
I wanted to go.... Heck, I only live 3 hours away, which is not any farther than going to the expo in Novi. However, I had family commitments and work that tied me back. Perhaps the lack of younger people is not attributed to lack of commitment, but lack of time as in my case. Once I have free time that I can allocate (ie, once I have my daughter old enough to be left alone), then I'll feel like I can go.
That said, I also have trouble getting to monthly meetings, as I have to drive 1/2 hour, and end up needing a sitter to tend to my daughter.
I'm not a member of our local ASG but I have been thinking about it. My problem is our local ASG is over an hour away and my family life does not give me time to attend a meeting. It would be more of a 3-4 hour stint, most likely at night, and I'm not driving most of the year in the dark in that area going north with all the deer. It's pretty much deserted highway driving going north toward Scranton.
There were a a few Poconos/Lehigh Valley people including myself that were meeting once/month in the Allentown area. We were thinking of our own ASG chapter, but we really need continued involvement. Some people like me will make a point to show up every month, but if others aren't making it or have very spotty attendance, then why bother. I took 4 months off from our meeting because people would forget or say they were going and wouldn't show up. Now we're thinking of restarting in September. For an ASG chapter, we need X number of people and I'm not seeing that on a regular basis. We did toss around the idea of an ASG Neighborhood group or just a simple group like the Lehigh Valley Fashion Sewing Guild with no affiliation with ASG.
Our local Sew and Vac is simply awesome, but unfortunately I do see the trend you are talking about with their customers. Coupled with the fact that the store itself really promotes quilting and home dec, with only a small emphasis on fashion sewing. For some reason, it seems the theme is crafty, rather than fashion.
I went to an ASG conference several years ago when it was in Philadelphia. One of the things I was looking forward to was seeing all the wonderful clothes people made that they would be wearing around the conference. My disappointment was the same as yours upon arriving and looking at what everyone was wearing.
I was certainly one of the younger ones there. I was in my early 30's at the time. With all the young people sewing stuff and selling on Etsy and posting on Patternreview, I would have thought there would be more young people there, too. The quality of the presentations was really amazing, though, and if I ever get the opportunity to attend another of their conventions, I certainly will.
I never got around to attending an ASG meeting after that. I think there was no chapter near where I was living at the time.
Sewing is, by definition, a solitary pursuit, and I guess I prefer it that way. I don't feel much need for a flesh-and-blood sewing community.
I belong to the ASG but never go to the meetings. I went a few times but it was almost like being back in high school--only this clique was much much older. Truth is, I felt like they kind of shunned me because I was younger. Maybe they thought I couldn't possibly know as much about sewing as them since I was younger (probably true, but still), I don't know. The other thing that annoyed me was that they planned all the activities and classes during the day to fit their schedules. Plus, the classes they did have were for something that didn't really interst me--like casserole cozies, how to turn a sweatshirt into a jacket with patchwork, and well, old lady items, in my opinion. Since I haven't reach retirement age yet and still work full time, I could never attend anyway. There were hardly any meetings at night. I'm still a member but only so I can receive the discounts and the newsletter from national ASG. Kinda sad. Hope your local chapter is better. I would have loved to attend the convention, but it was too far away and just not in the family budget this year.
I have considered joining the ASG (A for Australian in my case), but at the moment, I won't. I think time is the main issue, and shared by many younger women.
1. Children 2. Work outside the home as well
An hour on the internet between 11pm and midnight whilst wearing pjs is much easier sewing camaraderie than a 3 hour return drive.Also, I can do this in the living room whilst my husband watches the Tour de France. If I went out for the evening, I would owe him brownie points! When we are retired and over 65, no doubt he will owe me brownie points if I give him a break from sewing talk for an evening.
I would gladly have attended, Lindsay, had I been able to afford the break and the plane ticket of course ;) The convention sounded fantastic.
I used to be an ASG member but it was a long drive for nothing. I mean, most of the women were older and dressed in the "gave up on life" way, and they were interested in quilting, "craftsy" stuff, or "sweatshirts-in-disguise" instead of garment sewing. They didn't care to make garments that involved any fitting.
