Whether done around a campfire, through a novel, or over dinner, storytelling is one of humanity’s oldest pastimes and an essential part of how we communicate. You don’t even need to speak the same language to enjoy someone’s story, which is obvious through mediums like quilt design. This special art form uses imagery and physical materials to illustrate an event or theme. Because of its appeal to both sight and touch, quilting can make an even stronger impact than written or spoken language.

How Quilt Design Tells Stories

Telling a story through stitched fabric is nothing new, evident in ancient illustrated tapestries that weave narratives through sequences of images. What makes quilting special is that it can use more than images to tell a story. For example, you might make a patch from an old pair of jeans, which you wore in your hometown before coming to Hawaii. If you immigrated from another country, you can stitch that country’s flag into a quilt to commemorate your roots. Some parents make quilts out of old baby blankets and clothes, which they gift to their children later on—a thoughtful way to recycle old fabric.

How Artists Use Quilting

One of the most well-known artistic quilting endeavors is the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a massive piece dedicated to those who have lost their lives to the disease. This special quilt was created in 1987, and, with people continuing to add to it ever since, is now comprised of about 49,000 panels. Every panel tells the story of one individual while the still growing quilt design as a whole shows in a physical, powerful way how AIDS continues to affect the world.

Interested in using quilt design to tell your story? Stop by The Maui Quilt Shop in Kihei, HI. They sell kits and patterns for all skill levels and even host Hawaiian quilting classes by appointment. For questions, get in touch with the locally owned quilt store at (808) 874-8050. More information about their products and services is available online.