Whole Cloth/Whole Self - Wholecloth Quilts

Explore wholecloth quilts and their ability to become self-reflective, complex art objects. Differing from traditional patchwork quilts, wholecloth quilts typically use one large piece of fabric for the top of the quilt, relying on the intricacies of stitching and surface design to create visual interest. In this class, you will explore the history of wholecloth quilts before deconstructing this historical technique and making it your own. Through self-reflective prompts and a variety of embellishment and surface design techniques—including natural dyes, cyanotypes and hand-quilting—you will create unique, personalized whole cloth quilts. Along the way, you will learn the basics of quilt construction, as well as how to incorporate yourself into your work in interesting ways. This workshop is open to all experience levels. The only requirement is an openness for experimentation, and an interest in approaching traditional textile techniques in unique ways.