Why, oh why, do so many people refuse to realize that fitting is not separate from garment sewing, rather it is a part of garment sewing. Is it because they are intimidated, reluctant to learn a new skill, or afraid of facing their body image issues? Or something else entirely?
Either way, I found that the best group to hangout with is the PatternMaster Boutique users group. Those are definitely garment sewers.
Sorry about the rant. You touched a raw nerve here.
i thought about going (i live only 2 hours away), but honestly, i simply don't have the time to do stuff like that. 3 kids and a house and a yard just doesn't leave much time or $ to go to things like that. i'd rather spend it in my sewing room doing something.
i don't belong to my local ASG either (again, it's a time and location issue), but i do get together with a few other girls for our own sewing club, which seems a lot more fun than the few ASG meetings i've been to.
i went to novi 5 years ago, i was 33. it was fun, but i wouldn't make a regular habit of it. classes and stuff just don't really float my boat anyway.
I am not a member of ASG but would like to become a member. I am 40 with 3 lil ones--mostly it is time which keeps me from joining. I love the online community of sewers and right now it works well--I can be at home and communicate with other sewers. I didn't know of the conference in Chicago until I read it in your blog--I was jealous since I live in Chicago and when will it be here again? It sounds exactly what I need---I want the industrial quality. I just began sewing,and I have to say--I can't tell if other women are jealous or think I am nuts. Since I stay at home and it is summer-- it is easy to sew quick sundresses, skirts, etc. I have been getting comments like "did you make that too?" I told one friend and it spread like wildfire. It is that uncommon and strange? I think, sewing is just resurfacing for many younger women, and men. Bernina is doing a great job targetting the younger crowd and I have to say the show Project Runway is helping the sewing community. I take sewing at Vogue Fabrics in Evanston--there are a lot of young students from Northwestern U who come to design/make their own clothes.
And stop me too if I wear a patchwork vest!
Cindy
Oh goodness....I've seen that jacket/vest-monstrosity before. (shudder)
It has never occurred me to join an ASG until I read your blog. I'm in my late 20s and I've only been sewing a few years and got into it via the craft blogging world. (I was originally a knitter.) I get plenty of inspiration, feedback, great tips, book recommendations, etc. from blogs. But your posts on the ASG have made me curious if I'm missing out on something.
Then again, whenever I go to my local fabric shops, they're all run by the sort of women you described in your post. They always turn their noses up at me and look at me like I accidentally fell into their store. They won't ever help me unless I ask and even then they look offended if I even look like I know what I'm talking about. So I guess I just assumed the ASG would be packs of women like that...and I have no interest in that. Bleck.
And... this is why I have turned down going to a lot of sewing gatherings in my area. I'm, frankly, a little bit concerned about being the youngest person in the room. I don't know, though, maybe I need to give conferences and gatherings more than a passing glance and actually go to one sometime. I think it would be easier if I had another younger sewing friend to go with me.
I've never belonged or attended an ASG event but have gone to several sewing expos and the average age and home-made looking clothes are the same. If I we're younger and went to one of these things I don't know if I'd stay.
There's a fashion/design school in my community so those students have to be around somewhere. Maybe they just stick together at the school. I'm planning (for the third time!) to visit my local sewing lounge this week and will see what I can find out from them.
I don't belong to the ASG for the same reason - I'd be one of the younger people there. I wish they would do something to attract a younger crowd, maybe having meetings with more interesting topics?
Instead of joining, I'm like gigi - I prefer to belong to online sewing communities. At least until ASG revamps their recruitment of new members.
"I don't care how old I am, if you ever see me wearing something like this, just shoot me."
LOL. I'm sooooo with you. As far as joining the Guild; never occurred to me. I'm not good at joining anything, maybe because I'm quite solitary as a person. The internet is perfect; I feel the community, yet can do so in the privacy of my own little cocoon.
You don't like that heart rag jacket? lol. I think that pattern's been available for about 10 years on Clotilde's store site...
