Realising parallels
Patchwork and woodwork are actually sisters. If you've skills in one, consider trying the other. These are the parallels I've realised as I deepen my understanding of both disciplines.
Timber and fabric have grain. And if you don't pay attention to it, your project will be wonky.
Both can be worked by hand or machine. Learning the former method first gives you a deeper understanding and appreciation of the craft, which in turn will help you produce more thoughtful pieces when you start to use electricity.
Materials are available in abundance second hand. So much timber and fabric already exist in the world. So. Much. We could use what's already available, and still not run out.
Mathematics is compulsory. You want to make the most of your materials, so accurately calculating yield, and executing your cuts accordingly, are good skills to master.
You'll make mistakes anyway. And it's OK! Particularly if you're into working with offcuts (the very premise of patchworking).
Precision during prep is everything. Get this right, and your project falls into place. Get it wrong, it'll take you thrice as long, and you'll hate both the end product and yourself.
It's also a much safer way to work. You're far less likely to make mistakes (see above), and far less likely to lose an appendage.
You can lose an appendage. Several years ago, I sliced the top of my finger off cutting fabric with a rotary blade. I popped it in a snap lock bag and went to the emergency room. It wasn't suitable to reattach, so I've a slightly wonky, numb finger tip. I've no plans on further injuries in either discpiline, but suffice to say, power tools can take more than just your finger tip.
Realising the parallels between seemingly different disciplines has been surprising and fun. I'm also getting loads of ideas on how to marry the two.
Gah. So many ideas. So little time.
Amanda
PS The pics are from a friendship quilt I made for my best friend, Tonnette. We met in kindergarten, 1986. I spoke no English, and she, no Spanish. We became instant friends.
The majority of the fabrics I used were from our school days. She’s always loved the colour yellow, so I pilfered the stash. I hand stitched the entirety of the quilt - the patchwork (English Paper Pieced), the quilting and the binding.
