All month long the blogosphere has been celebrating thirty years of Robert Kauffman Fabrics' incredible Kona Cotton with their blog hop, 30 Quilts for 30 years. 30 incredible designers—well 29 plus me—have come together to create an inventive and inspiring collection of quilts with Kona Cotton. The accompanying look-book is kick-ass, so be sure to get your inspiration fix.
Inspired by the endless palette of Kona's color card, it felt appropriate to pay homage to Bauhaus textile master Gunta Stölzl's modernist works created while working in Dessau. I'm not going to get too much into Gunta's life: I'll leave it to you to explore the site maintained by her family, and to read more about her. This quilt is like a letter to her filled with the questions and eagerness of a student learning from a master:
5 Chöre, 1928
Jacquard wall hanging
courtesy guntastolzl.org
Dear Gunta—
It's been more than 75 years since you wove 5 Chöre, and it feels as fresh as if you had designed it yesterday. I study your works: the transparency, motion, value and I know your practice was a commitment day after day. In a world filled with technology that provides so many things instantaneously, I seek to be a master like you working tirelessly over many years. Your works tell me the story of the true work—not just the time at the loom—and I long to have studied with you in Dessau to learn the visual language you employ. Each pattern means something, and I wonder too what they meant to the loom and the techniques at work. Most of all, I look at 5 Chöre, and I feel sure you saw the future when you made it. As the data streams in the air around us between cell phones and satelittes, I imagine it must look like this weaving swirling all around us. Here I am, from the future and I want you to know I'm grateful for your work, and what I learn each time I look at it.
—Carrie Strine
Thanks to the Robert Kauffman crew, you can grab the FREE pattern for my contribution Dear Gunta. So get stitching and celebrate the incredible Bauhaus textile master Gunta Stölzl and Kona Cotton! Check out the rest of the blog-hoppers below for all kinds of inspiration and insight into their design process. My favorite is absolutely the incredible Rock Jetties by Dorie of Tumbling Blocks.
EVEN MORE GOODIES THANKS TO THE RK TEAM: COMMENT BELOW IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THIS AWESOME CHARM PACK OF THE NEWEST KONA COLORS!
Week 1:
Saturday, 11/1: Johanna Masko
Sunday, 11/2: Alyssa of Aria Lane
Monday, 11/3: Dorie of Tumblingblocks
Tuesday, 11/4: Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations
Wednesday, 11/5: Daniela of Cozy Quilt Designs
Thursday, 11/6: Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts
Friday, 11/7: Anita Grossman Solomon
Saturday, 11/8: Debbie of Esch House Quilts
Week 2:
Sunday, 11/9: Alex of Teaginny
Monday, 11/10: Darlene Zimmerman
Tuesday, 11/11: Nichole Ramirez
Weds, 11/12: Rita Hodge of Red Pepper Quilts
Thursday, 11/13: Lee of Freshly Pieced
Friday, 11/14: Julie of Jaybird Quilts
Saturday, 11/15: Latifah of The Quilt Engineer
Week 3:
Sunday. 11/16: Elizabeth Hartman
Monday, 11/17: Erica of Kitchen Table Quilting
Tuesday, 11/18: Karrie of Freckled Whimsy
Week 3 ctnd:
Wednesday, 11/19: Valori Wells
Thursday, 11/20: Marilyn of Quilt Moments
Friday, 11/21: Cortney Heimerl
Sat, 11/22: Shayla and Kristy of Sassafras Lane Designs
Week 4:
Sunday, 11/23: Shea of Empty Bobbin Sewing
Monday, 11/24: Carrie Strine
Tuesday, 11/25: Rachel of Stitched in Color
Wednesday, 11/26: Liz of Lady Harvatine
Saturday, 11/29: Carolyn Friedlander
Week 5:
Sunday, 11/30: Elizabeth of Don’t Call Me Betsy
Monday, 12/1: Emily of Carolina Patchworks
Tuesday, 12/2: Ken Kaufman
Wednesday, 12/3: Grand Finale!