I'm an ASG member currently (and was on the local advisory board for a couple years quite a while ago) but I almost never go to local meetings ('local' is relative - they are generally about 50 to 100 miles away.) For a while there was an evening group which was much more apparel oriented, but that group no longer meets.
I never exactly felt rejected by the older members, but I did often feel fairly lonely (and like an oddball) while at the daytime meetings. In any case I'm getting almost as old as the majority of the members were 10 years ago, so maybe I should try attending again???
I'm pretty sure I heard Bill Jones
http://www.basingstoke.org/
mention a year ago or so that there is an online chapter of the ASG that you can choose if you like.
I certainly haven't given up on the organization; it's got some good features now as a national organization and there's a lot of potential for the future, I think. The merchant discounts can easily pay for the yearly membership fee and I always learn something from the newsletters, so I plan to keep my membership.
Elaine
I attended ASG and am the Lori with Lindsay in the pictures and I was surprised with the age. Don't get me wrong, in my mid 40's, being one of the younger ones there is flattering to the ego! But I think it is important to get younger sewers involved in ASG, it will bring a new viewpoint to the organization.
My local ASG isn't like what I saw at convention, the women in my group are within 10 years of each other. For the most part, we are a group of fashion sewers like you see at PR and on blogs. I think that is why I was so surprised.
Like the majority of commenters, I don't attend monthly meetings, conflicts with family/school events. I do like going and enjoy sharing with other sewers. Plus the discounts do pay for a membership.
I'm not a member of the ASG as the closest chapter isn't that close! 2 little ones at home to boot, and so many lovely people online... I attended Novi for the first time last year, and was in my element. Felt like Gonzo when he finally found his home planet! But I noticed the same occurenct at Novi, I was the "baby" in the crowd. Novi does hold contests for young sewists, which I think is a great idea to cultivate membership and attendance. Last year, I considered starting an ASG chapter in my area, but I'll probably wait until the little ones are bigger.
I am not a member as of right now. I did try to join a quilt guild and got the same kind of impression as some that have commented here. They were all very much older than me (I was in my early 30s). I think that most of those guilds (whether sewing or quilting) are made up of retirees. Diane said it was "like being back in high school--only this clique was much much older" was so true in my situation too. It really saddened me because I love to sew and quilt and those guilds really put me off.
I was thrilled to see your blog pop on in my google alert for topics on the American Sewing Guild. I was at the conference and I had a wonderful time and I also took the class form Peggy Sagers.
I came from Oregon and I represented the Bend, OR chapter as the president and I arrived ont the 8th and attended a leaders meeting on the 9th and spent some time in town wiht the other presidents on Thursday and had clases Friday through Sunday. I enjoyed going on a tour to Nancy's Notions on Monday with other ASG'ers.
Congratulations on being a new member to ASG as it is a great organization to belong to our.
The chapter I belong to is raher small but it is growing and we have members who mix of young and old. The meetings that we have are educational and we have the members teach us somehing and we also working with the 4H and have a member who just finished the program who shared where experiences in 4H. We also mentor young kid who wante to learn to sew. Also, we are involved in community service projects. Our chapter was honoreed to receive the award for small chapter of the year.
I love ASG and am glad that I am part of it, our chapter is new it will be 2 years old in Aug.
Laurie
As President of an ASG chapter I just wish all you "young" women would get involved and bring your skill and interest to a local chapter.
I was in Chicago for a week attending Leadership Day and taking 10 different hands on workshops and classes. In general it was a great time.
Our chapter works trying to TAG (teach another generation) working with kids in a summer camp and the girl scouts to earn their Sew Simple badge. We would love to work with highschoolers too. I realize many of you work outside the home but I see from reading your blogs many are SAHM's. ASG is about giving as much as getting. I am sure your would be a great asset to any chapter or chapter advisory board. You might just be the person to change the direction of your chapter!
I've never attended the annual Sew Expo, which is only 1 hour away from me, for perhaps similar reasons. I'd love to check it out, but the pictures show too many embroidered sweatshirts and artsy quilting for my taste. I guess one of these days I should go and judge for myself.
