February is a terrific time to think about connection in quilting. There’s Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, Random Acts of Kindness Day, Black History Month, American Heart Month, Mardi Gras, the so-called “Big Game” in American football…all sorts of ways to think about how we connect with each other! Of course, connection can also refer to connecting with nature, with our own feelings, or with anything you choose – but we’re going to talk about people.
How does quilting connect people?
Quilting has long been recognized as a communal activity. From quilting bees to quilt guilds to online quilting communities, groups of quilters meet in-person or virtually to share skills, knowledge, and encouragement.
But it’s not just the act of quilting that connects us, but the quilts themselves.
The tangible gift of a quilt connects the maker with the recipient. If you give a quilt to a friend or a family member, every time they see it and touch it, they will think of you and the love you put into every stitch.
Antique quilts connect our contemporaries with our ancestors. Whether we have the benefit of a label and signature blocks or only have the clues given by the fabrics and stitching, we can catch a glimpse of what life was like for our quilting predecessors.
Every donated quilt connects us to our society. Even when we don’t know who our quilts ultimately end up with, someone is feeling comfort knowing that someone was thinking of them.
Photo by Art Institute of Chicago on Unsplash
How do you currently connect with others through quilting? What are some other ways to build relationships and/or express love with your work?
Download the Quilting Connections worksheet:
After you’ve explored your connections within the quilting community, tell me about the most meaningful quilt in your life. It can be one you’ve made, received, studied, or just imagined.
Comment below, or send me an email!
Flourishing is a year-long journey that invites quilters to explore meaningful themes each month—clarity, connection, self-care, creativity, mindfulness, and beyond. Each month brings a new focus, sparking thoughtful reflection and creativity. Join the Flourishing journey through blog posts, inspiring newsletter articles, engaging social media content, reader challenges, and exclusive quilt block patterns. Flourishing stitches together personal growth and the art of quilting, offering a fulfilling path for quilters to connect, create, and thrive.
