The technique of quilting

DIY QUILTING

Geometric fabric stories

WITH SUZY QUILTS

SUZY @suzyquilts

I BECAME INTERESTED IN QUILTING AS A TEENAGER. WHEN I WAS 15, I USED TO WANDER INTO MY FRIEND’S BASEMENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT HER MOM’S SEWING ROOM. IT WAS AN AMAZING ROOM, FULL OF BEAUTIFUL FABRICS COVERING THE WALLS AND A SHINY SEWING MACHINE PERCHED IN THE CORNER. I EVENTUALLY GATHERED UP THE COURAGE TO ASK MY FRIEND’S MOM IF I COULD TRY IT OUT.

She so graciously mentored me as a teenaged sewist, and taught me the basics of piecing a quilt. I love that the quilting process is like a story, unfolding with different twists and turns each time. Designing and making quilts has become a way for me to process and express the things I am learning as I go throughout life.

THE HISTORY OF QUILTING IS SO INTERESTING AND DIVERSE.

The unique shapes of each geometric quilt block carry a piece of history. Quilting, as a practice of sewing together layers of cloth, has been around FOREVER… like since ancient Egypt in 3400 BC… but the bed quilts that were familiar with turned up somewhere around the fourteenth century. Quilts were such a practical craft, since quilters could piece together smaller bits of fabric, sometimes repurposed, to make something warm and cozy for the colder months. Since people still need to keep warm, quilting is still popular, and people have never stopped coming up with new, beautiful designs.

THE UNIQUE SHAPES OF EACH GEOMETRIC QUILT BLOCK CARRY A PIECE OF HISTORY.

QUILTING IS A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON!

There are quilting guilds and conventions on every continent (except Antarctica!) It’s an international obsession, but there are definitely larger meetings of quilters in larger cities… just like you would expect!

THE QUILTING COMMUNITY TODAY IS REALLY INCREDIBLE BECAUSE OF ITS DIVERSITY.

Men and women of all ages and backgrounds have found quilting to be a relaxing, satisfying, and community-building craft. One cool development has come with the growth of the internet. Quilters are now able to share patterns, tips, and finished works with each other through social media, and it has created a quilting experience that is even more rich and full than it has ever been before.

MY INSPIRATION FOR EACH QUILT COMES FROM HOUSEHOLD STYLE

Some people think that quilts are stand-alone works of art, but I see each quilt as a part of the room it is created for. I love to create quilts that will compliment architecture, balance the colors of the surrounding decor, or add another dimension to a living space. I always ask myself this simple question before making a quilt, “WHERE WILL THIS QUILT LIVE?”

MY FAVORITE QUILT IS THE BOHEMIAN GARDEN QUILT.

The inspiration for this design came from the artist HENRI MATISSE, and the paper cut-outs he did later in his artistic career. Not everyone knows this, but later in his life, Matisse was diagnosed with cancer, and it left him wheelchair bound. He no longer felt that he could continue painting, so he decided to “PAINT WITH SCISSORS” instead. The outcome was stunning. By creating this pattern, I felt like I was a part of a larger story--one that was inclusive and holistic, and knew that even though I can’t always control what the world throws at me, I can still always find a way to be creative.