Do you belong to a knitting/crochet group or guild?

[rootzdawta]

How do you like it? Is it mainly women or are there some guys? Do you find the groups to be gossipy/catty? Are there politics involved? Do you generally enjoy the meetings?

I like the idea of being around other folks who knit or crochet. But in practicality, more gossip/cattiness/politics than I care for go on. Now usually I can find 2 or 3 folks and we just knit/crochet and talk about our projects or other lighthearted fare but I have to actively block out all the other bs that's going on. Today's group was just intolerable. Strong personalities and the such. And I went with my babies. I couldn't even stay because of the negativity.

Anyway, am I just in the wrong group? Or is that how it is??

[dillonandmarasmom]

I *belong* to the Woodland Textile Artist's Guild. However, I do not participate much, if at all.
I have tried to get to know them a bit on Ravelry, but found the group to be too bit close-knit (ha-ha) and not incredibly welcoming. I also felt that strong Christianity vibe (hard to explain), and wasn't prepared to discuss my spirituality among them.
I was fortunate to not get into it politically with them. The latest LYS owner (whom they've been raving about) has several less than appealing magnetic ribbons on the back of her car...so, I keep my distance, IYKWIM.

[sabrinat]

I belong to a bunch online... and about 4 offline, but I really only enjoy and attend one of those. I hear you on try to find a group to just chill and talk about knitting and such. A couple of the groups are through meetup and I really should unsub...I just haven't. I joined a bunch at once to find at least one I like. One of the groups I should like in theory, but the girls in it just annoy me. Hang in there, I bet there's a group out there for you.

[mom2sol]

I started a group when I first started knitting a couple of years ago. There's only three of us who meet regularly (woman) although we've had a lot of people request to join the group online and then never show up.
We all know each other pretty well now, we just sit around and catch up, chat some about our lives and some about knitting stuff.
It's fun. It's nice to spend some time around other people who care about yarn and sticks as much as I do! Also good for asking questions when you get stuck.

[Kodachrome]

Nothing "official," but the Church of Craft Asheville chapter - which rocks, and the owner of where it's held is so sweet. I also occasionally attend a low-key stitch-n-b*tch group that meets-up at a coffeehouse. Neither of the two or gossipy/catty, or politico-mumbo, or I wouldn't be there.

Online, I belong to ravelry and try to avoid the forums as much as possible.

Maybe the people you've found your niche with can branch off(?)

[phatchristy]

I used to attend crochet guild of america meetings locally. The women there were GREAT...definitely NOT a gossipy type! We would help eachother out, and share what we were working with and patterns that we enjoyed!

Though, I have little time these days to do this. Though I'm hoping to do some crochet for baby and my kiddos this christmas!

[llamalluv]

IME, yes, they tend to be very close-knit ( @ PP) and can get quite catty, and sometimes even eat their young. I visited one in another town while on a business trip with DH, and they were being very catty about one of their own who wasn't there.

I would suggest that you find a bunch of friends that you already like to spend time with, and get them "hooked" on needle crafts. Fewer headaches. More fun. And you get to spread the gospel of wool. (or silk, merino, etc)

[Indigo73]

I belong to 3 "knitting circles"... Maybe it's because of how transient our local population is or the number of colleges or even where we meet (an organic coffee shop, big chain bookstore and UU church), but I've enjoyed all the groups. Each has it's own flavor but they are fun. I started one, took over the other and just sit back and enjoy the third. There are even two more groups that meet close enough that I pop in time again, but I don't go mainly due to the fact that I can't get away from home more often.