This idea comes up from time to time, and I have no idea how frequently it actually happens. I only make half a dozen major works in a good year, often less, and I still have about 1/3 to 1/2 of all the wall quilts I’ve made down the years. Many art quilters and other fibre artists are in the same position, and I’m sure painters, weavers, embroiderers and other creatives also face this question.
Some artists cut up out of date quilted works for bed liners for pet shelters, and others cut out interesting bits, add stitching, painting, embellishing and other alterations, thus repurposing them into smaller mixed media works. A recent mention of this issue somewhere made me look at some of my own works. I did cut one into pieces and send it to the landfill many years ago, a bit naughty of me considering the state of the world’s landfills today; but now I’d make an effort to recycle at least part of something.
This example came to mind. If I were to rework this quilt as Hazel Bruce sometimes does, I think I’d pull out the current quilting along the strips and their extensions, and stitch/quilt using something like – straight stitch, cretan stitch, or fly stitch over those areas defined by the seams. I might even do some of the wonderful blocks of machined zig-zag stitching filling she’s fond of – which could be great in shiny neon florescent threads or metallics.
And, I’d probably also reduce the length. It’s currently 71cm x 175cm, or 28in x 69in. That’s a slightly odd size, but I counted, and according to this photo, it’s 7 x 16 four inch squares.
Right now I’m just a bit busy on two projects for entries into the ArtQuiltAustralia 23, closing date June 2nd, but perhaps after those are squared away I can see what’s to be done to give this one a new life.
English
Hi Alison,
I confess I like your piece the way it is — but having no idea of the length and/or width of those inserted strips, I can’t tell if adding embroidery — especially something like fly stitch — would suit the eye or not!
I’ve never reworked a finished art quilt, but I *have* turned a few ‘experimental’ unfinished art quilt tops into project bags to hold knitting and/or cross stitch projects. One of them is even self-lined! Worked a treat!
Thanks for taking a minute to comment, Margaret; the blocks are 4″ square, so the inserts would be about 1/2″ at their widest, and some probably that long or nearly so. As to what stitches I might oversew with – I have no idea what would look good until I do a sample – I just listed a few or my favourite stitches!
Interested in your reworking ideas. I have been thinking along the same lines. There are some good bits in some quilts that I would like to reuse in another format….
We’re not alone, Barbara – I don’t remember who recently wrote somewhere that she cuts the best bits out and adds paint, stitch and/or embellishments, and mounts them on a small artist canvas as smaller artworks, and, I think she said she either puts them on Etsy, or takes them to a gallery, but anyway gives them new life.