The New Breed Of Quilts — And How To Use Them
The trend for handmade sewing has brought a new attention to quilting.
Whether antique or modern, used traditionally as bedding or hung on the wall, quilts add colour, pattern and a soulful character to rooms that feels exactly of the moment. Today, textile artists, fabric houses and a new generation of quilters are making modern designs that reference these time-honoured techniques and motifs in bold new ways. At Bowen Island, B.C.’s new Kitoki Inn, custom quilts by Miju Kawai are made in earthy hues to highlight intricate sashiko stitching. In Hamilton, quiltmaker Lindsay Stead nods to classic North American patterns using high-contrast shades to create quilts that read as contemporary art. “There have always been quilters,” says Lindsay. “What we’re seeing now is a small number who are stepping outside of set patterns, doing their own thing and pushing boundaries.”
Scroll down to see how to decorate with quilts in your own home!
The home workspace of Hamilton, Ontario quiltmaker Lindsay Stead.
Quilted and patchwork-inspired fabrics and trims from Schumacher’s Tristan, Isolde, Brimfield and Smithton collections.
This space designed by L.A.’s Commune Design centres on a custom quilt by Adam Pogue. Patchwork cushions reference pojagi, a Korean quilting style.
A lounge chair from Design by Us features double-stitched quilting on deep green velvet fabric.
Hand-quilted placemats, coasters and a table runner by Kiva Motnyk bring layers of quiet pattern to the dining table.
This custom quilt by Pippin Christiansen was inspired by Josef Albers’ Homage to the Square paintings. In this room by Lisa Staton, it creates a focal point above a woven bench, complementing the restful, Scandinavian scheme.
Take a page from retail design and drape a collection of quilts on a wall-mounted rack like the one shown here at Sharktooth, a Brooklyn, N.Y. shop specializing in antique textiles.
Canadian Quilters To Follow Now: Naila Janzen
Inspired by her childhood in Miami and her grandmother’s background in fashion design, Naila Janzen creates quilts in Winnipeg that combine natural bamboo and cotton fabric blends with vivid geometric patterns.
Canadian Quilters To Follow Now: Kyle Parent
With a background in menswear, Kyle Parent brings traditional tailoring techniques to his studio practice in Vancouver. Using remnant and upcycled fabrics, he creates contemporary tableaus reconciling utility and art.
Canadian Quilters To Follow Now: Justin Ming Yong
When his work as a photographer paused during the pandemic, Justin Ming Yong turned to quilting. He learned to sew on a machine and took lessons from his mother, a quilter with a basement full of fabrics. His process: build a color scheme, then go with the flow. “It’s like painting, but with fabric,” says the Toronto-based creator.
Canadian Quilters To Follow Now: Lauren MacDonald
Originally from Edmonton, Lauren MacDonald creates quilts with graceful, arcing blocks of color in London, U.K. She also teaches classes on quiltmaking online. “Textiles are omnipresent in our lives, and yet they’re kind of innocuous, which makes them interesting objects to study and share.”