I construct tied quilts rather than quilted quilts because I am crazy about pattern, color interaction, and the feel of fabric. For me, quilting disrupts the pattern and changes the fabric's hand. Dense stitching compacts and hardens the natural drape of the textile itself. When a sandwich of fabric + batting + fabric is tied at sensible intervals, the materials are permitted to be more fluid. The color, pattern, and texture of the cloth are free to take center stage.
That said, I admire quilters and I have a deep, soft spot for hand quilters. My partner’s mother was a skilled and patient perfectionist with a foundational art spirit. She was able to skillfully integrate the stitching of her quilts with their surface design, and her white-on-white quilt is a masterpiece of grace and harmony.
For my own work, I choose to tie the projects because, after months of machine piecing, of experiencing the blocks one by one, I am ready to observe them closely in relation to one another. And I am happy making many, many knots.
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