What Quilt Making Means to Me

This Saturday the 15^th March 2025 is Worldwide Quilting Day. I thought it would be fun to write a post about what Quilt Making Means to me.

We know that quilt making has been around now for centuries and in its beginning, women made quilts for its utilitarian purpose, to keep warm. Making quilts was a means to an end and they were made from whatever materials, textiles and fibres that were available.

Like many things crafted by hand, quilt making soon grew to become something that wasn’t just done out of necessity, but they were made for the joy of creation. Women began to gather and make quilts together, giving them necessary socialisation, a way to get together and talk as only women can.

Quilt making gave women a creative outlet, a chance to design, to learn new skills and to teach these skills to others. Quilt making has come a long way since those first beginnings, and as sewers we are now fortunate to have a massive industry to provide us with anything we could possibly need to create beautiful quilts.

The fundamental reasons as to why we make quilts are still there though; connection, creativity, creating something of use and beauty, knowledge, community and for the love and joy of it.

Keeping my Hands Busy

I wouldn’t call myself a fidgeter, but I dare say if I didn’t have my hand stitching, I would probably become one! English Paper Piecing and stitching by hand allows me to keep my hands busy, which some how keeps my mind calm and quiet. I can sometimes find it hard to relax if I don’t have some kind of stitching work in front of me. Only when I am really tired can I relax and watch a movie without the need to be using my hands.

Mental Health

I have always said that English Paper Piecing and Slow Stitching help with my mental health. Taking care of my mind, acknowledging my emotions and what I am feeling have all become very important to me. As a busy Mum juggling what seems to be a million balls in the air (I’m sure many of you can relate!) it has become important to me to make sure I make time for myself to fill my own cup and look after myself.

Slow Stitching allows me to take time out for myself, to relax and sink into the rhythmic nature of passing needle and thread through fabric. It is where I can come back to myself, where I can focus on what I’ve been feeling or dealing with and where I can set myself free creatively.

Making Heirlooms

Quilt making is an act of love. It is creating something of joy and beauty to bring others joy. The quilts we make are embodied with our joys, our sorrows, our triumphs and failures. They hold our emotions, feelings, memories and most importantly they hold our love. When someone wraps themselves or snuggles under our quilts, they are receiving a big warm hug from the quiltmaker.

We create hand stitched quilts and items that can be passed down the generations and cherished over time by those we love, have met and may never meet.

Learning and Teaching

There are so many different types of quilts, different techniques and ways of making quilts, that as quilt makers we will forever be students and teachers. I love that about this craft. I love to be inspired by other quilt makers and slow stitchers and rejoice in seeing others creativity flourish through fabric and thread.

I have been able to learn my skills from many different people over the years, both in person and in the online realm. Perhaps my biggest teacher has been my Mum, and I feel truly blessed to have her as a mentor and teacher. To share and pass on the knowledge I have learnt and discovered is a wonderful thing and I am so happy that I can do so.

Seeking Joy and Beauty

Quilt making, English paper piecing and slow stitching is where I seek joy and beauty. When I’m having a really hard day, if things are not going so well, when the day outside is gloomy, I know that I will find joy as I stitch and beauty through what I create.

The act of slow stitching, hand piecing and quilting brings joy through creation, and using our hands but also through the act of making something for someone to bring them joy and to wrap them in our everlasting love.

The quilts and stitched items we create bring beauty to our hearts and homes. These items decorate our homes and the homes of the ones they are gifted to, bringing not just beauty but comfort and coziness to a space.

Beauty in our hand stitched quilts and items is more than just the fabric and threads they are made from. It is the love and joy that they embody through the makers hands.