Filed under: Color, Your Home, Projects, Design, etc, News & Trends
How to make a modern American quilt? Don't follow any rules. Photo: Denyse Schmidt Quilts
With a younger generation taking on the timeless craft, quilts are getting a fresh new face.
Quilting's making a comeback.
That's right, in this fast-paced, technology-based world we live in, where BBMing on a Friday night is the new version of getting up close and personal, people are craving a little piece of old-fashioned Americana in their homes. Enter the modern American quilt, which is undergoing a major makeover thanks to young quilters looking to bring a contemporary vibe to this time-honored art form.
"There has been something of a do-it-yourself revolution in recent years, which has certainly had an impact on the quilting world," says Denyse Schmidt, master quilter and owner of Denyse Schmidt Quilts in Bridgeport, Connecticut. "Suddenly this craft has been embraced by a new generation, and there's so much more available now, largely due to the internet community."
But the trend isn't limited to a rogue group of sewing enthusiasts; quilts with fresh patterns and unexpected colors, like those designed by Schmidt, are selling at mainstream retailers, like The Land of Nod and Pottery Barn. Designer Angela Adams, whose "Modern Comfort" quilts are sold at Macy's, is also melding together past and present in her work. She tries to make quilts that you and your grandmother will appreciate. "Quilts have a great history of story telling and function," she says. "They instantly make you feel nostalgic, and I hope that the fun colors and patterns of our quilts remind people of their grandparents -- but also of fresh modern inspirations."
Denise Schmidt (left) is making quilting feel new again with her modern take on the classic American quilt (right).Photo: Denyse Schmidt Quilts
At one time quilting guilds were relegated to groups of women sitting around a table in small towns, but now there are resources like the Modern Quilt Guild, an online community for quilters nationwide, and quilting circles like NYCMetroModQuilters, which is bringing a new generation of quilters together in Manhattan. "The whole idea has kind of exploded," says Schmidt. "Now it's all about people sharing their projects and patterns and ideas virtually. It's very interesting to watch this melding of a very traditional craft with today's modern technology."
Women have expressed themselves through quilting for centuries. In Colonial times, while most women were busy spinning, weaving and making clothing, women of the wealthier class prided themselves on their fine quilting of whole-cloth quilts. Meanwhile, African American women developed their own distinctive style of quilting, known as story quilts. With the industrial revolution came the development of textiles being manufactured on a large scale, making commercial fabrics affordable for almost every family. In 1856, when the Singer company started offering an installment payment plan, nearly everyone could afford a sewing machine, and that brought quilting into even more homes.
Thinking of taking on the quilting challenge? Schmidt says don't worry too much about color, and don't get hung up about choosing fabrics. "Also, think about starting small," she says. "I think what's most daunting about a quilting project is the scale of it. On a smaller-scale project you'll learn the necessary techniques, but finish more quickly, which is always encouraging."
Above all else, relax, and enjoy the simplicity of the craft; modern-day quilting is meant to take you away from your Blackberry and iPhone. "Quilts really resonate in a world where we drive through the bank without having to speak to anyone; where we text and email rather than catching up over the phone," says Schmidt. "It's nice to have something that feels like an actual person was behind it - something handmade. It reminds us of our past."
Two of the colorful quilt sets designed by Angela Adams for Macy's. Photo: Angela Adams