– Lin Clements
WHAT IS RUSTIC QUILTING?
I’ve used the word rustic to describe the easiest type of quilting, just a simple running stitch in straight lines. This type of quilting is seen in rural communities the world over, such as Boro and Chiku-Chiku work found in Japan and Siddi work from India. African communities also have a history of this type of patchwork and quilting.
The name boro comes from the Japanese word ‘boroboro’, meaning something tattered or repaired. This type of quilted patchwork was used to repair and re-work household textiles and clothing to prolong their life. The background fabric could be a single piece or, more often, a previously used item, with the addition of rectilinear patches, which were appliquéd into place and secured with running stitches. White and cream threads were favoured colours for the quilting – to contrast with the darker fabrics.
In a similar make and mend approach, a community of women in Karnataka (a state in the southwestern region of India) create Siddi quilts, locally referred to as askavand, which they use as mattresses and blankets. These quilts are patched with squares and rectangles cut from remnants of clothing that represent a family’s private memories, including old saris, children’s clothes and sarongs.
Regarding fabric colours, rural Japanese communities tend to favour indigoes and blues,
