Patchwork has quite literally been around for centuries and made from China to America as a way to create warm bedding, especially quilts from pieces of pre-used fabric. The revival of hand-made soft furnishings has seen an increase in patchwork, particularly for cushions and bedding, however, in today's modern world you can get the look without having to spend time sewing as duvet sets with pre-printed patchwork designs are readily available.
In some ways you'll think this is cheating – and I have to agree to a certain extent, particularly if you're looking for ways to up-cycle and re-cycle unwanted fabrics and materials. You can make patchwork from just about any malleable fabric, from leather (I've seen a stunning patchwork rug made from old leather belts as well as sofas and chairs recovered in patchwork designs) to old curtains and clothing.
The 'art' of patchwork can be complex – the simplest forms being squares which are cut to size and sew together. You can even purchase fabrics which are sold as patchwork bundles where the colour and patterns have been selected to compliment each other – taking the 'guess work' out of finding similar colour shades to create a beautiful quilt. More complex patterns and designs command high prices due to the labour intensity and number of 'man-hours' it takes to make a stunning patchwork quilt or bed throw.
Image: First Sense
