Stitches

Why are people not joining embroidery guilds in the USA?

We have lost members over the years and are down to about 12 when we once had about 90 members. Are people just too busy? Is there a trend away from needlework, handwork, embroidery? I know knitting has become popular in some places. Is it just a cycle or sign of the times? Kids seem to enjoy tactile arts (knit, crochet, cross-stitch), but don't seem to be looking for places that teach it.

Public Comments

1. I didn't even know there was such a thing as an embroidery guild! I love to cross stitch and am 19 heading into college. Most of my stuff is purely independent since my mom doesn't do it anymore for lack of time. Maybe people aren't joining as much because they don't know about it. Have you tried free local advertising?
2. Fibre arts are doing well here in Eastern Canada, with traditional needlearts having a strong following among adults and increasingly younger people. Time is always a consideration when following a hobby, and those who do needlework, or know those who do, understand the many hours it can take to complete a piece. Fortunately, embroidery is one of those things that can be tucked into a purse and worked on in odd moments. Embroiderers and other fibre fans in Atlantic Canada may be interested in the following web site http://needleworknb.tripod.com I run this web site for Needlework New Brunswick, my fibre arts organization.
3. The EGA in my area meets on weekday mornings and that just doesn't work if you are employed outside the home! Most of the members of this EGA chapter also seem to be older (55+) and that may be a turn-off for younger needleworkers. I have a friend who belongs to a different EGA chapter and she's always involved in yet another online class; I don't know if taking classes is an EGA requirement but between model stitching for designers and my LNS and my own projects, I have more than enough to do!
4. I'm sorry to say that the popularity of needle arts seems to be waning. Most of the smaller needle shops have been driven out of business by the "big box" stores. Most people only have a Michael's or Joann's available to them, and their selections have gone down to about a quater of the size they were. Knitting, quilting, bead jewelry and punch needle embroidery seem to be the in thing now.
5. Let's have cash for dues and then take time and gasoline for regular meetings (and maybe baby sitters or child care) ... let's add "special projects" and refreshment committees and dinners and shows. Much of that has little or nothing to do with needlework. I still do lots* of needlework. I've just learned to avoid pouring time and cash into the groups that distract me from it. *"lots" = quilting, appliqué, pieced work, cross-stitch, needlemade lace, netting, knitting, crochet, canvaswork, beadwork (loomed and off-loom), spinning, small weaving, sewing by hand and by machine ....
6. I think that with the busy-ness of today's lifestyle, and the fact that very few younger generation folks are even interested in learning the fine arts of embroidery and needlework, this is causing the decline of things like embroidery guilds...but problematic in both of these things is the fact that they feed off of each other....people are not involved in guilds, therefore younger generation are not learning the craft, therefore guilds are declining, therefore less people know how to embroider. For myself, my arthritis makes it impossible to do embroidery most days whereas I used to sit and do it in any idle moment and would have welcomed an embroidery guild.