 Thanks to a gift from a friend, I’ve discovered patchwork and I’m loving it. I have always considered it to be laborious and mind-numbingly technical, but it’s actually surprisingly straightforward. A craft you can accomplish while watching TV, historically done by women as a social pastime, and dating back as far as Egyptian times. I’m finding it quite therapeutic during my current lockdown life.
Essentially patchwork or “pieced work” involves sewing together pieces of fabric into a larger design, usually repeating patterns and geometric shapes. You can patchwork in a random fashion or follow a strict order to create a specific effect. There are names for all these effects like ‘Drunkard’s Path’ and ‘Tulip’, but I’m opting for a more rogue approach as I enjoy a voyage of discovery. The potential is as limitless as the combination of colours and shapes - it’s exciting stuff! I had imagined I would require incredible patience for patchwork, but like knitting, you can pick it up and put it down as and when, and watching it grow is just so satisfying. Patchwork is the perfect environmentally friendly craft activity, as your fabric of choice could be a torn shirt or in my case, the scraps and off-cuts from costume making. The ideal fabric would be non-stretch and make sure to wash it first so there is no shrinkage once your project is complete. As well as the upcycled benefits of patchwork I love that quilters through the ages have used patchwork and quilting to memorialise the significant moments of our lives: the births, marriages, anniversaries and deaths of loved ones. I’m not quite at the quilt making stage yet, but now that I’ve mastered the technique via online tutorials (and I cannot stress enough how straight forward it is), I see no reason why I couldn’t progress to something more elaborate or large scale. The hexagons (pictured) are intended for a costume project and I’ve used white thread to hilight the stitch technique involved. If you need a kick start why not try the lovely wee kit I was gifted. It contains everything you need to get going and is available from [email protected].
6 Comments
Dehra Sweet
11/7/2020 02:58:21 pm
I've always wanted a patchwork quilt and have started at least 2 over the years and then given up!
Jo Walmsley
14/7/2020 02:47:51 pm
Thanks for sharing - I have a stack of old t-shirts from a summer camp I used to work at that I've been meaning to create something from. I was a bit daunted at the thought of patchworking, but you post has inspired me. It sounds like a good lockdown project! J
Jenny Cunningham
14/7/2020 09:50:55 pm
I've always loved patchwork, and the idea of doing it - to date my projects total one - which was actually really fun, as it was with my son's school a few years ago, when I got a bunch of six year olds to help make their costumes for a Michael Jackson dance recital they were doing. It was very non-traditional, as it was all overlocked together - but they looked so great, and the kids were so proud of helping. Really love your idea of a rogue approach - I'd love to see where your patchwork journey takes you, as your costume work is amazing!!
Shireen
17/7/2020 05:22:29 pm
What you said is so true. We are more creative under pressure and the lockdown has been both a blessing and a curse regarding creativity. Although it has affected many of our livelihoods, it has also given us time to pursue things that we never would have tried otherwise.
Catherine Sillem
21/7/2020 08:30:24 pm
I completely agree - I have certainly felt my creative energy has been given a new and very different lease of life during lockdown. Creativity flourishes under pressure and when it’s released from pressure - the latter of which I am currently enjoying immensely (end of term!!). In both situations, I have felt so grateful to have had that creative focus and release - without which recent times would have been so much harder! Leave a Reply. |
Author - Alison Brown is a Costume Designer and maker based in Scotland.
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