Creative workshops three: patchwork and quilting - tradition is not static, it evolves
baby wear and gifts
knitting and knitting kits
toys and collectables
creative work- shops three: patchwork and quilting tradition is not static, it evolves
patchwork workshops ‘upstairs at ak’
Dominique Horne who is joining us to conduct these workshops is a skilled and enthusiastic teacher and practitioner. Over a 5–week course Dominique will guide you through the basics of patchwork technique as you create a series of blocks loosely based upon traditional Kyrgyz designs. By constructing each block, you will gain experience of the methodology and mechanics of patchworking. By the end of the course you will have produced sufficient blocks to make a pillow or bag or small throw or alternatively you will have created the basis of a much larger quilt or blanket.
Hopefully you will all be keen enough to go on adding to your work, introducing more complex elements such as embroidery and quilting as your confidence grows.
In keeping with ak’s philosophy, our aim will be to provide you with the skills, inspiration and confidence to draw upon your creative resources – we will have lots of books and information on hand for you to look at as well as vintage patchwork.
In addition to Kaffe Fassett and other cotton fabric, we will also be providing you with the opportunity to purchase scraps of vintage fabrics and embroidery to use in your own work – and cotton trims machine stitched in traditional designs. These are optional and you may choose a totally different stylistic approach.
Cost: $125.00 for a five week course – (can be extended).
Cost includes a patchwork starter kit – calico sewing bag, pencil, material to make templates, sewing needle case with stitch unpick, pins etc., ruler embroidery piece.
Patchwork is an important part of the textile culture of central Asia. In common with traditional patchwork around the world, the Kurama-Toshok or Kurak–Toshok, or quilted carpets of the Kyrgyz were composed of pre–loved textiles and often served as memory pieces. These carpets had their origins in the funeral traditions of Kyrgyz Republic which involved small scraps of fabric being given out as a remembrance or as a gift from those bidding farewell. Later women of the family would gather these scraps of velvet, cotton, plush and silk together and create complex Toshok quilts with the memories of the dearly departed skilfully sewn into patchwork.
The Kyrgyz, patchwork was regarded as stitchwork-poetry in abstract. Whilst Krgryz patchwork is structurally similar to that done in many other countries, the type and combination of fabrics and the patterns used make it quite distinctive. Significantly, the names of favourite patterns such as ‘Wolf eyes’, ‘Ram’s spine’ and ‘Fly’s Wings’ reflect the extent to which the beauty of the natural world traditionally provided the inspiration for decorative motifs and symbols. Today, new modern designs symbolising aspects of nature continue to emerge demonstrating that a patchwork tradition is still strong.
copyright ak 2008