Journal Quilts: Get Writing!

I ironed a huge stack of neutral scraps to start! I have tons and tons of white, beige, tan and brown quilting cotton scraps. I didn’t bother to cut them down to size just yet, because I don’t know what this work is going to wind up being!

Writing on the fabric is freeing and fun! You could write the same words over and over, or even write poetry or prose from a book you love. I chose to just write spontaneous stories from my life.

The potential for journal writing on fabric is endless! You could use the fabric in quilts, pillows or other home decor. You could turn the patchwork into a dress or coat. You could use the patchwork for wall hangings or gifts. Above all this process is fun! Be thoughtful with what you write according to the project the fabric will be for.

I have not been spending much time in the sewing room lately…so many health scares coming one after the next. But I’m slowly easing back into it. Each day I pop in there for a few minutes and write on a few scraps, either focusing on a story from my life or a perspective. I’m trying to write a little poetically, although they are not poems at all. The stories are a part of the fabric of my life. These stories are what I cling to to remind me of what I love, to remind me of who I am. They remind me of where I have been and who I am becoming. Short summations of each story are winding up on the fabric pieces. Whatever comes to mind when I sit down to write.

One of the scraps I wrote on is something I don’t want anyone else to read. So I will either cut that into smaller pieces or paint over the top in some way. Or write over the top over and over from different angles. The scraps could be trimmed down into rectangles and squares before sewing, or they could be hand stitched to a backing fabric. Or I could just sit down at the serger and piece them together with a crazy style.

So the journal quilting is my jam right now, along with a million other little projects. I have a lot of ideas percolating, and am also starting to gather up some more clothes to upcycle soon. More on the horizon!