Quilting, Making, Creating

Image: Quilters, Tuacahn Amphitheater 1996 

Back in the 80s (1980s, that is), I was lucky enough to see the musical Quilters. It told the stories of pioneer women through the quilts they made—each block a piece of their lives. The show was based on the book The Quilters: Women and Domestic Art by Patricia Cooper and Norma Bradley Allen, and it celebrated the quiet strength and creativity that women have always possessed.

Although I was a novice quilter then—and honestly, I probably still am– something about that play struck a deep chord. It captured the hardships, the small joys, and the deep sense of connection those women found in sewing and in each other. It shared the stories of their lives through their quilts. Sitting there, I remember feeling seen in a way I hadn’t expected. My love of sewing and my feminist ideals aligned.Some experiences just stay with you. Quilters did that for me. Over the years, it’s become one of those touchstones I come back to when I think about women’s work—how much heart and history are woven into the things we make. Sewing, making and creating are on the rise today. What has typically been seen as women’s work is becoming appreciated for the meaning and depth it brings to our lives. What will you create today?