I’ve been thinking a lot about time recently. People often say that "time is money" and although I don’t love the saying, I agree in the sense that time is a very precious commodity. Far more precious than money. Time is one of the greatest gifts we can give people. It is such a precious commodity that people will often cut corners in order to “save time.”
But is it worth it?
Time is one of the greatest teachers (and healers) so if we’re always trying to “save it” how will we learn from it? I’ve rarely found myself wishing I had done something or made a big decision sooner or quicker. Usually it’s just the opposite! “If only I had waited.”
So what does time have to do with quilts? All good things take time. :) As a company, nothing we do is fast. Real fibers and real, plant based dyes need time and attention. Creating pieces that have meaning takes time. It’s slow. Handmade. Thoughtful. Sometimes painstaking.
And that’s ok.
Real materials. Real people. Real stories. Real time.
Zyaada Quilt in Indigo.
Many of our textiles took hours to (physically) create, not to mention the time that goes in to the design. But the special thing I love about our quilts is the kanta stitch along the length of each piece. It’s like a little marker of time. Each stitch a tick (or five!) of the clock. Each line a precious half hour patch of sunlight on the studio floor. Each quilt a barer of whispered conversations and cheery laughter. Voices floating in and out of studio windows while the ladies sit side by side, enveloped in a shroud of dabu printed cotton, stitching humble, straight little lines that come together to create magic.
That’s the power of time. And there’s something about quilts that savours time better than any other textile. Nothing like a quilt to say “home.” Or, “just grab a book and a cup of coffee and have a sit.” Or perhaps, “let’s go for a picnic and lay in the lazy sunshine and count clouds.”
When I asked Analise what made her decide to make quilts, she said quite simply: “because I like them.” And I think that about sums up how we all feel. Quilts are like the comfort food of textiles. Beautiful to look at, cozy in the winter and handy in the summer, they appeal to us all.
A great use for scraps of fabric, these quilts came in handy with the left over ends and pieces from each collection. Though not a perfect use for every last scrap, they came a long way in using up what was leftover. Originally, as Analise planned and designed, she hoped to incorporate larger scraps of fabric in to each quilt, but soon found the process too cumbersome and irregular. As she processed, Analise used design tools (and a lot of mixing things up on the studio floor!) to help choose a pattern for each set of prints.
Once decided upon, the ladies sewed together the squares, added a backing and began the quilting process. Each quilt is finished with a cross stitch on the border and of course the long, lengthwise stitching is the beloved kanta stitch, so favored here and around the world.
As you’ll notice, these quilts don’t have any filling, or batting in the middle. Though they are still lightweight quilts, historically referred to as “summer quilts,” the double layer of our handwoven cotton is substantial and perfect all year round. Light enough for the summer but with all the cozy vibes of a roaring fire on a snowy night.
To me, these quilts represent time. The time it took to create as well as the time they offer to the user. Quiet, simple time, enjoying good things like books, hot drinks and special people.
Bye for now!
-Sarah
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