like making a friend
The heartbeat of quilting is palpated between its patches and stitches. Quilty love is a lot like that of a friend, a bond woven between the quilter and her quilt. Both often caffeinated ventures, starting a new quilt can feel like getting to know an acquaintance over tea or coffee, cute mug in hand. As the saying goes— “making a quilt is like making a friend.” Friends are tender teachers, unparalleled pillars of support and soothing comforters. The blanket of friendship protects us from the fierce winds of the world.
“Weave your heart into mine.” The songs of two souls create a sweet & steadfast harmony in friendship. Both quilts and friends are greater than the sum of their parts. Our friends broaden our horizons, introducing us to new people, places and things. The soul is nourished by friends who bring forth nutrients of insight, expanding our minds and our hearts. Stitched together, singular pieces & patches are transformed into something even more beautiful than they once were.
“Friendship is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others,” says C.S. Lewis. Our friends are our truest mirrors. They illuminate unseen facets of our hearts, places that can only be revealed through the light of others. When our friends reflect our less-than-admirable parts of ourselves back to us, we are able to look at what we may not be able to see on our own, due to limitations influenced by ego. We humans are imperfect, flawed beings with the propensity for messing up, needing to break out the seam rippers and start again. Just as a hand-stitched quilt embodies the beauty of imperfection, so do we.
Mending and repairs. Quilters are no strangers to mending and repair. Trials come, seams may rip, fabric can tear, stitches will unravel. The ripping of seams and tears of the heart can cause damage to the point of needing some soul-level mending. The preservation of a quilt, and a friendship, often requires some deconstruction before reconstruction can take place. After being tattered and torn, we are able to stitch anew—oftentimes stronger than before.
Time. Both quilts and friendships require time & consideration in order to create & sustain. Effort is essential to maintaining our friendships, without which they may stray. For quilters, speed is not the name of the game. Nurturing our friends and caring for our quilts means making space and offering our time & attention. Seams sewn in haste may unravel; friendships without care may fray.
Seasons. When heavy-laden, some friends share with us their warmth and protection, like the haven of a winter quilt in the bitter cold, while others may opt for more fair-weather forecasts, like an airy quilt in a gentle breeze. There are different friends & quilts for different reasons & seasons.
Community. As do many fiber arts, quilting thrives in a community setting. For thousands of years, women would gather in social circles where they would sew & weave and share wisdom & laughter. These communities were so nourishing for our souls as friendships were forged while completing their daily tasks and sadly are becoming more obsolete with each modern day. Reigniting the love for quilting and other folk arts may be an antidote for the loss of craft & camaraderie and bring hope to the creative community. :)