Purple Patch, Fort Smith
Reclaimed garments and other fabrics, machine pieced, hand quilted. 62 x 40 inches, 2020. $1090
Click here to purchase.
Thrify Is Nifty
I love making quilts out of used clothing, and I love thrift shopping. This can be a dangerous combination. I have to restrict myself to 2-3 outings per year, lest the fabric bins overflow even further.
Sometimes I shop for specific colors, like I did for Fences I, which was inspired by the rolling hills and winter-dormant grasses of Colorado & Wyoming.
Purple Patch came about after my Mom and I took a trip to see a quilt show at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
We stopped in at a little thrift shop called The Purple Patch. I zoomed through the women's tops and found 3 items that were mostly cotton. I also picked up a pair of napkins. Mom snagged two coffee mugs that were perfect for our picnic bag. Total? About 5 bucks.
Not only are we thrifty, but we love to color coordinate.
I took the clothes apart and made the quilt while I was an artist in residence at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts.
I decided to hand quilt this one. I was inspired by the way Sherri Lynn Wood quilts her pieces. I knew it would take ...longer... than machine quilting, so I gave myself a year to finish it. I just made it.
(If you're looking for a patch that's purple, there isn’t one on the front.)
I loved the process of hand quilting. I appreciate the necessity to slow down. Being used to the grind culture and the urge for constant productivity, I don't dwell in "slow time" very often.
Here’s how my stitches look on the back:
The texture is also unbeatable, especially after laundering.
Purple Patch is available for sale! Like all my quilts, this one has passed the Snuggle Test. I can personally tell you that Purple Patch will keep you cozy on your bed, couch, or wherever you do your best napping. Click here to purchase.
Use This Quilt
Did you know? Most of my quilts are safe for your washer and dryer, and I always include care instructions on the label. Would you like to commission a quilt that can take the stress of daily use? Let's make it happen! Visit my Commissions page to get started.
Series I watched while quilting Purple Patch (a lot of PBS, for some reason):
Craft in America (quilting while watching shows about quilting. meta!)