Currently, patchwork refers to a type of decorative art, a hobby. However, its appearance is due to the forced economy and the lack of fabrics for sewing. It was poverty and want that forced women to make clothes and household items from the remnants of fabric.
Patchwork, widespread in the days of older generations, is still popular today. However, it is known more under the word "patchwork", derived from the English "patchwork" (patchwork).
Until now, disputes regarding the country of origin of the patchwork do not subside. Some of the specimens found date back to the BC era, such as a leather item made in Egypt, or a Japanese patchwork suit displayed in a Tokyo museum. However, in most cases, England is considered the ancestor of patchwork.
In the 16th century, bright fabrics from India flooded the country, but their supply was banned in 1712. The British government wanted to keep its own production of matter. Indian cotton, which still hit the shelves, was supplied illegally, and therefore sold at exorbitant prices. It was then that the English craftswomen first thought about saving and began to use the remaining scraps for decorating clothes and sewing various interior items.
After patchwork became widespread in Europe, in the 18th century America also learned about it, where this type of needlework moved along with Europeans striving for a new life. Thanks to patchwork sewing, poor emigrants were able to provide themselves with clothing.
In Russia, the patchwork sewing technique was originally used in the alteration and repair of old clothes. Moreover, some products were not even created from scraps of fabric, but from items of clothing that were no longer suitable for wearing. Patchwork quilts were sewn from them, rugs and other products for household use were knitted.
In the 19th century, the textile industry expanded significantly in Russia, and then craftsmen were able to fully appreciate the beauty of patchwork sewing. The assortment of brightly colored cotton fabrics allowed for creative thinking in tailoring. It is not surprising that the folklore style became so widespread in Russia, and has not lost it to this day.
Nowadays, the patchwork technique is not only a fashionable hobby of housewives, but also a way of self-expression for professional artists. Patchwork expositions are presented in museums around the world. In addition, annual international exhibitions and festivals provide an opportunity to demonstrate your talent, exchange experiences or simply buy gifts for loved ones.
