thoughts on patchwork

Lucy Boston was famous for her books and her garden, and for being a late-developer in life. She began making the garden of the Manor House when she was in her late forties, wrote the first in the series of books which made her name when she was over 60, and lived to the age of 98. But what really amazed me when I visited her house yesterday, were the patchwork quilts she made until her eyesight deteriorated when she was almost 90.

She rarely talked or wrote about her patchworks and yet she spent winter after winter producing the most exquisite, hand-made pieces which speak volumes about her skills and artistry. She exhibited them only once, in the 1970s, and many of them still belong to members of the family. She didn't quilt, date or name them and she seems to have enjoyed the process of patchwork as much as, if not more than, the end product.

'Kaleidoscope', made when Lucy was 81, photographed by Julia Hedgecoe.

She was self-taught so her phenomenal ability to create patterns and effects must have been entirely instinctive. Her loveliest quilts are made from cotton dress fabrics, although I did see a wonderful 'Duster' quilt made when clothing could only be bought with precious coupons during the war - it's made with dusters, tea-towels, ticking and linen remnants.

But the most stunning aspect of her quilts, besides the rule of twenty hand-stitches to the inch which she maintained even when she was losing her sight, is the way she could create new patterns from the same fabric by cutting and placing so carefully that she made what appear to be different fabrics in the same top, and yet they are the result of inspired cutting (even fussier than fussy cutting). I think the best way to describe the technique is to say that it was as if she saw scraps of fabric through a kaleidoscope in her mind, one which she could shake to create any number of new arrangements.

What really impressed me at Lucy Boston's house was the way she had three major creative strands to her life - books, garden and patchwork - and how she set and achieved very high standards for herself. I can't help feeling that this is the way to maintain a young mind in an ageing body (although I would have to replace the 20 stitches per inch with something a little less demanding), and Lucy's example of how to grow old creatively is one which has made me realise that late-developers have so much to look forward to and enjoy, and that they should be envied and not pitied.   

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Oh my goodness - that is beautiful! It truly does look like a kaleidoscope, with the shifting colors - amazing! Thanks so much for sharing such a beautiful picture of her work.

[Lorie]

What an inspiration! And three such noble arts too! I love them all. Can you imagine the work in that kaleidoscope quilt alone? I guess before TV, internet and all the other distractions of life now, these, simpler, slower forms of life make sense, and I envy that, in a way. Lovely posts, in every way.

[Jaimie]

That kaleidoscope is truly a masterpiece. I can't even grasp how it was accomplished!

I was also heartened by your comments about late bloomers. I wouldn't categorize myself as such, actually, but it is very exciting to think about new skills and passions in years to come that I haven't yet discovered.

[JL]

Jane:
This is the most perfect post for the kind of mood I am in today. Definately chicken soup for the soul.
Thank you for coming through with just the right
topic when I need some reflection and consolation.
Hope all is well with you and your family.
Take care
JL

[Annalea]

That kaleidescope quilt is one of the most fascinating things I've ever seen. One could gaze at that for hours and hours. . .

[Jayne]

I first read about Lucy Boston and her patchwork from a wonderful article in a 1997 issue of the British magazine called Needlework. I loved the fact that during the war she asked visitors to bring her fabric (if they could) when rationing was so tight and she sewed long into the night by candlelight. Fascinating post Jane. Loved the photos of her garden.

[Kathleen]

Jane, I believe with late-developers you can achieve so much more because of the patience that comes with age. What a wonderful place to visit, thank you.

[kelly]

oh thank you. It reassures me to hear this, turning 40 this year with books and poetry all unwritten, and hundreds of projects left unstarted, and four children under ten running around the house.

That quilt is amazing - the interplay of the colors and shapes and patterns - wow. So glad you put a link up to the bigger picture - well worth dwelling on. Thanks for brightening my day again in many ways!

[sharon]

as a "late developer" itthank you :)

[joy]

yet another late bloomer thanks you... this was a wonderful post.

[Jayne]

I have the cooking, knitting and sewing genes and thought that gardening would come when I hit forty. I'm now forty four and it still hasn't descended although my parents are both very keen gardeners who, in their eighties, still grow an enormous variety of fruits and vegetables. Your post yesterday encouraged me to think that I too might be a late developer! Maybe I'll write that book one day, too ....
Great to find another Persphone girl! I'm currently reading The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett - one of Persephone's latest offerings.

[jayne]

Ooops, just noticed my typo in Persephone above.... don't tell my kids...

[willow]

That's it! That's what I am! A late bloomer! I'm thinking of others like Grandma Moses and Laura Ingalls Wilder who started painting and writing, respectively, in middle age or beyond. I must read up on Lucy Boston.

[Cherry]

two very inspiring posts thank you. I am not up to the standard of 20 stitches to the inch, but I am learning that practice does make hand quilting - easier is not the word - more regular perhaps! And the right thimbles are essential!

[Alix]

Inspiring. Thank you x

[Meg]

So, there's hope for me yet. That's a good thing to know.

[Mary]

I had no idea about her patchwork. The books and the garden are impressive enough, but I'm staggered by the idea of all that stitching. I'm holding on to the hope that I will turn out to be a late developer in one of her fields.

[Jennifer]

I hadn't stopped by your blog for a while, and dropping in today gave me the experience I'd intended -- a long, lush, rich reading experience in catching up on your postings. Manor House is absolutely amazing; thank you for sharing your experience in a way that really made me feel I'd had a taste.

[littlejennywren]

I'm all in favour of late developers, they give us hope that we can be all the things we want to be but we don't have to do them all at once.
I love all the quilts shown but especially the hexagon one with the hexagon stars as a border.

[caroline]

What an inspiring lady who proves it is never too late to learn new skills. I had no idea about her patchwork which are beautiful - are they open to view or do you need to make an appointment?

[Kim]

I feel rather embarassed to have never heard of Lucy Boston before, but she sounds like a fabulous woman..... I'm hoping there's a kaleidoscope quilt equivalent coming up in my 80's. Thanks for the post Jane. Lovely to read both in style and content, as always.

[Mary K. in Rockport]

That's very inspirational - thanks!

[Luisa Perkins]

Twenty stitches to the inch: good grief! That piecework is exquisite. How wonderful it is for you to have seen them in person!

[Max]

It is indeed inspiring to read about women whose creativity blossoms later in life. Last month I visited the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe (a smallish and very pleasing place; well curated with great docents - I recommend it!), and was surprised and delighted to find out she didn't move to New Mexico until she was *62*. Gave me hope!

[Georgia]

Wow. I've never heard of Lucy Boston either, but my word that quilt was just amazing. I'd loved to have seen more of them big like that. Just amazing.
Recently I went to the Mark Twain house in Hartford, CT and was taken by the exquist knitted blankets on the beds. All in white, but the stitch patterns were stunning.
I guess there was once a time when people had more time.
Thank you Jane, this post was very inspiring.