Let’s Explore – Kawandi

What is Kawandi?

In India, ‘Kawandi’ means quilt. It is a technique developed by the Siddis, an African community brought to India more than 800 years ago. It is made with recycled materials, entirely by hand. The process is engaging, creative, relaxed and sustainable. It is an interesting visual example of repetitive stitching, a technique that is used to great effect in modern stitching.

Exploring Kawandi

We will start a small sample quilt (around 50cm wide) in order to get the hang of the technique. It could be a short table runner, table mat, or cushion cover size. By making a sample size on the day, you will be able to consider a few things before attempting a larger quilt.

The most important thing is that both backing fabric and wadding are thin for ease of stitching. This allows for having to sew through 4 thicknesses of fabric. Soft, drapey, aged or even slightly worn backing fabrics are best. The backing needs to be 3-5cm larger all around than the wadding.

Please bring plenty of light weight cotton fabric scraps from your stash or suitable lightweight recycled fabrics!

We will start off stitching scraps onto the folded border and upon completion of the first row all the way around, will insert the wadding close to the first row of stitches.

Inspiration

Lisa will be leading our exploration into Kawandi this month. She has recommended some YouTube resources to inspire you. Lisa particularly recommends the one by Kieren Dutcher.

• Works Created by Margaret Fabrizio in 2022 (atree3)
• Make a Kawandi Quilt (Kieren Dutcher)
• Kawandi – Techniques & Tips for Your First Quilt (Marion’s World)
• Reviving the Art of Siddi Quilts (30 Stades)

What to bring

We have provided a list of materials to consider bringing.  No need to purchase fabrics – just bring what you already have in your stash!

• Download the list – Exploring Kawandi
• Your lunch. An alternative: lots of lunch places to buy lunch nearby

Some people enjoy doing these with Japanese inspired fabrics rather than scrap, so if you are searching for needles or Japanese fabrics, here are our lovely local sources:

• Little Japanese Haberdashery
  Sarah stocks needles (and fabrics if you are tempted)
  Open Tuesday and Thursday, 10 – 2
  INSIDE the old warehouse, 16 Smith St, North Hobart
  https://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleJapaneseHab

• Wafu Works
  Jan stocks lovely fabrics if you are tempted but not needles
  Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 – 4:30
  18 Beach Road, Kingston
  https://www.wafuworks.com.au/

Any financial Stitching and Beyond member who is also a member of the KWC ($40 per year from July 1) is welcome to join our Sundays at no extra cost. Check here for details on how to join the KWC.

How to find Kingborough Women’s Club Rooms