I’ve been thinking a lot lately about quilting in these modern times vs. quilting in my grandmothers’ and great-grandmothers’ time. An anonymous American pioneer woman wrote:
“I make my quilts warm to keep my family from freezing. I make them beautiful to keep my heart from breaking.”
A modern-day quilter might say:
“I saw this great idea in a quilting magazine, so I bought the magazine, purchased everything on the supply list, bought new blades for my rotary cutter, picked up a few fat quarters that I couldn’t resist (to add to my stash), started the project, got busy (or lost interest), and now that quilt is a UFO in a plastic bin in my sewing room. I notice that IKEA has duvets on sale, maybe I’ll put one of those on the guest bed for now.”
I’ve exaggerated (a little) to make a point. In homesteading days, women made quilts out of necessity, and from whatever materials they could afford. A quilt may have contained some new fabric, but it often also or exclusively contained pieces of her husband’s old shirt, useful bits from worn-out children’s clothing – that’s worn-out clothing, not worn-out children – and reusable pieces from a previous quilt she’d made. The pattern may have been simple, or more complex, depending on the time she had or her skill level. Yes, she made the quilt as beautiful as she knew how. In those days of tiny homes and very few possessions, a homemade quilt was one of the few practical objects that could also make a home cheery. A skillfully made quilt was a way to show off her homemaking skills and artistic talent. She had many of the same motivations and desires as the 2008 quilter, but far less options in terms of mass-produced textiles and disposable income and discretionary time.
Today’s quilter has a myriad of choices of fabrics and patterns, and more efficient quilting tools and techniques. She may have more or less discretionary time than her ancestor, but with cheaply made mass-produced goods and more disposable income, the 2008 quilter no longer has to rush to get the quilt finished before winter’s cold sets in. She often has an entire room dedicated to her sewing, quilting and art, and usually she has numerous Rubbermaid bins, plastic coffins for her extra fabric, magazines, and partially finished projects.
I’m not saying that it’s wrong to have extra quilting fabrics and supplies, and I’m not about to give up my electric sewing machine. And being an art quilter, I don’t see anything at all wrong with making a project for the sheer beauty or the enjoyment of learning a new technique. My point is that sometimes it’s good to challenge ourselves to use up what we have, challenge ourselves to finish a project without buying anything new. It’s a great artistic exercise to fix a design dilemna without “throwing money at it”. How can I adapt this project using only what I have in my studio? How many pieces of art can I make before I really need to stock up again? Can I make a quilt out of 75% recycled fabrics, such as those old jeans I’ve been saving? And what about those UFO’s (infinished objects) and PIGS (projects in grocery sacks); if I’m really not going to finish them, why not cut them up and repurpose them in other projects? Consider a 6-month or 1-year challenge to not purchase any new fabric or embellishments. If you really don’t have anything in your stash that will work (after taking some time to really think creatively about it), could you find something workable in a friend’s stash, or at a thrift store or www.freecycle.org or unused clothing in your own closet?
Simpler patterns can reduce stress as you create. Using the “wrong” fabric can make your quilt less “perfect” but more beautiful and fun. Recycling fabric creates a richness and depth to your art that cannot be bought. Staying out of the craft and sewing stores for a time helps you to focus less on current quilting trends and “must-haves”, and helps you to develop your own signature style. Challenge yourself this year – think and act like a pioneer quilter.
This is my philosphy statement, soon to go on my web store. I agree with your discussion deeply….
Making Quilts is a diverse craft, both in style and content. Historically, quilts were made from necessity, both in America and in Australia, from whatever material was available. Feed sacks, which were printed with simple patterns were common inclusions in quilts and in Australia, and America, batting might be a blanket or even newspaper in an aussie “wagga” quilt. It was what you did with the fabric which made the quilt, not the fabric making it’s own statement.
My Partner and I are committed to the “Aussie digger” philosophy and are always trying to perfect the art of using what is available to create things of beauty. In quilting, I try to use both recycled and new fabrics. I am not an adherent of using many expensive fabrics to create complex quilts that dazzle the eye, I am more interested in the interplay of the colours and patterns. I am not an adherent of using fabrics that cost 30 or forty dollars a metre and is made by the designer of the moment, to me it harks back to the elitist english craft tradition which lacked creativity. Creativity, the central tenet of the “digger” philosophy is born of necessity, as was the quilting tradition. This is not to say I do not use expensive fabrics. I use them as a central theme in most of my quilts, and choose carefully from recycled fabrics to highlight that fabric.
So, most of my fabric packs are a mix of both new, interesting fabrics and carefully chosen recycled fabrics. Personally, I use a much wider range of fabric types than is represented in my store, however I make sure that the mix of new and recycled is towards the new in all my packs so you can be sure of buying at least 70% new fabric, usually more.
I do not believe that fabric “designers” who are very popular at present assist us as quilters in developing our “eye” for colour and fabric and design. I do not wish to promote quilts and fabrics that are clones of other’s work, but those that are individual because I have designed and planned them myself and hope to foster this ideal in my customers. It is the fabric, not the name which should dazzle the eye. Quilting is not just busy work, it is creative work.
vicki –
Thanks for your comments! I have never heard of the Aussie digger philosophy or wagga quilts – I’d love to hear more. Let me know when your web store is open so I can check it out.
jenni