“African-American quilts are not simply a set of colours, techniques, or patterns. They’re a celebration of culture by artists who understand and love it best.” Ellison Langford, Scalawag Magazine, 2019 If anyone word could define today’s flourishing culture of African American quilts, it would be ‘diverse.’ Pattern styles are diverse, ranging from densely worked abstract…
Celebrating Diversity: Contemporary African American Quilts
‘Sewing Patterns with a French Je-ne-sais quoi’ If ever you toyed with the idea of becoming a pattern cutter because the idea of creating something unique for your body fills you with joy, but it seemed like a dream too unreachable because a) surely it’s too complex, b) too expensive to learn, c) you’re too…
Is it possible to have too many linen jumpsuits? As I was organizing my closet at the beginning of fall, switching out my summer clothing for winter garments, I noticed that my most worn item from summertime was my black linen jumpsuit. No real surprise there. It is easy to dress up or down. It…
It is not a secret that we here at the Thread just love a good linen shirt in all its airy, free-flowing splendor! There is something so effortlessly chic about a crisp linen shirt on a sunny day. This is why when we find a pattern we like, we just need to share it with…
EXCALIBUR Linen’s silent grey hangs in the very air of Gwen John’s paintings, hovering around her lonely interiors like a dark, muffling mist. Best known for her portraits of pensive women in close tones of grey, brown and beige, John masterfully grasped the power of understatement, capturing private moments of reflection in these sitters that…
While thinking of making something for myself for the fall/ winter season, I stumbled upon the Paola Workwear Jacket Pattern, or Chore Jacket as my daughters call it. I ended up making six jackets and three of them were for men. I’m happy to share how I altered them. The Paola is one of Fabric-store’s…
By the end of the American Civil War in 1865, quilting was an established practice across African American communities. But as emancipation gradually emerged, so, too did new approaches to quilting, which shifted and adapted to suit the changing times. No one overarching style ruled, but some of the most celebrated quilts of the era…
Hello friends, Alexis Bailey here and I’m so happy to be here to share this information with you and I hope you find it helpful. This year there has been a boom in the making community as people have tapped into their sewing skills to start making masks and other health PPE to combat the…
REDWOOD linen’s deep, throaty red encircles Vigee Le Brun’s subjects, swooping flames of scorching fire around their hair, waists and bodies. Best known as court painter to Marie Antoinette, French 18th century artist Vigee Le Brun was one of the leading portraitists of her day, capturing European aristocrats, actors and writers with her distinctively stylised,…
I love jumpsuits. I mean, who doesn’t? They are one and done outfits that give you the comfort of wearing a onesie. With that being said, I am always on the lookout for simple yet classic jumpsuit sewing patterns so when I saw the GIA I knew I wanted to try it! It has a…
The strong tradition of African American quilting has existed ever since the dawn of America. Quilts from this period are bound into horrific acts of slavery, a reminder of the terrors that shaped the past and left ripples of trauma throughout history. But they also speak of courage and determination under fire, of people who…
The 90s trends are making a major fashion comeback to the catwalks around the globe and back into our wardrobes. We seem to be combining some of our favorite old-school styles for a look that’s vintage, plain and simple. Fortunately, the Etoile Dress pattern by the French designer French Poetry checks all the boxes! The…
Pale, sugary sweet colours like that of Light Pink linen graced Jacopo da Pontormo’s heavenly scenes, basking figures, and scenery in an aura of supernatural light. A leader in 16th century Italian Mannerism, Pontormo’s swirling stories were filled with dynamic drapery, floating figures, and heightened passages of colour, taking flight from reality into flamboyantly spiritual…
We often think of linen as solely a summer fabric, but as I welcome the brisk breeze on these fall mornings, I find myself reaching for my favorite extra layer, my linen jacket, as I run out the door. Linen is known for its breathability, strength, and ability to evaporate water quickly, making it a…
“I do view African-American quilting as a genre, just like traditional quilts, art quilts, modern quilts. Our quilts are just a little bit different.” O.V. Brantley, Founder of Atlanta Quilt Festival Quilting is a vital strand of African American culture, telling vividly complex stories of pain, oppression, freedom, and power. There is no single unifying…
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11 Mar 2026 @ 4:37 am by Emma Cartmel
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11 Mar 2026 @ 4:37 am by Emma Cartmel