How To Get Practical And Creative With Patchwork Fabrics

By Author: Jo Alelsto
Total Articles: 405
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At present, patchwork fabrics are sold in different colors and patterns since many people are into patchwork and quilting, which can now be considered as art. Patchwork can even be seen in museums as well as private collections. But do you know that patchwork has served a useful role in history?

Patchwork is basically sewing together pieces of cloth or fabric and it was particularly useful during those really hard times and people needed to be resourceful. What people did was sew together pieces and scraps of cloth, the finished product of which was a larger material that can be used for practical needs.

However, patchwork and quilting have evolved to become a hobby and an art form and it is not just considered as a practical way of making use of our old and worn clothes or pieces of fabric. This evolution was particularly seen during the twentieth century. As technology has also evolved and has become more sophisticated at the turn of the 20th century, the method of piecing together fabrics have also improved. There is now this so-called Longarm quilting system, which is composed of a frame and a sewing ...
... machine.

Today, there is a wide array of colors and prints to choose from and this fact may not make choosing the right fabric any easier. This wide availability would also mean that you can be more imaginative and creative with your style. Of course, just because different fabrics for patchwork are now widely available does not mean that you cannot be resourceful. Leftover fabrics from the previous patterns that you have made can be used to make a new pattern. This is where your creativity will be tested and it can really be fun. You can come up with a design that is unique and that reflects your personality. You can also keep a memento of the important events in your life by making a design out of the fabrics used for special occasions like your wedding day, the old scarf that your mom made for you last Christmas, and so on.

Moreover, there are different ways of putting together your pieces of fabric and one of the most common is patchwork blocks. As the term implies, it is more systematic. Basically, squares of a fabric are sewn together, thus creating patterns within the square or block. These blocks can either repeat the pattern or they can have varying patterns. On the other hand, there is this crazy quilt and it is safe to say that it is more fun to do and to look at. In this case, random shapes are put together so anything goes which is perfect for lovers of randomness and asymmetry.

Is patchwork and quilting a solitary hobby? Well, not necessarily. People who are into the hobby can actually come together and form their own community where they can share ideas, patterns and designs and work together. Getting people who are fond of quilting together is now even made easier with the help of the World Wide Web. There are many avenues for this, just like forums and groups in social networking sites. Thus, you can choose to work alone or share stuff with other people.

Apparently, patchwork and quilting are no longer limited to being coping mechanisms during rough times. They have become leisure activities that anyone can enjoy. They have become art forms where you can channel your creative juices in. Isn't it great that you get the chance to be resourceful, practical, and creative all at the same time? Indeed, it is one hobby that proves that you can have fun and be productive all at once.
Jo is an author and publisher for ‘Lara Grace Collections' (http://www.laragrace.co.uk), an online curtain fabric dealer in UK that specializes in the supply of fabrics for curtains, soft furnishings and upholstery. If you are looking for and would like to obtain an a uniquely designed patchwork fabricswhich can give an exquisite and fashionable look to your abode that can be utilized and matched in various ways then have a look at Lara Grace Collections.