Love, love, love the comment about the rag heart attire. I hope someone does the same for me if I ever go down that slippery slope. I actually almost did. I bought this red, parka like coat one winter. The first thing I noticed is that I kept getting hit upon by the "older" crowd at my local grocery store. Then one night I went to the local mall and saw three other ladies over 70 wearing the exact same coat. I went that night and bought a newer hip looking winter coat. I don't know why buy the hits from the old men at the store have stopped. How you dress is more important than we think!!
I am not a member of ASG either. And my reasons are the same as what everyone else has posted. Maybe I'll time in the next year or two but then I'll be up in age with the rest of the crowd and I'll be the one scaring away the young ones. At least I won't be making casserole covers or quilted rag jackets!
I am responding to a comment that was made by Alexandra who said that she felt those who belonged to ASG was made up of those who were quilters or the craft projects and that no one cares about garment sewing and fitting. It is true that there are quilters and there is some craft tuypes of projects however it is not true that no one cares about garment sewing or fitting because there are alot of chapters who do have neighborhood groups that are related to garment sewing and the ASG chapters around the country invite speakers who teach garment sewing and fitting. I believe that ASG is one of the greatest sewing organizations to belong to because it incorporates all types of sewing and needlecraft and there is something for everyone. Also,as a member of one ASG chapter it allows you to be a part of the other ASG chapters around the country and if you go anywhere there is an ASG chapter you can attend their meetings and you can find something that interests you. In addition a big part of ASG is giving back to the community in the form of community service projects and these are done on in the local chapters and at the national level as part of the annual conference each year. The national community service project is chosen by the host chapter each year and the project chosen by the Chicago chapter was an Anti - Ouch Pouch that was designed to give comfort to someone after they had breast cancer surgery. The pouches were sewn by each of the chapters and sent to Chicago and they wer given to the American Cancer Society to distribute to those wo needed them and they were also given out in the each chapter's local area. I am glad that I belong to ASG because it is alot of fun and it is made up of those who are young and those who are old who get together and share their love of sewing and there is something for everyone and if you do not find something you like in your chapter you can get a neighborhood group going that relates to your interest. So, to those of you were part of ASG and who have left, you should go back and give it another try.
Laurie
This is in response to colour by number in regards to ASG having conference in Chicago again. There are not plans to have a conference in Chicago again as each year it is held another location it rotates from the East Coast to the Midwest to the West Coast. The conference next year will be in Albuquerque, NM and in 2010 it will be in Atlanta, GA. It does sound like you are very much interested in becoming member of ASG and you can do that as there is a chapter in Chicago and you can find them by going to the ASG website or by going to your local fabric stores to see if they have a brochure. www.asg.org
Laurie
Hello fellow sewists!
I have been an ASG member for many years now and I am turning 45 tomorrow. As one of the younger members I can tell you that our Guild is made up of so many different interests that one group cannot possibly represent the entire ASG. I hope that those who attended Conference also saw some of the stunning outfits that were sewn and worn by so many members young and old. One of the many great things about the ASG Conference is that if you don't wish to wear a recycled sweatshirt jacket (and personally I do not) you can skip that class or vendor and go straight for the fitting or the luscious fabrics or whatever your heart's desire is! The ASG welcomes anyone and everyone that sews because we all have something to share and learn. I joined ASG and started a chapter when my children were still young. Being a member has been a wonderful experience.
I totally, completely, 100% agree that it was an "older" crowd.... what's up with that!!! I know there are a zillion younger sew'rs out there. I am in my ... er, ah, upper middle 40's (ouch) and felt like a child And it's not the age so much as the mindset! I heard a lot of talk about wanting younger sew'rs, but it seemed to be only talk. Younger sew'rs want to reconstruct and not follow the old rules, and it seems that is tough for some of the older sew'rs. Pati Palmer touched on this a bit in her lunch talk when her daughter did a dress with unfinished edges. We need to encourage them, no matter what techniques they use. I am on the advisory board of our ASG Chapter, and it is my goal to get the younger sew'r. I purposely volunteered to be on the board so I can try/hope to make a dent and get some younger ideas and members.
