MANJARI SINGH
How did you initially get into making Kantha quilts?
My mum used to make me start a new sewing or embroidery project every summer holiday – she is fascinated by different embroidery techniques and weaving, especially in sarees. I found Kantha one of the simplest yet varied forms of embroidery and quilting. A simple running stitch can be so versatile and can transform the most worn-out fabrics into such a fascinating quilt to treasure!
I remember meeting some Kantha craftswomen at a craft show in New Delhi when I was very young. I was mesmerised by the speed with which the women were quilting by hand, and by the fact that there were no lines drawn on the fabric yet the stitching was straight all the way through!
What is it about hand sewing that you enjoy?
I enjoy the slow pace of hand sewing and the feel of creating each stitch by hand compared to by machine. I can create a hand sewn piece as I like and change as I sew along, and there is more freedom of expression in hand sewing. When I finish a hand sewn project I tend to take more care of it as I know how much effort I made. It’s always more special.
Do you feel that Kantha and slow stitching are beneficial to your mental health?
Yes, it sure is a very beautiful and effective form of mindfulness. Women in the past used to come together as a community and hand sew Kantha quilts. They would share stories and talk about events that have taken place. Many past examples of Kantha quilts have these stories and events depicted through motifs and sewing. It would have been a very calming activity and an escape from the hardship of life as these women mindfully created something special together.
I feel that slowly sewing by hand calms you down and brings you back to the present moment as you use your hands to create the stitches. I’ve always found slow stitching very soothing and relaxing.
What’s the longest you’ve spent on a project?
Three months, on a bedspread which I hand embroidered very patiently as a teenager. I was an anxious teen and every challenge made me nervous, except hand sewing. I think I always felt right at home with slow stitching. I used to sew for a few hours every day and I would spend a lot of time choosing the thread colours and tweaking my techniques.
How would you recommend that our readers get started with the technique?
Kantha is the most fluid form of quilting, there are no set rules or calculations to be made in making your quilt. Dig around in your linen closet for any bedsheets that are ready to be discarded, and upcycle them into a Kantha quilt or quilted cushion cover. Always start with a small project to not overwhelm yourself, and then you'll know you can finish this project in a realistic time frame.
If you could give people four top tips when starting out with Kantha, what would they be?
1 Use the right needle for the thickness of your fabric.
2 Threads that contrast in colour to your base fabric will always beautifully highlight your hand stitching.
3 Use negative spaces and rows of stitching in your base fabric colour to fill up the gaps.
4 Keep your mind on where your hands are and unwind by slowing down.