Patchwork or piecework is a needlework craft that involves the sowing together of pieces of fabric to make a larger design. Items commonly made from patchwork are quilts, skirts and bags, many of which become heirlooms and fashionable possessions.
Popularity
Patchwork was born in times of hardship from the need to recycle worn clothing into warm bedding. Now enjoying a huge worldwide resurgence particularly in the United States and Japan as a fashionable, usable art form.
Location
Quilting is an activity mainly carried on in the home, but with many local groups meeting together, to share ideas. Exhibitions and competitions are held across the country throughout the year attracting thousands of visitors.
Age
Patchwork can be enjoyed by any age, and is often a child's first introduction into needle craft. First attempts are often included into a later larger piece, that includes many reminders of a lifetime. Patchwork can be a personal history in fabric.
Ability
To start enjoying patchwork the only ability necessary is a very basic knowledge of sowing. If more ambitious items of clothing are to be attempted, such as skirts or jackets, then a knowledge of dress making becomes necessary.
Description
Patchwork can be of regular patterns or of completely random pieces, it can include the sowing together of embroidered pictures, to tell a story. It can also be made from a variety of shape or size and texture of material. The limitation being the materials available and the imagination of the patch worker. Modern art in needlecraft.
Dedication
Patchwork is an activity that can be undertaken as regularly or irregularly as the patch worker desires. Many come back to patchwork after years of inactivity, picking up from where they left off. To others it becomes a lifelong passion, creating works of art that will be handed down, and perhaps added to through the generations. In times of fashion a competent patch-worker will be in constant demand from inpatient fashion conscious relatives.
Potential
Patchwork can be a relaxing pastime to be enjoyed by the individual and admired by the family and friends, or it can be a highly competitive activity. With competitions held locally, nationally and internationally.
Closely
Related Activities
Patchworks closest related activity is quilting, followed closely by all other needlecraft activities. Less obvious but equally closely related are stain glass window making and making collages.
Cost
The financial cost involved in patchwork is minimal. The cost in time, can be a lifetime.
Level of Demand
The table below shows the maximum levels of demand that this activity requires. NOTE: These are not entry levels or levels of requirement and has nothing to do with ability.
Energy |
Arms
|
Legs
|
Sight
|
Hearing
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Speech |
Learning |
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