Patchwork, an exercise in patience

The tradition of patchwork is as old as the production of textiles. In the pre-industrial era, textiles were either too expensive or labor intensive to discard when torn. When they tore, they were saved and mended or torn apart for use in another projects.  And since necessity is the mother of invention, patchwork became a form of personal expression. This is true in every culture, and every culture developed it’s own distinct style. The Amish quilt, the Dervish coat from Persia, the Molas from Central America, the patchwork costumes of Rajasthan and China, and the kesas of Buddhist monks. These pieces gained value as family heirlooms and honor for the time and dedication taken in their making.

I take great pleasure in patchwork. I love sitting on my workroom floor surrounded by silks (I mostly work in silk) of all colors, patterns, weights, from all over the world. Silk of all sizes strewn together haphazardly, and my job is to design by mixing and matching. I really love sitting in the middle of my pile and dreaming, always with a sketch book by my side. As I study the fabric, my eye starts to connect one with the other. Soon I have a pile, and a design magically pops from my head to sketchpad. And while I’m there, surrounded by a cloud of silk, why not design one or two others?

Time and time again my design preference is drawn to the Amish and Japanese tradition. The simple geometric designs in bold colors work beautifully with silk. And since I draw from my collection of handwoven Cambodian silks, I prefer designs that are not constructed of too many small pieces. This allows for the piecing and construction of the quilt in one day. Once the three layers of the quilt are basted, I can begin to stitch or tie at my leisure. I always encourage friends to use a batting made of natural fibers. Organic cotton is wonderful for smaller quilts, and wool and silk for larger ones. Make sure you follow the recommendations for stitch spacing. I love to hand tie quilts with wool or silk batting because it creates a wonderful baffled fluffy affect!

There are great textile museums out there so, when traveling, consult your guidebook. My favorite textile museums are the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Silk Museum in Lyon, and the various textile and craft museums of Delhi. If these aren’t possible anytime soon, visit your local fabric store, I am sure you will get inspired and leave with some fabric and a project!

Add to Bookshelf

Quilting the World Over by  Willow Ann Soltow

For Purpose and Pleasure by Sandi Fox

Japanese Country Textiles by Anna Jackson

Japanese Country Quilting by Karen Kim Matsunaga

Pique de Provence by Ross J. Francis