Every Quilt Tells a Story...

Although quilting throughout the world is a universal art form, Hawaiian quilts are unique in their design, reflective of family history, symbols of the past, legends, and beautiful surroundings. Before fabric was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, women prepared tapa cloth by pounding on the bark of the wauke tree. Gathering to work, they would share ideas, and learn from one another in the same way quilters join together in quilting circles today. These women would stamp designs and symbols of old Hawai’i onto the tapa clothing. When the missionaries first arrived on the shores around 1820, they brought with them different types of cloth and proceeded to teach the Hawaiian women to make clothing and patchwork blankets. However the task of piecing became tedious and the Hawaiians chose to adapt the quilting to their own individualized style, thereby effectively preserving their heritage, culture, and historical legends.

Today, the legacy and preservation of Hawaiian quilting continues in the capable hands of master quilters who are well versed in old style and tradition. Inspiring quilters worldwide, they teach the techniques of appliqué and quilting, as well as share the history and symbolism interwoven within the design. Each Hawaiian quilt tells a story, conveying special meaning, desires, or representation of beliefs. It takes thousands of stitches to create Hawaiian quilt, therefore to receive a Hawaiian quilt from someone is to know that you are truly loved.

Ever since I can remember, I have always held an affinity for quilting. The intricate arrangement of the fabrics, the complexity of techniques, and the interesting history of quilting held a fascination that propelled me to challenge myself to learn this alluring art form. When I began quilting at 17, my first attempt was a simple multicolored patchwork quilt, created using 4x4 squares. Despite the fact that the lines did not meet exactly, and the sewing was marginal at best, this quilt wove a story in the variety of fabrics I chose from my mother’s scrap bag and from my own sewing. It told of brightly colored blouses and petal pushers (capris) that my sisters and I had worn in the summer heat, of trendy dresses that were the latest wrinkle, and of the stylish prom gowns I had sewn for myself. Although I had no way of knowing, this quilt turned out to be a time capsule of sorts, capturing the composition of colors, textures, and styles of that particular period in time. Thirty-five years have passed and the once vibrant colors have faded, but the patterns woven into the fabric still chronicle the days of my childhood through teenage years, marking both significant events and the passage of time.

It is with heartfelt desire that I embark on one of my greatest challenges - the making of a wedding ring quilt for my daughter, Sarah. This quilt, like the Hawaiian quilt, will tell the story of memorable events from her own childhood, reflecting family holidays, plays, and school days. From the time that I knew Sarah would be arriving, I had planned this quilt, carefully saving and documenting fabric scraps from everything I had sewn for her through the years; from her christening outfit, kindergarten first-day-of-school dress, holiday dresses, costumes for plays and Halloween, to blankets, and stuffed animals. These bits of fabric will be lovingly sewn into this quilt to create her story, the one that Sarah will someday share with her own children, and know that she was and is truly loved.


*The information about Hawaiian Quilting was taken from the following resources:

Serrao, P., Serrao J., Correia, R., Serrao, C. (2007). The Hawaiian quilt: the tradition continues. Honolulu, HI: Mutual Publishing.

Serrao, P., Serrao, J. (1999). Poakalani Hawaiian quilt cushion patterns and designs: volume 1. Honolulu, HI: Mutual Publishing.