I’ve long been in awe of Japanese quilts and quiltmakers. I’ve marveled at their precise execution of the tiniest detail in piecing and applique; having seen their work in magazines, at quilt shows and having friends who quilt.
I own quite a few Japanese publications, and some Japanese fabric as well. Part of my appreciation for some of the work I see comes from sewing with that woven Japanese fabric they use. It is a delightful texture, but when it comes time to turn under a tiny edge for applique, it is sometimes tricky. The success I see in the quilts with this fabric is all the more amazing considering the tiny scale of some pieces.
I recently went to see an exhibit of some quilts from the Quilt Japan show of 2019 that’s on tour in the U. S. I wasn’t disappointed. The Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum in Carrollton, Ga, has fifty quilts from this show on display. I studied them all!
I was expecting to see beautiful hand quilting using traditional American patchwork and applique patterns. The Baltimore Album style of quilts is a favorite among Japanese prizewinners. I did see this. But, oh, so much more. Details are in the captions of each photo.
The show is on display through June 22. If you are a quilter, it’s worth your time to go see these beauties. And there are some interesting restaurants and shops in Carrollton, too.
Here’s a quilt I made using the Japanese woven fabrics. The story of this quilt is here.
My friend Toshi gave me some delicious fabrics a few years ago…I shared them here.
And if you type “japanese” in the search bar, you’ll find more evidence of my fascination with this culture and its quilting.
I have many more photos of these beauties…but if you are going to read this in time to visit the exhibit, I have to stop editing for now…Go! I’ll share more later.
Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum…open Tuesdays – Saturdays. This exhibit ends June 22. Their website: https://www.sqtmuseum.org.