I am so very curious as to what a certain person means when he refers to other quilters as “Quiltzillas.” A quiltzilla seems like some kind of made-up monster. If he means people who try their best to do good work and not be sloppy quilters, then I fear that my “friend” would think of me as a quiltzilla. At any rate, the word sounds derogatory, and when delivered in a sneering kind of voice, tends to separate “us” from “them.” In my opinion, it is a hate word.

Now, how would we define “us” v. “them,” in that case?

Slurs are used to divide and conquer, and can be used to bond a group of “us” against “them,” just like Hitler did.

If one is trying to do precise work, perhaps it is considered not as “fun” or fancy-free, as throwing something together.

Like public schools, the quality of quilting, quilt design, quilting stitches, etc. is slipping. After all, who cares about excellence any more? “Girls just wanna have fun!”

It is true that many quilters enjoy quilting, not for itself, but as a social vehicle, or one to bring them fame and/or fortune. Truth is, there is a glut of fabric on the market, and a glut of books, many of them poorly-written or outstandingly mediocre. Now, it seems that people who want to be called to a higher standard are being poked fun at, just for the “fun” of belittling someone’s efforts. I find this trend to be oh-so-school-girlish.

I’ve asked three times what “quiltzilla” means, from the person who seems to have generated the term, and three times I have been ignored. So, if the term means adherence to a higher standard than most, call me by that name, any day, and I shall carry the title with pride.

Patricia Cummings

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