Lindsay, your comment has provoked some thought. At first, even though the examples shown of vest/sweatshirts were not at all my style, I was feeling that you might have been a little harsh on the ladies. After all, they probably just wanted to be comfortable, and when you are 60-70 your body likely has morphed into a shape that precludes comfort in close fitting clothes. And I would wager that these grannies have probably worked hard to supply their daughters and granddaughters with a lot of stylish/ well fitting clothes that are much appreciated.
Then, I started on a train of thought about generational things as far as what people think are cool or downright hideous. At 49, I am squarely in the far from young, not yet elderly range. Alas, I am still a child of the 70's
There are the classics, which are I suppose fairly cross generationally accepted. Then, there are styles that you kind of have to be of an age range to get. Maybe there is something from the ladies youth, a previous style or something that when they see these tops, it just clicks as "cuuute"!!?
I think women and men of all ages should join the guild when possible and add their own contributions as well as learn technique, etc. from the older and more experienced sewers. If people of all ages attend, every one would have someone to hang with in there comfort zone, and all would benefit. Or just start a chapter of your own? I am going to look up my local options.
However, in support of your frustration I will add a story I heard from a young lady who attended the local knitting group. she asked if anyone had read the Stitch 'N Bitch book, and the members were highly offended at the use of the word bitch. See, if other young people attended, the fact of how much a non issue the word is would have been quickly explained away.
As an ASG chapter president, I joined while in my 40's and helped create a chapter as there was not one within 300 miles. I love to sew garments and don't care about crafts or quilting. Our chapter is small and we just celebrated our
5th anniversary. I lead 2 neighborhood groups - one during the week and one on weekends for those who cannot come on a weekday. We work on garments, study couture techniques and try to improve our skills. This fall we will be making Vogue 8519, a Claire Schaeffer pattern using classic tailoring techniques. We have a segment of our chapter that love to craft and quilt so they have a neighborhood group meeting. Then we have a segment of our chapter that don't attend meetings or try to be involved. Each have their own personal reasons but we still keep up with what's going on in their lives. Our membership age range is 45-60 with some a little younger and some much older. The one common factor is that we all love to sew. I love reading blogs, checking in on several sewing forums and discussion groups. When I was employed, I didn't have time to do these things. Now, that I'm retired, I do have the time and it is enjoyable. If your local chapter is not meeting your needs, please speak up. No one will know why you don't attend or drop your membership if you don't speak up. My DD who is 20 loves to sew but she is not interested in ASG right now. She is busy with college, working and being involved in other activities. Her college friends also sew and often call me for pointers. I think there is a time and place for everything. That's what I love about ASG is that it is open to anyone who wants to belong whether you are active or not.
I've been sewing for over twenty years, since my very early twenties and am still in the under 45 age group of sew'rs. I never gave much thought to joining ASG aside from the discounts I would enjoy. Until now I didn't realize that the majority of convention attendees would be so much older than me, which could make me feel like a fish out of water.
It now seems pretty obvious that many sew'rs under age 50 do not have the time or resources to attend. At the same time many, like me, are likely unaware of the value these gatherings have to offer. Regardless of the demographics, I am seriously considering attending the 2010 convention when it comes to my area, Atlanta, GA.
Lindsay you are absolutely right on all accounts. I have been a member of ASG for several years and my entire purpose in joining was to volunteer my IT experience in an effort to help the national organization to succeed and encourage new and younger membership.
I have always sewn and find it rewarding and empowering. It seems a shame to me that it's a skill that is no longer passed down from generation to generation. The ASG organization is seriously aging and will collapse if they don't get the younger generation involved. Unfortunately, national doesn't really care.
I have worked with local chapters and national. Most members are very comfortable with their little groups and they are EXTREMELY resistant to change. You'll hear a lot of lip service about wanting to improve, update and get new blood in the system but it's never going to happen.
As you probably guessed, I'm a little bitter about the situation. It just boggles the mind that an organization with so much potential can be so blind to the obvious.
I flirted with the idea of starting an organization for people who are really interested in sewing, work full-time, embrace technology and don't think that patchwork jackets are the best thing ever!!
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